Has anyone brought a van and thought...Right what do we change first?Have you made your van your own?Are they your taste or just standed factory furnishing?
Im a huge fan of VW's and would love to own one,buying isnt a problem its the upkeep of them we cant afford but i love the way they make the campers your own.Make them feel loved and cared for etc...
Has anyone done this to their van?If we buy a van or trailer tent i would def make it my own,and not keep it factory standed.New funky retro curtains and cushions would be the first lol.
Important basics were new carpet and curtains. Otherwise all equipment changes; Fiamma turbovent, dedicated audio/video system with including cordless headphones, Ultaflow pump/inlet system, new taps etc. The sk's the limit really, but carpet/curtains seem to make the most difference.
Yes, with a folding camper and our existing caravan. In both we have turned the parellel seating into L shape, made new covers for the cushions, new carpets etc.
With the caravan Oh also made a corner cupboard, and installed a cassette toilet, new taps, electrical sockets, lighting etc.etc. (when will he stop)
We really feel we have made it our own. We didn't like the seating as it was, with 6ft plus children there was not enough leg room, having the L shape made things much more comfortable. Sorry can't find the photos.
We will also be doing this when we replace,it really gives a good feeling of satisfaction.
When we got our 1989 Mardon last year we found a bit of damp in one corner of the bathroom and the furnishings were really dated, dark and dismal. We ripped out the shower and the fold up sink as we were never likely to use them, stripped the walls, repaired the damp and repapered using Fablon. I recovered the cushions, backrests and pelmets and made matching curtains, scatter cushion covers, duvet cover and light shades, also matching awning curtains. We laid new carpet all the way through, topped with a couple of matching mats and a contrasting washable mat in the bathroom, which now just houses a Thetford portable loo. The sides of the van outside were painted with a high quality gloss paint. Here's some before and after pics -
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
Love it,i think i would be the same with the folding sink.There not really need as you can use the kitchen sink or site ones. Dont even think we would use a portaloo as we use a tent so never had one and we wouldnt miss what we never had so id reuse that space for something else.
Hey tigermouse its looks really good! Loving the yellow inside, it looks really cherful! We are in the process of doing up our 1990 Abbey. Hubbys painted the outside so far and put new wheel trims on, it looks so much better. There is loads to do inside still, i'll post too when we're done
It's surprising what a difference the yellow makes. We got it off OH's brother, who had got it off his dad who had it from new, and nothing had been changed in all that time. The first thing to go were the mustard coloured curtains - yuck!! The woodwork looked a bit dismal too but we couldn't change that, however it was all given a good clean up and the yellow furnishing make it look a lot brighter.
I really love that little 'house' now, so much so that when me and OH split up in April I insisted on keeping it as we'd only used it four times and after all the work we put into it I wasn't ready to give it up. I went away in it in May, and hopefully will be away in it again this weekend and many more weekends to come.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
Only had our Esterel for a few weeks now and have already re-done the flooring, curtains, cushion covers, new handles on cupboards, painted the ceiling as it was quite dark next on to the outside! Pics below.
Took up old carpets and laid Vynl cushion floor at the kitchen end and a new blue plain carpet in the front seating area ,new brighter ceiling lights extra 240 volt sockets, wheel trims. Now thinking about new spot lights with LED bulbs in.
Our first van, a Freedom Jetstream, OH laid carpet tiles in exactly the same shade of blue in the upholstery, removed the top shelf from three fixed above the fridge and used it to double the width of the lowest shelf and sat the TV on there. With our next caravan we have a rear kitchen and in the largest above cupboard where the plate rack sits, added an upright divider to make a small cupboard at the end and then put hooks on facing sides to hang the strainer spoon, sissors, tinopener etc. Put a small narrow shelf 4 inches down from the ceiling across the back of the small above cupboard where I can keep spices etc. Where the coctail cabinet over the fridge is, removed the see through curved doors, tidied up all the screw holes and fixed a small hinged TV bracket and fitted the TV which can be angled out so both can see it when lounging on the long seats. Small changes but I find them very useful.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Anyone made your van your own???
