Mini Race Transporter
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There was some requests to put up some photo's of the build of my van I converted to cary the mini around. So here it is

I'm using a 2000 VW LT35 Luton van as a base vehicle. The plan is to have a mini in the back 10ft of the van, with a very compact camper in the 5ft in front of the car, with the worktops over the bonnet of the mini, and the bed on the roof. But I will have the two rooms sealed between each other.

So Far this is what I have managed todo.
Here is the Van as it was on ebay, MOT Failure.


There was not much needed for the MOT handbrake cable and lower ball joint.

Once the MOT was issued, I removed the luton box cleaned the chassis to check further for rot.




It was better than expected, so I simply repainted the chassis



With the Chassis complete I moved on to the cab, this was a bit scruffy, but came out better than I exepceted





Now it was time to move on to the luton box. Being GRP and Ally framed there was no rot anywhere. But the prevoius owner used the van for filming some tv series why they did makeup in the back of the van, there was screws everywhere, each one used was 1mm too long and was sticking out of the outside skin of the box.

[img]http://www.jimboandlaura.co.uk/Camper/slides/19092009090.jpg[img]



This took ages to prep and paint, such a large area. Here is a photo of it all back together and ready to start work on the inside.



A 1991 Avondale caravan was purchased to used a donnor for its windows, door, water heater, fridge, bathroom and water fittings etc.



The inside of the van was then gutted of all the make studio bits to be left with an empty box.

I then started off by insulating the floor and walls, as I'm trying to use every mm of space I have used foil covered bubble wrap insulation. This was bonded to the walls & floor.



you can see in this photo the start of the timber work going in for the suspended ceiling. This will be used to screw foamex pannels to.



Foamex pannels where also bonded to the walls on top of the insulation.

The Water heater was fitted to the front of the luton box


Holes where cut for the cassete toilet waste, and windows. This was scary as I was sure I was going to put it in the wrong place.


I then fitted the roof window to the van, and started putting up the foamex on the roof.



The Side door was then fitted



More insulation to go in, this time the inside of the rear roller door was done.


LED Downlights started to be fitted


I started building a timber frame for storage over the cab in the luton box, this is why I picked a small wife.



fomex panel coving the timber frame


I then started to build the shower / Loo room



and inside the bathroom




For the heating I use a diesel heater, this will also be hooked up to the same remote control which control the lights etc,



heater outlet and control



Here I add somre more insulation this time to the roof. After doing this we had the inside of the van 25 deg and the frost was not metling on the roof of the van so it was doing it's job well :)



I did some more work on the storage area above the cab



I then fitted the fridge and battery bank under it. I use the battery's for running lights, and the 3000w pure sine inverter. Gas pipes and have also been run to the water heater and fridge. Another window is also added


Now I worked on the frame which would carry the bed, and the worktop, sink, hob and grill. I wanted this whole frame to be moveable so I could have more floor space for a table when the mini was not in the van.
I had to make this quite a bit higher than was needed for my turbo mini as our autograss car is quite tall



I then got the spray gun out, and painted the bits ready for assembly in the van



Here is the frame in the van


I also had some more parts arrive so fitted the LED 'Shag' strip lights up, also seen in strip clubs around the uk


I then started on the support for the worktop


Here is a sight that only Nic has seen so far, my wife on the bed


I then moved my efforts back to the bathroom and boxed in around the water heater




I had some 1mm stainless folded for the worktop and splash back pannel, here is it with it's plastic coating still on


More boxing it around the roof window,



I then draw up some ramps in CAD and got turbodave todo the FEA on them for me.

10ft long, so made from 3mm ally to keep the weight down



and then here they are folded up.


I then added the support edge to the ramp and cracked my tig out, I need more practice.



I've not got any more photo's of the van online at the moment, I'll upload some more later, here is one with the class 1 mini in the back


Plenty of room

It's still not finished yet, and I had to remove all the ceiling last week as my brother took the 10'7 van under an 8'6 bridge, it's back together now as seen at avon last week, but not as good as it was :(

Team Racing

Nice one, I don't know where you find the time!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

thats why I've not touched my mini this year and lost 20bhp :(

Team Racing

thats impressive! good work jim


rich

2012 Avon class c 2nd place 13.8 @98mph

top stuff :)

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

Excellent mate

I seriously doubt it!

Top work James!

top work!!, should do the job nicely!!

thats awesome!!!!!!!

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

a good effort there! love it!

that really is a sweet bit of kit!

we'll all be able to see when Jim and Laura are getting their 'rock on' in the van. lol

Thats superb Jim - wish I had the room to keep something like that!

Brilliant !

"So wat we gonna do tonight Brain?"
"Same thing we do evernight Pinky!"
"Try to take over the world!"

Can you build me one, lol?

very impressive, like that a lot!! glad i asked to see piccys...... you got any idea how much youve spent in total if you dont mind me asking?? Feel free to tell me to mind my own!!

And on the 7th day........... God created turbochargers!

Including buying the van, about £4-5k

Team Racing

Thanks again for that Nic, luckily nobody beleaved it as he talks so much shit

Team Racing

Great work guys, very impressive !!!

1972 998 TURBO SLEEPER

nice one, its looking great top job!

well impressed.... how you get your wife to agree to all this is amazing....

That's awesome Jim, good skills!

TOP stuff jim, and you have a Good looking assistant

Great van !

Rusty by nature