Think carefully about a trailer. They're fine once you're used to towing them on the roads, but they do add a lot of stress if you are traveling extensively. It complicates overnight parking. You always have to keep it in mind even pulling over for a wee, making sure the parking lot has space to maneuver. If you are visiting unfamiliar cities often and have to make U turns while finding your way around, etc..
I'd second not taking a trailer if possible. Both a mobility and security nightmare. Just spent 6 months in a self built mwb in Europe - parking, driving in villages was at times challenging. Keeping your stuff out of sight is important from a security standpoint. Hit me up if you want more info.
Ben make sure you full research (I'm sure you will have) the licence requirements for towing trailers. I know some who have been caught out. Keep up the great videos. All the best for the season.🤘
For gawd's sake make sure you take every precaution with security - alarms, bars, the works. I've read too many stories of bikes getting nicked out of vans. Especially goes for the trailer - make sure no one can just undo it, hitch it to their own car and bugger off
Hi, we are a family of 4 traveling with 4 bikes all inside. The van is slightly bigger (ducato long wb and tallest hight), but as a general principle to get more space inside I would suggest the following:diesel heater for warmth and hot water, diesel stove, outdoor shower, shower curtain with magnets can be attached to the rear door, awning with additional side and front panel for those rainy days, min 300w of flexible solar panel on the top, small inverter to charge ebike, laptop and to use a hairdryer , roof window with vent fan, additional 12v fans inside, little composting toilet indoors in the cabin, min 3cm insulation on walls, cealing and floorboard etc. For t6 probably folding bed out of seats makes sense. Hope it helps.
Most important things are a bed, pee bottle, and a bucket to poop in. No fun going out to look for a toilet in the middle of the night or the rain. After that my wish list would include enough electricity to run a coffee maker and then a portable generator to run an air conditioner.
check out the lost co.'s van build. His looks like it would be great to live out of for a long time but being another big man at 200 cm have the bed go wall to wall. So stoked for you man this is gunna be absolutely sick! Cant wait to see the final product.
Rico looks so good. So much more practical than many of the lifestyle vans we see. Love it. I hope your new van can be equally interesting and creative, but I understand your need for something newer and smarter.
Very excited to watch this storey unfold. I have a LWB T5.1, I think the trick is to keep it simple and practical, the flash interiors are nice until they start being used 👍🏻
Compressor and outdoor shower complete with hot water at the back. Funny, this vid popped up in my feed from Ben, because I just started looking into wants vs needs for a biking camper van.
A heater that runs of your fuel tank, syphoning diesel at midnight in the pissing rain sucks! A tent/ orning that fits onto the sliding door, makes your space twice as big instantly. A built-in pressure washer, 12v ones are fine Pop top, the roof beds are alright but uses a rock and roll style bed, so much better. A big arse lock for your trailer to the van!
Expanding roof surely is a must have for you Ben. Seen a good T5 conversion or 2 but being able to stand up is probably critical. Sounds like you’ve got a great fan who is willing to help you out and give a little bit of sponsorship. Good luck for the season ahead. Perhaps you can call it the DH Privateer? Maybe tap up PinkBike?
yo ben, I know you have alot of needs, but i think the most important thing is it has too impresses the mtb ladies on the inside and outside , so stoked your racing next year lad
Should be a fun build!, heated outdoor shower, can use an attachment on the motor. diesel powered heater for nighttime, keep the whole unit nice and toasty. insulated walls / floor / ceiling, keep that heat in for cold nights, and ac in on hot days. stove that can move inside and out, large bed, swivel seats on the front so you have a place to sit on a rainy day. simple bike tray like bcpov and singletrack sampler have also check out bkxcs new van between the three you should be able to combine them and make the perfect unit.
I'm just stunned that you've been riding MTB so long and you don't already have a T6. I'm surprised you don't get turned away from world cups with that attitude.
I was going to say put a metal bar through pedal on old van to stop anyone knocking it but it's gone. Best bet is really good security I'd say and maybe a pump and outside hose. Good luck 👍🍻
Make sure you've got a mini Air compressor(super handy if It's also your workshop and can be mounted to the underside Of vehicle) , water blaster/ external wash station of Some sort. I've always thought a bed that can be raised into the ceiling would be spot on.
Had a transit with a Swivel/captain chairs & was a total nightmare to turn round, check out how it works first, If it uses pins to locate that are difficult to line up go for different design
Put the bikes on the trailer, this way you have a lot more room to use inside, mayby even an external bike rack instead? But then there is the risk of storing them outside overnight. I reckon the best idea is to store the bikes lengthwise with the front wheen removed, on one side, under the bench or bed, you don't need a lot of height above you to sleep comfortably, that way you get to use all the length avaible in the vechicle and not being limited by the storage area in the back. A solar panel somewhere could be very convenient, for the places that don't have power outlets to connect to, water etc. you have figured out, a portable shower cabin would be veyy useful, a rack to stand on, collapsible bed mayby? A side curtain roof for the weekends would be very useful too, preferably with some sort of quick detach system for the daily driving.
Sweeeeeet.. don't have any usefull sugestions as I don't have any experiences in building a campervan, but I'm looking forward how it turns out as it's my dream that I'll make a surf/bike campervan some day :)
1.Custom roof rack with a box or two, good for storing wet kit. 2. Awning! 3. Do not add unnecessary weight to the van by lining the panels with heavy noise deadening material. 4. Do not lower it. 5. Big Cathrovision Graphics! 6. Sexy slide out draws under a raised floor. Looking forward to this build. Jammy Bostad ( Swedish for residence)
Al'sRC a roll of sound deadening that did my entire high roof 144 Sprinter weighed less than 25 lbs and made a huge difference in quieting the van. Don’t skimp on key details like this! Game changers for me were: 1. Diesel heater 2. DC Refrigerator 3. Solar electric system 4. Running water. A high roof to allow you to stand and walk around means comfort! It also allows a high bed for big garage area.
I run lwb T6 currently for a bike and bed. Bed is a self build full width slide out affair. If camping for longer than 1 night or if raining I wish I’d gotten a pop top or a roof tent for sleeping leaving living and storing space below in main van. Although an lwb T6 is still small for a camper with bikes. I’d try and avoid a trailer (even as an hgv class1 driver) because of the points raised about security and it being a pain in the arse.
Just not physically possible to take all the tools, easy ups, chairs, tables bike stands and everything without taking a trailer. Had we come up with the racing plan before getting a van I might have gone for a crafter!
A 'custon MTB camper' has to use a Ducato/Relay/Boxer as a starting point so that you can have a transverse bed over the garage (you could do this with a Sprinter if you've got a couple of grand to spend on 'flares'). That then makes plenty of space available up front for toilet/shower, sink & hob, fridge, heating and seating. Captains chairs are also a must. Awnings give you extra external space. Look at 'adventure vans' from the US; 'Campovan' 'Syncvans' Elementum Adventure Vehicles' etc, these guys are pros and much more can be learned from them than from You-Tuber-first-time-converters.
cheers ben, i would definetly have a look at the campervans from other youtubers eg paul the punter or alex from the singletrack sampler channel...or the van from jill kintner, which is also a really gid one....also i would build in some seats which can turn around but i dunno what they r called
Will deffo look at how the single track sampler set up how dan where he put the bed meant he had loads of onboard storage with Pugh sacrificing too much space in the van
Assuming you're partitioning the back from the living again, and that you have enough depth for the width of the bars. To mount the bikes sideways again I've got a couple funky brackets that basically swing out and QR into the forks like the wheel would. The back wheel goes in a Clug, job done. It's gid cos the whole bike is solidly mounted without touching the bike itself. You're welcome to them if you want em.
I think pullout bike racks in the back are the way to go for camper conversions... :) but if you're going to have a trailer, than maybe they could fit in the trailer... on the other hand, if you always need to have a trailer in order to have a bike, this will probably limit the places you can go to...
definitely some 12v solar power for of the grid power 150w to 200w, Fiamma roll out side awning for extra shelter and the good old tailgate.a Night heater air tronic d2 with reomote start
Ben, you need to come see my camper in Birmingham. LWB Renault with room to store 3 bikes out of sight, tools, toilet,shower/drying room, the coolest roll down bed you’ve ever seen, extra bump bed for guests, stove,solar,night heater,extractor fans, compressor,jet wash and many more features specific for long MTB trips.
I'm a similar height, around 197cm, and even regular home beds are almost too short for me lol. I wish my bedroom in my apartment was bigger so I could get one of those long beds for tall folks.
My list Bed Cooker Oven Toilet Hot and cold water Media centre Usb charging points 240/12volt power points powered by inverter and battery for 12v Split charging system and solar charging Mains electric hookup Blown air heating lpg powered Led lighting Roof vent / skylight External shower with hot and cold water , can also be used to wash bikes. Bike garage Awning on outside either pull out or awning channel so you can use inflatable awning Will probably think of a few more things later. Basically think comfort it's to be a home from home and a workplace.
Cheers Ben for uploading this, cause Me and my dad were wanting ideas for our van! 👍🏻🤟🏻🤣❤️🇬🇧🏴🇵🇪🇫🇷🇱🇷🚵🏻♂️🔥💴🎥📷🎄🏠 P.S definitely not copying you #copywithcathro🤣🤣🤣
Check the dvla for newest campervn conversion rules if you wish to get it changed on the vans documents for cheaper insurance etc. High roof vans only these days unfortunately
CJL Bikevans/Leisurevans have some pretty good ideas on their Instagram page and the VW Crafter Vanworx have recently converted is 1 of the best I've seen
Have a look at the singletrack sampler channel on UA-cam he built a van he lives and works out of might have some good ideas for your build and good luck for the upcoming season
Check out Eric and Yuka's van build or Paul's(the punter). But Paul had it built by pros though.. Maybe Alex of Singletrack Sampler? Or that of Jill Kintner's epic van?
I’m surprised you didn’t get in contact with Vanguard Conversions in fort william. This would of been right up there street. We all know how vital tunage is. Just make sure you get some component speakers in there and a decent head unit. Maybe the Halo9 which would be a great sat nav too 👍🏻
It’s a shame you can’t get hold of a VW Crafter I reckon that would be better for long term living. A Transporter would suit short weekend trips. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Check out "the singletrack sampler". He did a van for the conversion with the help of, among others, seth's bike hacks. You can probably find a lot of inspiration there.
Hey Ben, My Wife and I are currently converting a LWB Ford transit custom into a camper. I use this van as my every day van and we are big into our biking and wanted to have a bike garage but didn’t want to compromise on the living space. I am 6’4” and would recommend a pop top by the way as it helps when getting changed and for cooking etc... Swivel seats are a must to make the most of the living space. Like you we live in Scotland and want to use our van all year round, so get yourself a Diesel heater. They are amazing, we were out in ours a few weeks back in -6*C and proper toasty! I can send you some pic’s of what we have done if that would help?
Ben Cathro do you have any idea how you are going to mount your bikes? We looked at loads of different ways and ended up using the EVOC bike bag mounts. It works a treat. Our bike garage is 65cm deep and that fits both my XXL Hightower and my wife medium-size Bronson. 👍
Is that Indomie Mie goreng in the storage I saw?..... that noodles really good, eh? especially when you cook it with egg + corned beef + a little bit veggies on the side as well
Bloody hell Ben. I work for Alliance Healthcare and we're constantly running out of those plastic boxes, always wondering where they keep ending up... Turns out Ben's using them for his spares parts! The company literally spends 6 figures every year to replace the ones that go missing! Anyway, as long as you don't have the Hawaiian flowers hanging from the rear view mirror on the T6 you'll still be a respectable gentleman.
Hoping Ben will see this, i am looking at getting a transit (or maybe a trafic) but ive been trying to fit my bike in like you have in this video and it wont fit? Is there some special tetris move i need to use?
IMPORTANT POINT! I'll be towing a trailer to the world cups so we don't have to fit EVERYTHING in!
Also - instagram.com/ben_cathro
You may have already seen it but Seth's bike hacks did a video or two on converting a van
Remember the Gump trailer? That bad boy was small and managed to carry a few bikes around with shelving for tools and spares.
Think carefully about a trailer. They're fine once you're used to towing them on the roads, but they do add a lot of stress if you are traveling extensively. It complicates overnight parking. You always have to keep it in mind even pulling over for a wee, making sure the parking lot has space to maneuver. If you are visiting unfamiliar cities often and have to make U turns while finding your way around, etc..
I'd second not taking a trailer if possible. Both a mobility and security nightmare. Just spent 6 months in a self built mwb in Europe - parking, driving in villages was at times challenging. Keeping your stuff out of sight is important from a security standpoint. Hit me up if you want more info.
Ben make sure you full research (I'm sure you will have) the licence requirements for towing trailers. I know some who have been caught out. Keep up the great videos. All the best for the season.🤘
For gawd's sake make sure you take every precaution with security - alarms, bars, the works. I've read too many stories of bikes getting nicked out of vans. Especially goes for the trailer - make sure no one can just undo it, hitch it to their own car and bugger off
I would say that the most important things to have are swivel driver and passenger seats. Finally a good power source and storage.
Yes cathro! Look forward to watching the journey
Hi Ben, my 5 year old daughter (who has watched A LOT of van build videos) says you will need to make a hole in the floor to wee out of.
Hi, we are a family of 4 traveling with 4 bikes all inside. The van is slightly bigger (ducato long wb and tallest hight), but as a general principle to get more space inside I would suggest the following:diesel heater for warmth and hot water, diesel stove, outdoor shower, shower curtain with magnets can be attached to the rear door, awning with additional side and front panel for those rainy days, min 300w of flexible solar panel on the top, small inverter to charge ebike, laptop and to use a hairdryer , roof window with vent fan, additional 12v fans inside, little composting toilet indoors in the cabin, min 3cm insulation on walls, cealing and floorboard etc. For t6 probably folding bed out of seats makes sense. Hope it helps.
A slide out rack with the bikes standing up would be epic abit like Alex's from the single track sampler
Jordan Beat me to it. Stacking bikes in the van is the biggest chore with a van, but beats cleaning and drying them after strip on the back of a car
A telly on the outside showing your films on a loop.
No.1- Night heater!!! As an hgv driver I swear by this bit of brilliance.
Most important things are a bed, pee bottle, and a bucket to poop in. No fun going out to look for a toilet in the middle of the night or the rain. After that my wish list would include enough electricity to run a coffee maker and then a portable generator to run an air conditioner.
I’m stoked for your camper! I’m pumped to be stoked that your racing again!🤘
Sliding Bike trays are a must!
check out the lost co.'s van build. His looks like it would be great to live out of for a long time but being another big man at 200 cm have the bed go wall to wall. So stoked for you man this is gunna be absolutely sick! Cant wait to see the final product.
Rico looks so good. So much more practical than many of the lifestyle vans we see. Love it. I hope your new van can be equally interesting and creative, but I understand your need for something newer and smarter.
Very excited to watch this storey unfold. I have a LWB T5.1, I think the trick is to keep it simple and practical, the flash interiors are nice until they start being used 👍🏻
ROOF TENT! Leaves loads of room for everything and anything else
Jack OKeeffe nah, it’s like winter camping when it’s cold out and the stealth factor is zero with a tent. No need if you have a high roof van
Compressor and outdoor shower complete with hot water at the back.
Funny, this vid popped up in my feed from Ben, because I just started looking into wants vs needs for a biking camper van.
A heater that runs of your fuel tank, syphoning diesel at midnight in the pissing rain sucks!
A tent/ orning that fits onto the sliding door, makes your space twice as big instantly.
A built-in pressure washer, 12v ones are fine
Pop top, the roof beds are alright but uses a rock and roll style bed, so much better.
A big arse lock for your trailer to the van!
This is very cool the old transit was very good and indeed functional, buzzin for a new van the t6 is a beauty will be amazing
Check Jill Kintner’s van.
I think it’s one of the best one!
Definitely going to be my template when I finally build a van
Yes, exciting times Cathro!
Talk about getting lucky ! Damn so jealous . Hard work pays off dude !
So happy for you!!!
Great video. I like the bikes put in the van this way.
Expanding roof surely is a must have for you Ben. Seen a good T5 conversion or 2 but being able to stand up is probably critical. Sounds like you’ve got a great fan who is willing to help you out and give a little bit of sponsorship. Good luck for the season ahead. Perhaps you can call it the DH Privateer? Maybe tap up PinkBike?
Was just thinking yesterday I was missing your videos and would be nice to have videos covering the progress to get back into the world cup racing.
yo ben, I know you have alot of needs, but i think the most important thing is it has too impresses the mtb ladies on the inside and outside , so stoked your racing next year lad
Should be a fun build!,
heated outdoor shower, can use an attachment on the motor.
diesel powered heater for nighttime, keep the whole unit nice and toasty.
insulated walls / floor / ceiling, keep that heat in for cold nights, and ac in on hot days.
stove that can move inside and out,
large bed,
swivel seats on the front so you have a place to sit on a rainy day.
simple bike tray like bcpov and singletrack sampler have also check out bkxcs new van between the three you should be able to combine them and make the perfect unit.
Please keep doing videos like this! Giving me ideas 💡
Definitely do the sliding bike storage/garage area with the bed on top of them but you should also make room for a couple pop-up tents for your pit
I'm just stunned that you've been riding MTB so long and you don't already have a T6. I'm surprised you don't get turned away from world cups with that attitude.
I was going to say put a metal bar through pedal on old van to stop anyone knocking it but it's gone. Best bet is really good security I'd say and maybe a pump and outside hose. Good luck 👍🍻
Make sure you've got a mini Air compressor(super handy if It's also your workshop and can be mounted to the underside Of vehicle) , water blaster/ external wash station of Some sort. I've always thought a bed that can be raised into the ceiling would be spot on.
Swivel/captain chairs for the front will give you lots of extra space and obviously when not driving, extra seating.
Had a transit with a Swivel/captain chairs & was a total nightmare to turn round, check out how it works first, If it uses pins to locate that are difficult to line up go for different design
I really like the Van of the Singletrack Sampler!!!
the bike tray storage under the bed at the rear works really well
That is a beautiful van !!
Put the bikes on the trailer, this way you have a lot more room to use inside, mayby even an external bike rack instead? But then there is the risk of storing them outside overnight. I reckon the best idea is to store the bikes lengthwise with the front wheen removed, on one side, under the bench or bed, you don't need a lot of height above you to sleep comfortably, that way you get to use all the length avaible in the vechicle and not being limited by the storage area in the back. A solar panel somewhere could be very convenient, for the places that don't have power outlets to connect to, water etc. you have figured out, a portable shower cabin would be veyy useful, a rack to stand on, collapsible bed mayby? A side curtain roof for the weekends would be very useful too, preferably with some sort of quick detach system for the daily driving.
Hannahandvannah's van is abolutely amazing
Sweeeeeet.. don't have any usefull sugestions as I don't have any experiences in building a campervan, but I'm looking forward how it turns out as it's my dream that I'll make a surf/bike campervan some day :)
That’s the dream dude. On yer self lad 🤘
1.Custom roof rack with a box or two, good for storing wet kit. 2. Awning! 3. Do not add unnecessary weight to the van by lining the panels with heavy noise deadening material. 4. Do not lower it. 5. Big Cathrovision Graphics! 6. Sexy slide out draws under a raised floor. Looking forward to this build. Jammy Bostad ( Swedish for residence)
Al'sRC a roll of sound deadening that did my entire high roof 144 Sprinter weighed less than 25 lbs and made a huge difference in quieting the van. Don’t skimp on key details like this! Game changers for me were: 1. Diesel heater 2. DC Refrigerator 3. Solar electric system 4. Running water. A high roof to allow you to stand and walk around means comfort! It also allows a high bed for big garage area.
Bumper sticker “when the vans” you know the rest 😁👍
I run lwb T6 currently for a bike and bed. Bed is a self build full width slide out affair. If camping for longer than 1 night or if raining I wish I’d gotten a pop top or a roof tent for sleeping leaving living and storing space below in main van.
Although an lwb T6 is still small for a camper with bikes. I’d try and avoid a trailer (even as an hgv class1 driver) because of the points raised about security and it being a pain in the arse.
Just not physically possible to take all the tools, easy ups, chairs, tables bike stands and everything without taking a trailer. Had we come up with the racing plan before getting a van I might have gone for a crafter!
Best recommendation I can think of is figuring out a way to dry out wet clothing. Mold isn't your friend.
Defo gonna need a bar and a hot-tub in yer new whip. Actually so excited to see you racing world cups. Better get a top 10 :)
No promises 🤫
A 'custon MTB camper' has to use a Ducato/Relay/Boxer as a starting point so that you can have a transverse bed over the garage (you could do this with a Sprinter if you've got a couple of grand to spend on 'flares'). That then makes plenty of space available up front for toilet/shower, sink & hob, fridge, heating and seating. Captains chairs are also a must. Awnings give you extra external space. Look at 'adventure vans' from the US; 'Campovan' 'Syncvans' Elementum Adventure Vehicles' etc, these guys are pros and much more can be learned from them than from You-Tuber-first-time-converters.
Good info Don! Wil have a search using our keywords. 👍🏻
cheers ben, i would definetly have a look at the campervans from other youtubers eg paul the punter or alex from the singletrack sampler channel...or the van from jill kintner, which is also a really gid one....also i would build in some seats which can turn around but i dunno what they r called
Chinese diesel night heater. Just over 100 quid, I have been using one for thr last few months. Faultless!
Anyone else miss cathro vison and fucking love it.
Rad💯
Will deffo look at how the single track sampler set up how dan where he put the bed meant he had loads of onboard storage with Pugh sacrificing too much space in the van
Assuming you're partitioning the back from the living again, and that you have enough depth for the width of the bars.
To mount the bikes sideways again I've got a couple funky brackets that basically swing out and QR into the forks like the wheel would.
The back wheel goes in a Clug, job done.
It's gid cos the whole bike is solidly mounted without touching the bike itself.
You're welcome to them if you want em.
Bike slide out trays for easy loading/un-loading.
Nice editing
T6 high roof 4motion with platform bed, Iv done this can get 5 bikes under, a ton of storage and has a full width double bed 👌.
I think pullout bike racks in the back are the way to go for camper conversions... :) but if you're going to have a trailer, than maybe they could fit in the trailer... on the other hand, if you always need to have a trailer in order to have a bike, this will probably limit the places you can go to...
Ben, 100% look at singletrack sampler and BKXC's camper conversions. You will pick up some good tips from those guys.
Look forward to this...try and get a captain seat in
definitely some 12v solar power for of the grid power 150w to 200w, Fiamma roll out side awning for extra shelter and the good old tailgate.a Night heater air tronic d2 with reomote start
Check out The Singletrack Sampler van. It’s got some sweet bike storage ideas.
New build needs a trophy cabinet! ⚡⚡⚡
Are UCI giving out participation trophies next year? 😂
Need to have a canopy system/ makeshift pit area.
check out BKXC and Paul the Punter's new vans ! Got some amazing ideas, especially the rear view camera on BKXC's.
Ben, you need to come see my camper in Birmingham. LWB Renault with room to store 3 bikes out of sight, tools, toilet,shower/drying room, the coolest roll down bed you’ve ever seen, extra bump bed for guests, stove,solar,night heater,extractor fans, compressor,jet wash and many more features specific for long MTB trips.
That sounds amazing 😍 got any pictures or vids anywhere?
Ben Cathro I will sort something out. What’s the best way to get them to you?
Mat Power direct message on insta? instagram.com/ben_cathro
Do a van tour video, mate!
Pop up roof, awning and VWs 'doubleback' system will make the living area much larger.
That double back thing is insane!
I'm a similar height, around 197cm, and even regular home beds are almost too short for me lol. I wish my bedroom in my apartment was bigger so I could get one of those long beds for tall folks.
The trailer will produce quite a bit of drag so it might acc be more efficient to drive a big van that has everything
Still have to use it for driving round town though. Best compromise is small van and trailer.
The singltrack samplers van is pretty mint
twice the size
Get a crafter !!!!!!!
My list
Bed
Cooker
Oven
Toilet
Hot and cold water
Media centre
Usb charging points
240/12volt power points powered by inverter and battery for 12v
Split charging system and solar charging
Mains electric hookup
Blown air heating lpg powered
Led lighting
Roof vent / skylight
External shower with hot and cold water , can also be used to wash bikes.
Bike garage
Awning on outside either pull out or awning channel so you can use inflatable awning
Will probably think of a few more things later. Basically think comfort it's to be a home from home and a workplace.
Cheers Ben for uploading this, cause Me and my dad were wanting ideas for our van! 👍🏻🤟🏻🤣❤️🇬🇧🏴🇵🇪🇫🇷🇱🇷🚵🏻♂️🔥💴🎥📷🎄🏠 P.S definitely not copying you #copywithcathro🤣🤣🤣
Check the dvla for newest campervn conversion rules if you wish to get it changed on the vans documents for cheaper insurance etc. High roof vans only these days unfortunately
The buggers!
Outdoor shower👌👌👌
When did Ben get married or did I just forget 😂
not long ago
he just had his honey moon
CJL Bikevans/Leisurevans have some pretty good ideas on their Instagram page and the VW Crafter Vanworx have recently converted is 1 of the best I've seen
Have a look at the singletrack sampler channel on UA-cam he built a van he lives and works out of might have some good ideas for your build and good luck for the upcoming season
Check out Eric and Yuka's van build or Paul's(the punter). But Paul had it built by pros though.. Maybe Alex of Singletrack Sampler? Or that of Jill Kintner's epic van?
I’m surprised you didn’t get in contact with Vanguard Conversions in fort william. This would of been right up there street.
We all know how vital tunage is. Just make sure you get some component speakers in there and a decent head unit. Maybe the Halo9 which would be a great sat nav too 👍🏻
Ooh, hadn’t even thought of upgrading the speakers. Good shout.
Ben Cathro no worries. I would highly recommend getting in touch with Studio Incar ... he might be able to hook you up with a great deal.
It’s a shame you can’t get hold of a VW Crafter I reckon that would be better for long term living. A Transporter would suit short weekend trips.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Maybe next year!
Ben, maybe watch single track samplers video about building his van, or jill kintner has a pretty neat set up.
Check out "the singletrack sampler". He did a van for the conversion with the help of, among others, seth's bike hacks.
You can probably find a lot of inspiration there.
The “Ben Aw Weys”
Hot tub for sure! Essential.
So cool, Ben! Electric pump for the sink is a must. Can’t wait to see the build.
Gary Riggs foot pump is simpler and saves water.
True, however, having used both, I much prefer the convenience of an electric pump.
have a look at Alex Honnolds Camper!
Hey Ben, My Wife and I are currently converting a LWB Ford transit custom into a camper. I use this van as my every day van and we are big into our biking and wanted to have a bike garage but didn’t want to compromise on the living space. I am 6’4” and would recommend a pop top by the way as it helps when getting changed and for cooking etc... Swivel seats are a must to make the most of the living space. Like you we live in Scotland and want to use our van all year round, so get yourself a Diesel heater. They are amazing, we were out in ours a few weeks back in -6*C and proper toasty! I can send you some pic’s of what we have done if that would help?
Got all3 of those items on the lis! Thanks
Got all 3 of those items on the list! Thanks!
Ben Cathro do you have any idea how you are going to mount your bikes? We looked at loads of different ways and ended up using the EVOC bike bag mounts. It works a treat. Our bike garage is 65cm deep and that fits both my XXL Hightower and my wife medium-size Bronson. 👍
@@BenCathro Road bike handle bars & direct mount DH stem make a good bike hook!
check out the Singletrack Sampler and Paul the Punter on their builds and I think that BKXC maybe doing one as well
Is that Indomie Mie goreng in the storage I saw?..... that noodles really good, eh? especially when you cook it with egg + corned beef + a little bit veggies on the side as well
Good spot! Bloody love the Mi Goreng’s 😋
If you’re travelling to all the world cups in it, it’s definitely going to need a propeller to get across the Atlantic 😂
I’m thinking wings and a rocket 🚀
You need under seat storage in the front it’s amazing and you need twisting seats
How can you do the storage? I though they were solid boxes.
I’d start with a Crafter.
Would be the sensible option 😂
Go a pop top, being able to stand up is a godsend
On it!
Skip the pop top and get a high roof!
Check out The Singletrack Sampler, he has several videos on the build of his van
Bloody hell Ben. I work for Alliance Healthcare and we're constantly running out of those plastic boxes, always wondering where they keep ending up... Turns out Ben's using them for his spares parts! The company literally spends 6 figures every year to replace the ones that go missing! Anyway, as long as you don't have the Hawaiian flowers hanging from the rear view mirror on the T6 you'll still be a respectable gentleman.
I honestly have no idea where it came from 😂 bloody solid little box though!
Can't beat a good tote box or three. The blue BG ones are pretty good 😁
Jill Kintner's an Bryns sprinter van! check out thier IG!
Sent you a link on messenger that you can pick ideas from. Didn’t know if I could post a link in UA-cam comments.
Hoping Ben will see this, i am looking at getting a transit (or maybe a trafic) but ive been trying to fit my bike in like you have in this video and it wont fit? Is there some special tetris move i need to use?
You could have a little wash machine to clean your bikes after every ride
T6 is a nice van. But surely for all your bikes and traveling to world cups you would need something a bit bigger ?
sliding racks for the bikes to go on in the back with the bed above? only have to take off one wheel...