After a few 'camping' experiences with our T5 and hiring a factory built C-Class camper (more about our Scotland adventure here), we decided we wanted a campervan that offered two core essentials; ability to stand up, and a comfortable fixed bed. I'm 1.8m tall, so sleeping sideways, even with pods wouldn't work, so a long wheel base van and length ways bed was the way to go! After much searching and considering the pro's and con's of several large panel vans, we settled for this 2016 Renault Master and the build started! At just over 6.2m, about a meter longer than our VW, a few cm's wider and quite a bit taller, means driving and parking require a tad more thinking about, but that balances well against the space and comfort provided!
The Master arrives May 24 and the project starts
First job, strip out and tidy up all the wear and tear.
Sound insulation.
Thermal insulation.
Power in! Cutting this small round hole for the 16amp fitting was an anxious moment!!
Three layers of protection, sound deadening, sound insulation and finally lambswool adding an organic thermal layer.
Some lights
Frames for windows
Marking out was measure, measure, measure before final marking and tape to protect paint.
Then out with the jigsaw with fresh hss cutting blades
The corners where marked out using CAD (Cardboard Aided Design)
Holes Cut!
Windows In
Went with Caravan style for two basic reasons,double glazed for improved thermals and top hinged means that they can be opened in the rain for ventilation!
Power Station!
Embryonic Kitchen unit, Fridge, and a bed from IKEA gives us the basic needs for its first weekend away to prove the basics!
Worked well on the first couple of weekends away!
So a couple of seat boxes added for storage.
Awning rail and a simple tarp awning provide 'outdoor' space
Over the Summer we've enjoyed a few weekends away and couple of festivals!
Happy with Phase 1 !!
Some of our core design elements; a comfortable bed; good size fridge; somewhere to prep and cook a simple meal; somewhere to sit and eat.
We've decided we do NOT need a wet room as we're never going to go that far off grid for too long, and in any case, if you've been hiking and exploring all day then a proper shower will be needed, not just a 20 second sprinkle! Oh and a porta-loo in one of the box seats will cover those emergencies!!
All electric build with a high efficiency 12vdc compressor fridge, induction hob, air fryer, kettle and coffee machine with power from a single 300ah lithium battery (with scope to upgraded to two if needed) and a 3kva 12vdc inverter to run the 240vac kit. I'dd add solar power to help extend off grid potential and we already have a 16amp hook-up when on site.
Looking at Solar options, current thinking is a 300w panel, which will fit discreetly on the roof once mounted on a 8020 extruded alloy frame between the skylights
Exmoor 2024 was its first proper outing, base camp set up
The GS was also on board. The duct tape lines on the floor are my early thinking about basic layout!
For some great days out!
With the Eriba in tow makes for a 12m road train. Bit of bugger when you arrive at the end of the car park to a dead end and have to reverse 300 meters back! Earned some credits from a couple of passers by who commented how well I reversed this lot out!
Carried the Duke to Brands (yes I know this isn't far, but useful should anything have happened!
ABR Festival
Coster Foster Page Weekend!
Big Feastival weekend!
Phase 2 - this winter, will see the IKEA bed replaced with a built in bed, more storage, solar panel(s) added, a second skylight, then I can finish the roof, fit an warm air diesel heater, enhance the kitchen with a sink, water and waste plumbing, build a locker above the kitchen, add a wind out awning, finally apply some attention to the interior finish to make it look homely, adding some bespoke soft furnishings and a few more lights, reading, work lights over the kitchen and in the garage space (under the bed) and maybe even some mood lights! Then it'll be ready to go for DVLA re-classification to a Campervan.
Costs if you're curious. To get to this point we've spent just under £16k including buying the van for £10k, it was clean and tidy with one owner, no rust or damage, just a couple of little digs. It did need a new battery. I didn't realise when I brought that the A/C wasn't doing much, so it also needed a new A/C compressor!! We're looking at an additional £4k to get phase 2 completed. So £20k for a bespoke van that ticks a lot of boxes for us! Plus my time and some unaccounted for materials!
Start of the bed frame build
Starting to form the storage wall, some more CAD helped to find the shape!
Some vertical storage for coats/wet gear at the back, clothes and some more taller storage. There will be a couple more shelves added!
Current bed solution until I can design and fabricate a Murphy Bed Frame!
2kw electric rad is a good compromise when on site with EHU, also a good test to check output required from a diesel heater!
Let's see what 2026 will bring, the ABR Festival and the Preston Summerfest are already booked. I'd like to get back to Scotland's wild Atlantic coast and the stunning islands. Also over to France to see my sister, and as the van seats three, we can take the caravan making it a mini adventure with Dad! And hopefully a few photography weekends away too, Wales, Peaks, Norfolk Coastline, West Country, Northumberland and Kielder, not a bad target for 2026!