Camper conversion

[John M]

I haven't taken delivery of my car yet but when I do (Two weeks to go) I am considering making a tent to go over the back and convert it into a camper. It is something I always wanted to do back in the 70's when my Renault 4 was my only form of transport. Now I get the chance to do it with my pristine import.
So, my question is; Has anyone any advice on pitfalls to avoid? I assume it has been done before?

 

[JonathanT]

Hello John ...pristine import sounds tantalising! Having just spent a small fortune and hundreds of hours welding out the uk from mine
Re tent
I have seen this done on vintage hatch backs and I guess you would need a specialist made affair or alternatively a so called drive away awning. This type designed for camper vans predominantly are free standing by nature so you can do just that. An access door with a flange then mates with the vehicle . I do have a surplus vintage canvas awning designed for an Eriba puck in Orange and blue if that helps. Poles are bit heavy though and I will be selling on eBay come the spring

 

[John M]

Thanks Jonathan, I have been down the "do it up" route before and decided to bite the bullet and pay for a good one. I have some ventile canvas which is wonderfully breathable and ideal for a tent such as I have made for my Wayfarer sailing dinghy which my old R4 back in the 70's towed over the M62. Admittedly in third gear but it got there. I wouldn't do it now having weighed the boat and trailer at 480 kg but back then things were different.

 

[Wombelina]

This is a genius idea John - Nothing helpful to add I'm afraid but as I'd love to do this myself (with inspiration from this film http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_4895-Renault-4-Camping-car-1969.html) I can't wait to your finished project. Best of luck!

 

[John M]

Thanks for your reply. It is just a matter of getting the car home now. The garage I am getting it from http://www.bramfield-garage.co.uk/ has to register it in this country and get it made out to me. The owner, Ansis, has someone in France who sources R4's for him. A useful contact if you are looking for another car. I believe he has a "doer upper" for someone to take on.

 

[harbourseal]

Are you looking for something Like this? Both these Tents are costum made in the Netherlands for the big van versions.
A good sail maker can probably make something similar for you.

I

 

[John M]

No, nothing quite so grand. Mine will be quite bijou, ideal for a quick overnight stop in a lay-by or halfway up a mountain.

 

[John M]

This is what I had in mind. The boot is horizontal. a floor slides out and is supported on legs. A canvas tent fills in where the red lines are. Room for two?

 

[snailshed]

So remembering an article in Practical Classics some years ago check out a Bedford HA Beagle camper van (They may have been called Roma's?). They had a similar type arrangement but made of alloy sheet. A quick google reveals that they can also have fabric versions too!

[URL='http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCNXj3p2Lu8gCFQedGgodPwoHBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fflickrhivemind.net%2FTags%2Fbeagle%2Cbedford%2FRecent&psig=AFQjCNHcMh5QvCcdB6sJmktzFM4J4rxQPg&ust=1444675640661495'][/URL]

I have always loved this idea of micro campers. Call me a philistine but I prefer the idea of cutting the roof right out of an R4 car and adding an elevating type roof similar to the above with a full width bed in it, and pairing it with an R4 Sinpar (4x4) conversion!

Best of luck with the plan. A simpler (though less cool) plan might be one of these on a roof rack.

 

[JonathanT]

John this is an interesting thread...In many ways ...Bramfeild Garage is not do far from me yet I knew nothing of it. Had I have done I would have bought my R4 from there.......Micro Camper....I remember as a boy I'm guessing early 70s the butcher delivering stuff to mum just as he was about to leave on holiday for the first time in his hillman mini camper.... It was dark green and had Venetian blinds in the back....really smart he was very proud of it. Totally understand where you are going with a quickly deployed car mounted tent. No contact with ground and therefore doesn't matter how rubbishy the ground might be. I tow an Eriba Puck caravan with mine. It tows really well even with 4 of us in the car and all the stuff for a weeks holiday

 

[John M]

Thanks for the van ideas. It brings back memories of when I had a Viva van. How much does the Eriba weigh does it fall within the 80% of the car weight?

 

[JonathanT]

'Sweet Pea' caravan is 600kg car approx 750 so just on it. Disc brakes on front and the 1100 engine helps

 

[Neil]

No, nothing quite so grand. Mine will be quite bijou, ideal for a quick overnight stop in a lay-by or halfway up a mountain.

Hello John,
Great idea mate, and i raise my hat to all the examples shown. In ten years of full-time travelling, we've seen all-sorts. From tear-drop mini caravans behind tandem cycles, to multi-axle doppledekker mobile gin palaces.
But my point is this..... you mention the '70s, so we could be in the same age group. Please take extra care when casual night parking. It goes without saying.... we live in dodgy times!
Regards

 

[mr-reno-139]

By coincidence I've just had this come up on facebook maybe this idea would work
Interesting concept and more secure than a tent https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1127935393902139&id=770388842990131
Not sure if you have to be facebook user for link to work

 

[John M]

Now that is interesting! but I think I will stick with the simple option. I like simple. DVLA are dragging their feet over over registering my car so I will just have to dream of things I am going to do.

 

[reidalpine]

why not go the whole hog and locate an F4 with Spanish higher roof and copy that F4 VAGABOND ?
-guess the originals are Very hard to locate these days.It looked really nice by the way.There was
one up for sale in Sweden a couple years ago.Think it was on youtube also.. -R.

 

[angel]

Do you have pictures / specs about the inside of the Vagabond? Was it really built to accomodate two normal sized human beings?

 

[reidalpine]

Sorry Angelos-I don't have pictures of it.I used to have an original sales-leaflet but gone by now.
-but yes, it had two beds one each side high up,wash-sinc and cooker mounted on rear-hatch
It even had a sky-light window in the front of the rised roof and also boosted
"Ample Luxury Accomodations Inside" -R.

 

[Teodor]

Greetings, while repairing a White R4 Gtl, I'm working on a project which would allow two people to sleep inside, having a tent which covers the back door and has a transparent window, as well as a zipper door. It would contain a cooking stove, sink, fold out table and have storage space. It would also be removable and very easy to mount. The tent would cover everything and seal the underneath of the car too. Wind and water proof, as well as foldable and durable. Modular in a sense, that would allow me to add and connect another tent.
A friend of mine has a sunroof, and perhaps one day I shall have one too and incorporate everything together and make more room to sleep above.
If this project takes wind, I'll be sure to post a step by step guide on how to make everything, since it is after all a DIY project.

 

[Paul Narramore]

I enjoy going to classic bike/car events and so on and would like the option of staying overnight. So I have been looking at various options such as the Eriba Puck, 2-berth trailer tents such as the Cabanon Venus, and roof mounted tents. Bearing in mind the R4GTL engine only pushes out 34bhp, weight is important (for me). I have been assured that the Eriba is fine but I have my doubts. 2-berth trailer tents are very scarce compared to 4, 6 or more berth trailer tents, roof tents are very expensive and I refuse anymore to subject myself to more sleepless nights in my tent.