the BIGGEST problem with a van conversion is...

[@A-Nobody]

Interesting video. I think the biggest mistake van builds entail is Bhp. I have a Boxer 160Bhp....and it's oozes enough power maxxed out at 3.5 ton. No problem on recent 3 month trip in Spain even with all the exceptionally steep hills. A minimum of 160Bhp is the very minimum I would look at when purchasing a campervan.

[@FreedomStrider]

Very true, we chose our VW crafter with the biggest engine they come with (163bph twin turbo), the smallest engine is a single turbo 109bhp. At max weight I dread to think how much more strain the engine would be under!!!

[@CliffordDive]

I've just reached 70 and decided not to pay to maintain my licence to drive heavier vehicles, so I was worried by the weight issues on the LWB Crafter I'm converting. Watching your video prompted me to bite the bullet and go off to the weighbridge. Result! 2.86 tonnes without gas or water. That gives a workable margin, but it's designed for up to 5 berths, so it needs it. What was a lurking fear has now become a sense of relief. I had built it from the start on the basis of saving weight. The walls and ceilings have no framing but are bolted direct to steel, 12mm ply for floor and furniture and value space rather than filling it.

[@FreedomStrider]

Yep that's the way to do it and as painful as the going to weight it is, it's worth weighting it early on so you know what you're working with! Ignorance is bliss will bite you in the butt sooner or later

[@andrewmillerphotography]

Great explanation, and someting I was concious of when building my van. I'm always surprised when I see coach built vans with maybe 200kg os usable weight, or self built vans that are soooo obviously over weight!

[@FreedomStrider]

Well said, we knew we needed to think about it from the start, as much of a pain as it was to do so!

[@AMGMANIAC]

I gave up trying to save weight and decided early on that up plating was going to be part of the build process. I didn't want to compromise on what I felt was needed to support full time vanlife.

[@FreedomStrider]

For us, sticking to 3.5t was preferable due to the expenses that come with uprating (including the travel costs), so we took it as a challenge. At this point, we don't feel like we have sacrificed something, but, as we are at the weight limit, we can no longer innovate and build freely... so uprating is starting to seem more appealing ☺️

[@theoteam4641]

Well done, good video. Most people don’t talk about weight lol. I found we had over 1.2T of weight from just our belongings when fulltime lol, most of that weight is now gone now that we are part time lol. Our van is just under 3.5T because I used original floor board was was a mistake looking back at it now as that was about 100kg or so lol. If we build another van I’ll use very light insulation foam and not use PIR board as I found the insulation foam was better and could save me about 30-50kg in insulation alone and had about the same K value when doubled up lol

[@FreedomStrider]

Wow, I wonder how much our belongings weigh...scared to check 🤣 I would also use spray foam instead of our, to save on framing weight too, so many things to change👀

[@stevel1451]

I’m building a 316 Sprinter (one of my ex 500,000 k work vans ) and am determined to keep the gross weight under 2.5 tons. Performance and fuel economy is hugely degraded with weight.

[@FreedomStrider]

That would be an incredible achievement to keep it under 2.5t, as the empty weight is usually around 2.1t. It seems like you are hoping to do the conversation for 400-500kg?

[@stevel1451]

I know it sounds nearly impossible but I have been experimenting with 6061 aluminium folded for any framework, kitchen cabinets, bed framing, drawers and so on, even looking at insulated aluminium sandwich panel for the floor. Bit optimistic I know but I’ll see how it goes

[@FreedomStrider]

Would love to know how you get on 🙂

[@stevel1451]

Ok I’ll keep you posted

[@BarryandKaren]

Wow, 3500KGs is only roughly 7700lbs! Those same chassis (say, Mercedes Sprinters) in the USA have GVWR of ~ 11000lbs (5000KGs)!!!! My Ford E450 van can weigh 14000lbs (6363 KGs)

[@FreedomStrider]

Yep, its all to do with drivers licence in Europe. Anything Iver 3500kg you need an upgraded licence to drive

[@Quickblood1]

I've been a bit scared to weigh my van but it's a SWB and has one small kitchen cabinet so I should be OK even fully loaded with me and 25l of water. I've always wondered about US build where they use a ton of Hardwood for the cabinetry and then have an aluminium box on the rear for extra storage, how is that not overweight?

[@FreedomStrider]

In the US they don't have the 3.5t limit on their drivers license, alot of thier van are 4.2t to 5t

[@Quickblood1]

@@FreedomStrider Ah that makes sense

[@snapon1948]

Did you get van registered as a camper with DVLA ? Great video

[@FreedomStrider]

No, we never even bothered as we knew they wouldn't accept it

[@copperrolls]

Kicking the cat out at 11:25 - how much extra weight was that mate?

[@FreedomStrider]

Haha 😂... The cat is a whole 4kg and we have 2, that's 8kg... And they are both lunatics and need to be tired out... ready for a good night sleep.

[@griffdog7969]

1 box of Taco's and you're over the limit

[@FreedomStrider]

You're not wrong there 🤣👀

[@griffdog7969]

So what does you van weigh now?

[@FreedomStrider]

3.5t... exactly

[@jdcoverland365]

Sam: 3.5 tons GCWR or GVWR ?

[@FreedomStrider]

The 3.5 tonne is GCWR but doesn't include the wieght of passengers. We are exactly 3500kg with passengers. The van chassis is rated Upton 5000kg but you need to do paperwork and upgrade licence to drive it, but the important thing is the chassis is built to 5000kg 👍

[@jdcoverland365]

@@FreedomStrider I am looking at a Dodge 3500 series truck. GCWR is 13,641 KG GVWR is 6,364. Even with an inner/outer skin of 0.050 AL ,2" styrofoam I am almost maxed out. Stay safe.

[@toastiesvanbuild4644]

❤

[@FreedomStrider]

☺️