Renault Trafic Van Camper Conversion - Completion

[@davidtunnicliff5442]

good to see you got the 'itch free' stuff

[@WormsEyeView]

Good to see. I just got myself a renult master that's been kitted out. Getting some ideas from youtube of things I can do in it.

[@tomhphotographic]

Worms Eye View it’s changed so much since this video! I might have to remake it at this rate, do a full walkaround and explain features. Although I’m Forever changing things! Good luck with your build!

[@WormsEyeView]

@@tomhphotographic thanks xx

[@davidhunt6463]

I'll pay you for 8 minutes and 4 seconds of labour to come and do mine. Superb job, it has inspired me.

[@tomhphotographic]

David Hunt haha that would be great wouldn’t it? Truth is it’s never ending. Still paying for stuff and making editions now, over a year after I bought it. Glad it’s inspired you, please subscribe if you would like more inspiration, planning on lots of use and trips this year! What’s the van you’re going to get?

[@davidhunt6463]

Tom Harding, I can imagine. However it still looks like a very worthwhile venture. I will do it as soon as the weather warms up a bit. Do you find a Trafic large enough or in hindsight would you go for a larger van? Thanks, Dave.

[@tomhphotographic]

that sounds good, i did this mainly in cold weather, kept me warm though! As for that, it depends what you want to do with it. If I was going to spend more time in it, maybe to live, then yes absolutely a bigger van. But my plan has always been to get an awning and it be an extension of 'camping'. Also its great for me travelling with my mountain bike, which i am yet to do but have plans for. Its very much mainly a summer thing, so I can spend time in the outdoors and explore comfortably with the awning. Im thinking about our next one being a renault master or something similar perhaps, as more space would be lovely regardless.

[@lenrice7482]

nice - thanks for thanks for taking the time to make this vid on top of doing the van! ha ha

[@TheBaileyVlog]

Great job!! Renault Trafics make a great base vehicle!!!

[@tomhphotographic]

were happy with it so far....just wish i hadn't bought one with such high mileage...saying that nearly everything that needs replacing has now been replaced and i know it like the back of my hand!

[@jellyroll76]

Can't figure out how you attached the wall panels. Seemed to skip that bit..

[@JamieBrady]

You'e done a great job there buddy, thumbs up from me, gonna head over to the blog for more details :D

[@tomhphotographic]

Jamie Brady thanks and thanks! Have you got your own conversion on the go?

[@toppertruthio]

pause@7:51.Bit of a shoddy cut around that counter top.what did to use...scissors?

[@tomhphotographic]

toppertruthio I’ll tell you what I used there..... a really bloody blunt jigsaw blade! Back then my budget was a little smaller, that was over two years ago, and that table has now been replaced by a professionally made red folding jobby... :)

[@toppertruthio]

@@tomhphotographic so next time ,get a belt sander on it ,and make it smooth,then finish off with edging strip.Not that im a pro.Just saying.Still looked good though;)

[@tomhphotographic]

toppertruthio I did end up plopping an edging strip on it for a bit, but the cut was so bad it looked pretty awful. Also pretty quickly realised having a fixed table was awful, so sorted that out too. And I literally didn’t have a belt sander or the money to buy one, let alone a new jigsaw blade! The jigsaw and said blade were borrowed from my dads shed at the time... but I have learnt with time and it’s improved also.

[@toppertruthio]

@@tomhphotographic Yep.Well the only way to learn is to do it regardless of mistakes.Thats the only way to learn.And by sharing ideas.Your next one will be better,no doubt

[@gferguson73]

Grand video until the couch cover

[@tomhphotographic]

Don’t worry that didn’t last long, and it wasn’t deliberate. It was a cheap sofa and came with that design. Wasn’t by choice for sure. Has since been replaced with a custom memory foam red covered cushion.

[@Emtbtoday]

Is it correct the bed has to legally be 6ft for an approval from DVLA in UK?

[@randalmotorhomemusicasdicas]

LINDO!!! SHOW!!! ADOREI.

[@antparry2248]

Just watched all your conversion videos on your channel, I’m currently looking for a Trafic or Vivaro to convert and your videos have given me tons of inspiration. How easy was the electrical installation side of things? Have you got a leisure battery or is everything running from the vans battery?

[@tomhphotographic]

Hi Ant thats awesome glad its inspired you. Just making these for fun really! Nice that you've found them useful. The electrical side was relatively easy, but thats only after a few years of messing about with them with my work and privately. Unless you have some previous knowledge, it may be more difficult, but its easy to learn from videos on here etc. My work sometimes entails electrical stuff so I have worked alongside electricians and developed and understanding of the basics. I do have a separate leisure battery in the back, connected to the van battery so that the alternator charges it. I work with boats also, and that gave me the idea to use battery isolation switches from boats (they're quite cheap) to connect my batteries. The only downside is I have to manually connect my batteries by hand, so if I forget, the leisure battery doesn't get charged. But I havent forgotten, if I did frequently I would pay more for the automatic connecting chargers. Stay tuned, I saw you subscribed so thanks for that! More and better videos coming soon :)

[@musicting2767]

What were the measurements of your ceiling panels. Not sure how thick the wood should be.

[@tomhphotographic]

I don’t actually Know as I was lucky to buy the van with pre installed ply panels for the side, and the top I used the cross struts to attach wood beams too so that the tongue and groove could be screwed into that.

[@musicting2767]

@@tomhphotographic sorry I mean the beams that go across

[@tomhphotographic]

Music Ting again, I’m not sure as it took me about ten minutes two years ago to put the wood up. If it helps, I actually used reclaimed wood from pallets for it, so the wood was, if guesstimate, 1.5cm thick. Enough for screws to go into and enough for the gap behind between the wood and the metal roof to hold conduit with electrical cables in and to squeeze in the recycled plastic bottle insulation.

[@mirola73]

No floor insulation ?

[@tomhphotographic]

Noo, didn’t see the point. Wasn’t living in it and heat rises soo didn’t bother. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Was never an issue in our camping trips. Would have been better if I’d had a diesel heater but funds didn’t allow at the time! I have now for use with my tentbox….

[@yeyetom]

Been struggling so much with the ceiling in my SWB vivaro. How and where did you attach the wooden frame? every time I try, it comes loose and falls, cheers!

[@tomhphotographic]

So I used pallet wood and screwed that directly into the roof frame of the van. I used self tappers. I screwed the wood into an H formation along the sides of the van and I’m pretty sure it was only one section that went across the van. There seemed to be little metal platforms that are levelled out so when you put wood on them either end, they’re flat so you can screw stuff into it. If you have Instagram, check out @renaulttraficcamperconversion, I’m pretty sure if you go back far enough they’re should be pictures of me mid way through doing it that will show you what I did!

[@yeyetom]

@@tomhphotographic Thats great stuff thanks for that Tom, I'll check out your instagram

[@toppertruthio]

so is that a bed or just a sofa?

[@tomhphotographic]

in this video it is literally a sofa bed....had a clink clack system so it would stay up for a sofa and you could clack it down flat to turn into a bed...was the worst idea ever and have since replaced it with a custom sliding bed and proper cushions!

[@andrewreid380]

Good job, what's the mpg like?

[@tomhphotographic]

andrew reid thanks for watching! I’m afraid I have absolutely no idea, I drive it so little I must have filled it up maybe 5 times in the last few years, and have never worked it out as the computer doesn’t tell me. This last August gone I put £40 into it, went around the Isle of Wight for a week. Last week I put another £20 in it just because I was feeling a bit flush! Maybe next summer I’ll work it out, and make a video about it. Mind you I said that about how much the van build cost and still haven’t done it!

[@andrewreid380]

@@tomhphotographic It's brilliant I'm getting a van soon myself probably a traffic or vivaro, like yourself I will use wood for the roof and just put fabric over the ply to keep the weight down. Not sure to permanently fix a solar panel to the roof or keep it inside with a goal zero.

[@chiccoka]

is that 10cm thick insulation sir?

[@tomhphotographic]

I do believe it is, its the standard dialls recycled plastic bottle loft insulation you can buy from B&Q, but its also super flexible and squashable so was able to pop it in the tightest of spaces.

[@81wolverine81]

Nice Camper Tom! How long did it take you?

[@tomhphotographic]

Thomas Hanssen so it took about 6 months to get it usable, took it over to the isle Wight in August but only bought the van and started the conversion in January that year. It’s still ongoing, forever making changes and adding things as seen in my other videos. It’s never truly finished!

[@upvalue]

Cool build! Do you have the short or long wheelbase?

[@tomhphotographic]

Thanks! I have the short wheel base and low roof. So basically the smallest version of the trafic. It is surprisingly spacious, although I would say next time I am going to make a bed rather than use a sofa bed! That way I can make it lower down with the wheel arches to improve headroom.

[@bensay1835]

Hi Tom, I love the conversion. At the point of the end of the video what would you say you spent on the conversion?

[@tomhphotographic]

Hi Ben. A fair old bit including the cost of the van itself! I won't go into it too much here as I actually have a video planned soon on the total spend as I have kept track of it. So please subscribe if you haven't already as I will upload this soon so you can see :)

[@marilynwisbey9446]

What is the height of renault van please?

[@andrewreid380]

I was wondering the same: 1,971mm swb low roof. 2,465 swb high roof, same measurements for the lwb.

[@allanb52]

DO NOT DO IT THIS WAY. I have a Vivaro and if you remove the lugs on the roof beams (8 if I remember) use a little silver bubble wrap between, them you can minimise the internal height loss. Use 6mm ply covered in a good quality 4 way stretch wall carpet. For the same reason, with the floor, one layer of silver and then screw down 10mm marine ply and carpet. You will end up with a "sit up straight" ceiling height and I am 6ft tall. Also dont panel over the window cut outs they provide extra internal space and a good quality carpet material and carpet on the floor, provides ample heat and sound insulation. Of course rockwool all the cavities prior to paneling, but our van has enough insulation, a lot of extra space inside and has retained a great ceiling height. As for electrics, I have no solar, no second battery, no split charge system and have never had a problem. I wire my cold box to only work when the engine is running, or use a leccy hook up and that has saved me a lot of money and complication. I only have USB charging points and a couple of LED lights which use nothing. I have actually now fitted the larger battery at the last change and do keep a lithium power/jump start pack just in case, but have only used it once to help someone else out. The downside of my system is that I lose 1/2 litre of milk per year and buy my chilled beer in a bar...and socialise.

[@shadowwolfXD97]

I was going to go with roughly the Same method with thin insulation boards in recessed bits and insulation foil all over, do you find it warm enough?

[@tomhphotographic]

You probably don't require this reply now...however yes we do, and to be honest, nearly everywhere we have been has had electric hookup and we have a small electric heater inside that doesn't take long to heat it up at all, especially with two of us inside!

[@ремонтванныхкомнатподключ]

Братуха привет мне нужны задние двери на рено трафик.через тебя можно купить?

[@martinandersson9909]

Foam i a van😬 It sucks water and Will mould.

[@tomhphotographic]

There no foam in this van at all? If you’re referring to the insulation it’s recycled plastic bottles, so is all plastic and doesn’t absorb water. Either way this video is a few years old, and the van is not damp nor mouldy!

[@bobjackson4720]

I'm surprised you haven't been charged with a hate crime for showing a Union Jack in crazy multicultural Britain.

[@tomhphotographic]

Bob Jackson controversial eh? Haha

[@bobjackson4720]

Just a comment about the stuff I see on KZbin featuring UK and its hardline PM

[@peadair1]

the tunes made me feel like i was on a bad trip

[@paulamartin2489]

good video but get rid of that stupid music dude.

[@charlyra2059]

Con esa bandera paso a ser la peor del mundo !