I got my Van back yesterday after the conversion. Quality is excellent and it was money well spent. I highly recommend Brett Cameron at Macron Campers
at Ourimbah NSW who gladly did the custom job to my specs. Nothing was too difficult and they only took 5 weeks from scratch! The workmanship is excellent.
I had them install quality electrics that includes 2 x 100ah AGMs, DC to DC charger, 240v 25amp charger, Battery current monitor with shunting, led lighting and 240v system,
80l 12v/240v fridge, stainless steel 55l underbody water tank and electric pump. It is set up for Solo camping with a 3/4 bed, heaps of storage and a 3m Fiamma awning.
Only need a TV, UHF radio and some some gear and thats it. Needless to say I am very happy and excited that the countdown to full time on the road has started. Check out the pics.
The cost was $16000 but that included $525 for window tinting, $700 for a stanless steel water tank and $1400 for the awning. I didn't cut any corners though and wanted only the best
materials to be used, especially the electrics. I costed it myself prior to commencing and came up with around $7500 for parts only so I think the end price was fair. The Guys at Macron
talked me out of fitting a gas system for cooking as it would cost $1800, take up too much storage space and they suggested that i would rarely cook in the van, I'll use a camping stove.
I think I will need to spend another $1500 or so to complete gearing up. I paid $9000 for the diesel Toyota commuter Van empty so I got a nice rig for $25000.
Thanks so much Steve, it looks great, a very nice conversion, I'm very impressed. I like the idea of the stainless water tank. I appreciate you posting about it and showing us your photos.
They have done a fantastic job, especially like the bed running that way. Would prefer that myself but not financial to do a refit. You will be very pleased with the outcome Steve. You are right about the cooking. I do use the inside fitted gas cooker but only to boil water for a cuppa. Use the portable one for outside cooking to save the smells in the van.
I really love the way you have converted your commutor. I also have one but very different to yours inside. Yours looks very practical and best use of space. Hope you have a lot of fun in it as I have.
Lovely fit out Steve. I have a 240v only fridge and it is surprising how quickly it chews through the batteries. I also have 200 amps on a 24v system, but if the sun doesn't shine I can only get 3 days at the most. On sunny days my solar panels cope beautifully. How about getting a small genny to top up the batteries. It would save starting the vehicle every day. The 1kva Hondas are very quiet and I imagine quite economical to run. When I was at Emerald free camp the guy next door was running a 1kva Honda and I couldn't even hear it inside the Winnie.