Boxanne

[Raggamuffin]

Ordered the forms to apply for a C1 license so I can drive up to 7.5 tonne vehicle.

I'll get the medical and theory tests out the way and then look to do the driving lessons and practical tests in the next couple of months.

Basically I think Boxanne will be right close to the 3.5 tonne limit. It'd also mean I have no way of taking passengers without it going over the weight limit. Then there's the reality that I don't want to limit the final design of the van, as I will probably want to add more later.

With the license I can then uprate the leaf springs, maybe even go with air suspension to help increase the maximum payload, and most importantly - be driving a heavier vehicle legally.

Whilst I know, and many have said that the chances of getting caught with a vehicle that's slightly over weight are small, it's best to play by the rules and not risk future fines or points on your license.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

The conversion has begun.
Also, the carpenter has a lovely doggo.

Soon™.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

Yes
Yes
Y E S

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

Shine on you crazy diamond.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

This is looking very tidy.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

Ed

 

[Judge]

All wooden panelling and cabinetry with the proper trim....should look great, Ed.

 

[Raggamuffin]

The carpenter's brother has been working on the van today too.

Boxanne is getting the 2 cambelts, a starter motor and the glow plugs replaced.

Ever since owning her the starter has been poor. Alternator and battery along with glow plug relay already done.

This should seal the deal.

In other news, my car has developed a fault at the worst possible moment. Realised I'll have to cancel the auto-electrician on 2nd May and re-book the carpenter for a few more days to finish things up in May.

Then look to get the electrics done in June, provided my car's annual service and MOT doesn't go too over budget.

Here's hoping in the mean time, this car fix is quick and relatively painless. It does mean I get to use my parents supercharged Merc SLK to drive into work on Friday.

Spicy.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

The oversized bolts have now deeply gouged the shutter door and its jammed shut.
At least the body shop has paint left over, and the mechanic will fill the damage.

Got the shutter door unjammed and I just spent 2 hours painting the door with primer. Not sure why I romanticised a DIY approach to my van. I know it's not me. I also realise now why decorators get paid a good hourly wage. Who has the patience for such tedium?

Patience and emotional regulation are a real weakness with me, and the drawn out process of painting the door was making my brain fizz more and more. I'd hoped for a wholesome, or zen moment in painting the door to my new home. But in reality I was just getting more and more impatient, flustered and angry.

After finishing the door frame on both sides, and one side of the door - I attacked the second half of the door like a mad man, and got it done quicker, and with better quality than the other side.

Definitely asking the carpenter (who is also a decorator) to paint the final coat on the door.

Now that I've scoffed my dinner it's time for something sweet.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

Shutter door has been fixed, the mechanic and his brother, the carpenter found the issue causing the jamming, and they also cut down the bolts to wee nubbins, to prevent it tearing up the shutter door and paint any further.

Mechanic is going to fill in the gouges the bolts left. Body shop still has some purple paint left, and said he can touch up the damage.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

Phwoarrrrrrrrrr.
Just wait until the door is painted orange

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

Ouch. Kitchen units come in at £1000. Told him to proceed though. Mind you, they're high end, much like everything else I've put in the van.

I'm glad I cancelled the auto-electrician. I have no money now for 6 weeks. Even then, I'll probably need 10-14 weeks before I could book the auto-electrician.

Which means no spare money until end of July, or early August.

Ed

 

[Outdated]

It's exciting seeing all of this come together, thank you for making this thread. The back of the van is one of the parts I've been looking forward to seeing, wondering what you were going to do with it. I like it.

It's a shame about the screws from the security camera, and the installer really should have known better. Still, done is done. And although you're going through some financial pain at the moment I think that will help you appreciate it more once it's all complete. It won't just be a cheap home, it will always give you a sense of achievement and be a source of pride.

 

[Raggamuffin]

Found a roof leak whilst painting. Thankfully it's dripping in the gap between the shutter and the front wall of the conversion. But it's to be looked at ASAP. Sent a video to the carpenter. He said to check if it's coming from the front, and it is. It's parked on a slope, so the water is going out the back, which is good.

They have a huge barn over the road, so they can get it under cover and repair the roof.

I knew in my gut the roof needed doing. Although I believe this leak is new. It's already had multiple fibreglass repairs done to the roof. Yet something still wasn't sitting right with me. This leak happens to be on the same side as the solar cables went through the roof.

Couldn't afford to replace the roof with GRP or an ally sheet. Raptor paint test patch was no good for the fibreglass material used. I had asked the mechanic and carpenter if they could paint the roof to at least give the fibreglass some protection.

At least the leak has been spotted, and now it can be sorted out.

Funny, that this is what triggered my "zen" moment that I'd hoped for when painting the door yesterday. I saw the leak, messaged the carpenter, got a reply, then realised that all I could do was let go and carry on painting. No sense stressing about it.

The van is in good hands with these 2 brothers, and whats more - they've been enjoying working on the project.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

Woke up to heavy rain, and feeling a lot more unsettled about the roof leak. Once I get more info I should feel at ease. It's the not knowing which is escalating worry.

Tiring week. Lacking sleep, brain is like treacle at work, self-care down the pan, back to comfort eating, disconnecting via smoking. The rut deepens for now.

Feeling like I need to cancel yoga and massage now as the van budget is about to be used up as it'd free up an extra £180 a month. I could throw about £800 a month at the van, and continue to live like a pauper. But I know I would feel worse off if I cancelled my sessions. I've already had to cancel my therapist, and reduced the frequency of the yoga and massage sessions.

Hmm. Debating if I should save and get an ally roof panel fitted ontop of the original roof. Could get it done by the end of next month. It would delay installing the electrics even further, but I do not trust this current roof, it's old and already damaged. Whilst fibreglass is easy enough to repair, I think a fully repaired and painted fibreglass roof with a metal second skin sitting on top would put my mind at ease.

At least it's Friday. When I leave work on a Friday afternoon, I usually feel like a king for a short while. Plus I get to drive zi supercharged Mercedes today.

Öh, ja wohl!
Here ist mein Autobahn Blitzer.
Alles klar?

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

2 more payments to make to the brothers, and then the van budget is used up and I'll be sat in my overdraft until some point in May. Got a feeling I need to cut back on yoga and massage for the next few months until I'm out the red.

After next week, van progress will be non-existent until some point in May. There won't be enough money to get the electrics fitted and completed until late July or August.

In May there will be enough money to get a mattress and the seating area sorted. Along with getting the carpenter to do a few more days work to finish the storage areas, wallpaper and decorate, along with laying the lino floor. This means I could live in the van part time.

Of course, we shall see how this all pans out. Perhaps some time away from thinking and fretting about the van will do me some good.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

One coat.

For use on Motorhomes, GRP and fibreglass, along with a host of other materials. Arriving on Monday.

The van is semi covered, but too tall to go over this large winch and frame that he has at the entrance to the barn. I believe it's still on a slope so any rain will run out the back.

Realised the budget in May would be able to stretch to buying the composting toilet as well. Which will go in the gap between the wall/front door and the shutter door. For something made of ply it's very expensive. It's German and the reviews say the finish quality is amazing, and it's very sturdy. No sense cutting corners.

With regards to batteries and electrics - I'm thinking I might go with a smaller capacity, good brand battery - monitor usage and then get another at a later date to pair with the first. There's large capacity batteries out there with too good to be true prices and all sorts of brand names on these batteries.

I know they're extreme examples you see online and in the news when you see these batteries exploding and catching fire, but don't buy cheap when it comes to electrics. As electronics are a leading cause of fires, and anything too good to be true in terms of price - just carefully read the descriptions and instructions. You'll quickly pick up it's written in Engrish.

A lot suggested getting a Chinese night heater too. Nope. German built and expensive too.

Alles klar?

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

Paint for waterproofing the roof has arrived.

I hate heights and DIY, but tomorrow's weather is going to rain a lot. So I'm going to bite the bullet and try not to ruin the new paint job on the van.

EDIT - managed to get half the roof done. The paint is really thick and fibrous with a pungent, noxious smell. Took about an hour to do half the roof. All the while being harassed by bugs and beasties.

The ground was very uneven though. So prime spots to have the ladder simply weren't feasible. Also, standing on uneven and soft ground whilst on the upper rungs of a ladder, leaning all the way over to barely be able to paint the centre of the roof felt mighty dodgy.

The other half of the roof that was under shelter in the barn was too tight to get the ladder into position. The width of the opening along with the large frame of the winch made it impossible to get to. It's also not possible to paint under the solar panel framework. Hopefully on Monday they can address the rest of it, provided the weather holds out. If not I'll do it when I get home after work early next week.

The half I couldn't reach is under cover in the barn at least, and it's definitely on a slope that will have rain draining out the back.

Half is better than none.

Ed

 

[Forest Cat]

The ground was very uneven though. So prime spots to have the ladder simply weren't feasible. Also, standing on uneven and soft ground whilst on the upper rungs of a ladder, leaning all the way over to barely be able to paint the centre of the roof felt mighty dodgy.

Ed

Maybe you need a telescoping paint pole with a paint roller on the end of it? Then you can paint the roof without leaning at all. I have several of those poles and they are time savers.

 

[Raggamuffin]

Stealth 100.

Ed