Here is our index page for self-build campervans and motorhomes
VAN 2 – Fiat Ducato Sportivo MH2
- Van type: Fiat Ducato Sportivo MH2
- Year 2020
- Type: Motorhome
- Brief spec: Fully winterised, shower room, loo, hob, professional finish, onboard garage for bikes & snowboards
- Build blog: CLICK HERE
Van 1 – NV200
- Van type: Nissan NV200
- Year: 2016
- Build dates: March – June 2016
- Type: Campervan
- Brief spec: SMALL 🙂 Insulated, 2 berth, small bed, hob, heating, loo, sink, ,custom water tanks, solar, discreet and stealthy
- Build blog: CLICK HERE
Hello Ryan and Mel,
Loving your work. I am actively looking to buy and convert a Nissan NV200.
I am inclined to buy the NV200 car version, 7 seats, as I need a back a seat for my daughter.
It’s also less van looking for the everyday use.
What are your thoughts? Would the conversion work on the van based car?
Thanks a million
Antonio
Look on Facebook for NV200 group – many people have used the combi (car) version. Be aware there is more glass, more airbags and different dash options. Also its different tax class. Van is simpler. If you need crash approved seat – only option is the OEM seats left in situ. However you can get belted seats in the rear, like us, but they are not approved (regardless of what you hear) – but they don’t’ need to be. Just be confident in how they are made/fitted. Tough call for kids… (ours vvv seldom used)
Hi Ryan and Mel,
Hoping you can help! I also have a Nissan NV200 but the combi version which my very clever partner (who is an electrician) is planning on connecting a leisure battery up for me but we cannot find any literature on which wire to connect to from the alternator? The split charger relay we have says to connect to either D or F wire, he’s torn between a blue and a green wire, do you happen to remember which one?!
Thanks in advance!
Ellie
Hi Mel & Ryan, really looking forward to your van 2 build series. On your latest video you mentioned the towbar install, did you do do this or was it a factory install? Lastly is there a way to get notified of new blog posts? Cheers Brian
Hi
I fitted tow bar – there will be a video coming up soon 🙂 It was the first job which had “challenges” and I had to await other parts. It was an OK job, apart from getting some electrics working.
Hmm – you are right, no “follow” on the blog. I’ll take a look later in the week and see if I can fix that.
You can subscribe to YouTube of course
I’ll shout when I’ve fixed/found “follow”!
Tow bar post added as well as YouTube vid. No idea how to add a notify thing on here – so that may take a while
Which make and model of stove and sink unit did you use? would you use it again?
Hi. In the NV we used CAN1501 sink, but that was no longer available, so in the Ducato we used Smev 9722. The former is easier to install; the latter has more following and hence more spares available. For sure, both are good enough. In the new van, we could’ve gone bigger as the smev is really a campervan setup (not motorhome) – but our CAD looked tight so we went with the 9722. Its fine, but we could’ve gone bigger and possibly should’ve – but equally, having space around it is damn useful too! So depends on your use. No grill/oven works well – get a ridgemonkey. So yes, possibly would use the same again, but may also look at slightly bigger now we know there is room – but its good enough not to consider changing. Hope that answers q?
What an excellent resource you have created – congratulations and thanks. I’m on the verge of buying an NV200 to facilitate various objectives. Current conundrum is whether to buy one ready converted, or to go down the self build route. It’s great to have something like this to refer to. Am I right in thinking you’ve moved onto a larger van now? I think I share some of your original aspirations for when you opted for the NV200 – e.g. stealthy, fits comfortably under the standard 2m barriers, fits in a normal car parking space etc. If you have switched to the larger van, presumably your viewpoint on these things shifted over time. No doubt you’ve written about that already somewhere and I look forward to absorbing more of your blog posts.
Hi, thanks. Hope the info was useful. We went from bigger van to NV200 and the plan was always a 5 years van/2nd car – so we would not feel guilty going off backpacking or cycle camping months on end leaving a full size camper at home. THe NV for us worked very well and we did 6wk trips mostly wildcamping with no issues. It was perfect. However, the NV was designed to get somewhere, get out and about all day, and use it as a kitchen/bathroon/bedroom. It wasn’t ideal for a lounge but then that wasn’t its purpose. Sadly, wifey has a foot issue (2ys ongoing) meaning going out walking/biking all day is not possible and she/we need to lounge around and sit inside/outside van lounging. So after a backpacking trip to Taiwan was cancelled in Feb ’20 (covid) we brought the bigger van forward and built it in lockdowns. Earlier than planned but that was the only reason – and yep, we use it on “sites and rallies” sitting outside and not out and about as much. We’ve seen the NV out with new owners and they use it with an awning and use it differently and more site usage etc – do is/was actually viable in that use if used differently. Could not fault it – not for everyone but we had lots of fun. We’d not have built van2 yet if Mel was fixed and no covid…… New van v different in size and budged! Full build is on here and mostly YouTube.
Hi guys, awesome job, whats the bed dimension s and what are you using for a mattress.. thanks
Hi, which van?
The NV was 100×160 – so small, but all a compromise! Used loo as a stool (!) at the end. Worked fine and better than it sounds.
The Ducato is 120 x 180
Mattress is just seat foam, and we use 2x duvets, one summer, one winter, and just have one on top and one on bottom depending on weather.
Great website and van build on the nv200, i have one too and looking to convert in the future. What i can’t find is the kitchen pod/cabinet manufacturer details, where was this obtained from please?, cheers Alan
Hi
I made them all from scratch using standard 15mm lightweight furniture board. (see my van#2 too for similar).
I’m only an ok DIYer – it wasn’t as tough as I imagined – indeed I’d say 90% of the build time was other stuff, the furniture was pretty quick….
Hi Ryan would love to discuss the electric Rock and roll bed in your video. looking at the possibility of buying parts and converting my bed or paying to have this done
hi
sorry comment got spammed. The bed was quite a few years ago and van now sold on – not much I can add/remember that isn’t posted here or on YT – https://youtu.be/7QVPqNIXZkg
So not really able to help – it is was simpler than it looked, just a logical application of a switch to connect power to a linear actuator and bespoke fixing… Your bed will be different to mine in terms of weight and method, and as I’ve only ever thought about the bed we had and that was years ago – I cant recall specifics. See https://amzn.to/3ZkC12f for 12v actuators, just ensure the right size and figure where to mount (or like me, mounted bottom, loose top). Look at other comments on the vid on YT as I detailed more there for people years ago
Good luck