Welcome to our family camper van build adventure! We’re transforming our Ford Transit Custom into our very own camper van, tackling every step together as a family. With our two young lads getting stuck in alongside us, this project is as much about bonding and learning as it is about creating something amazing together, for us all to enjoy. Join us on this exciting journey as we share every triumph, challenge, and tip along the way – don’t forget to subscribe and follow our story as it unfolds! 🙂
April 2025.
A week before the Easter holidays, Vangelina was dropped off to Evolution Vans again. This time, for finishing the installation of the pop-top bed. They had started building it when they were fixing the bodged pop-top, but for some reason they never finished it, having got it into their minds I was going to build and install that part myself?! And charged me for the privilege… 🙄🙃
Expecting just a few days to a week, we ended up loosing our van for almost 3 weeks as they waited for special parts and then additionally less strong dampers, all over the bank holiday weekend. Finally, with one day left of the Easter holidays we got the call that we could get our lovely van back, and finally our pop top bed was finished! We were charged even more 😅, now coming in at more than double the original quote for a bed board install, but I paid it and got out quickly. At least they had built this to a high standard and we were happy with what we saw. Thankfully this will be the last thing we have to rely on someone doing for us. I’ve taken this as a learning curve (always get written quotes, you can’t trust anyone!) and I’m now carefully assessing what’s left of my budget to try and get a kitchen and electrics sorted…
It’s taken a while to get to this post because the place just left a bad taste in my mouth, how I felt I was treated as a customer, and I can’t help but feel that everyone in the campervan conversion world is just trying to rip us off and bodge things. Everything in this build feels like hard work, and I was starting to fall out of love with the van. I’m hoping we’ve just been unlucky and things will pick up now we can handle the remaining work ourselves. I hate to be doom and gloom but I will always be honest on these blog posts 😅.
That said, just getting out for our first proper van-adventure was enough to start getting me excited about it all again 😊
Read our progress so far!
03. Part 01: Stripping the Interior
04. Part 02: Installing the Windows
05. Part 03: Installing the Pop Top (1)
06. Part 03: Installing the Pop Top (2)
07. Part 03: Installing the Pop Top (3)
10. Part 06: Floor Removal, Sound Deadening & Insulation
11. Part 07: Fitting the Carpet
12. Part 08: Fitting the Flooring
13. Part 09: The Rock n Roll Bed arrives
14. Part 10: Carpeting the Ply Panels
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Sounds like they took their time but at least they did a proper job! Nothing is ever straightforward is it? At least you should have more control over the conversation moving forward 😃
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It was just unlucky timing I think 😅 – no, never straight forward 🙈. I’m very much pleased we’ll have more control going forward, it’s peace of mind and I can start getting excited again 🙂
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It seems as campervans have become more popular then there have been loads of converters setting up businesses to meet demand. Maybe some are still gaining experience both of the work and how to price it. At least you are back in control now. So are you doing the kitchen and electrical work yourselves? However you move forward I hope it all goes well and I’m still waiting for that “first night out” post 😀
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I think you’re right, but thankfully yes moving forward we should be able to do the rest of the work. I have ordered a kitchen, i was hoping for flat pack so I could build with the boys but very few people offer this for my vehicle and with limited designs. I’ve found a (hopefully!) decent place who have added me to their wait list but they build them for collection. We will do the electrics and hopefully very VERY soon we can get our first night out ticked off!! Super excited 🙂
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