Tonight I’ve made my first attempt at creating a campercar. Yes yes, it doesn’t sound right, I know. But think about it. If theres only one or two of you, and you want to occassionally stay overnight for the surf, or for a photo opportunity, having a true multi-purpose car makes a lot of sense. You get all the benefits of running a lighter vehicle, easier parking than a van, easy on the wallet, low profile, cheap mpg, cheap to run, cheap toll crossings, and can wave goodbye to that rusty old camper that you ‘only ever slept in once last year’.
So what do you think? Basically, it’s my Synergie MPV, running with the seats swivelled round, and one middle row seat with the table, a Sunncamp self-inflating mattress in matching grey, Tesco grey fleece sleeping bag, gas stove with kettle, and various food stuffs hidden in the pockets at the rear of the car, like John West tuna meals, cereal bars, long life stuff. There’s two 2 litre water bottles in the sliding door pockets, and a secret wee bottle for those awkward middle of the night moments. I’ve also bought 3 large Tesco reflective sun blinds, both for privacy and for heat retention, which sucker on to the windows. But ideally I’d like to find a UK source for the base shiney material, I think it’s called reflectix, so I can make up some made to measure window blinds. One UK source is Self Build Motor Caravan Club who are advertising camper curtains and window screens for home-made campers.
Now, I just need to pluck up the courage to sleep in my car, and I can feedback whether my plan is a winner. Or not! Campercar. MPV sleeper. Stealth Camper. Gotta be a name for it.
Mmm, maybe call it “The Doghouse” for those moments when you come home a little worse for wear and you just know the wife is going to banish you…
Good thinking, if I keep updating this blog in the evenings, it might be where I end up! Just a thought, it might also be a good overnight set-up for anyone who’s had a few too many drinks and is unsafe to drive – you could call it the alcocamper, or the urbancamper. I’m getting into the swing of this now…
I’ve thought of some other names: how about Sleeple Carrier, or People Camper? You heard it here first!
Hi, first off what a fantastic little blog this is….
Came across this whilst looking for project ideas myself, i currently own the 806 version of the vehicle and im about to embark on a day/camper conversion of my own. A friend is also about to convert a T4 VW whilst a much more common switch and on a bigger budget to myself..
Im hoping to go a few steps futher than yours by incorporating a removeable unit for the rear which will house sink, cooker and cooling facilities and also allow for a form of foldout bed that will fit over the top of the 3 centre seats..
Ill take a few pics as my project unfolds..
Which swivel bases have you used for the seats? Managed to find a local supplier of the floor matting too 🙂
Stu, thanks for your comments, and it’s great to hear you’ve already embarked on your own Peugeot 806 dayvan/campercar project. Tell you what, if you can make a template for your camper kitchen you may be onto a winner! We’d buy one off you as your first customer. I can see it now, ‘Stu’s Campercar Conversions’ 🙂 Could we ask you keep in touch, as we’d love to chart your progress. Drop us a line as the project progresses a bit more.
sourced some scrap ally box section to make the frame, it litterly will be a ‘foot locker’ at the back of the car which will hold camping stove, basin, water tank etc, this will fold out over the seats to make the bed, checked out the sofa bed covers from ikea… checked today but my front seats dont swivel so will need to source some brackets for those, hopefully over next 2 weeks ill get a mockup sorted and send some pic’s 🙂
We didn’t answer your question Stu about the swivel seats – captain front seats were a standard fitment on the Citroen version of the car, and I must admit I presumed both the 806 and the Ulysse had the same. I bet if you found a Synergie on eBay being broken for spares, you’d be able to pick and fit the seats easily, as the floorplan is identical.
Secondly, did you consider the option of making a bed simply by removing the seats in the back?
have sourced a set of 5 seats with captains/swivel front seats, worked out cheaper than the base alone lol. Is the aux soket in the rear speaker cover a factory fitting???
Stuart, well done. The aux socket is indeed a standard Citroen fitment, and was the same for all models.
Pictures to follow soon……
swivel brackets fitted, aluminium frame made, wood cut, possible fitting early next week.
I believe a good alternative for the window screens is loft insulation from ‘screwfix’ giong to check it out, hoping to get sufficient to cover all windows…
Well done Stu, I have bought the silver shiney stuff that goes behind radiators. Bought x2 rolls from B&Q, but it’s a tad short for the Synergie windows, and velcro doesn’t stick to the back of it! So I’m keen to hear how your idea goes with the loft insulation. Can’t wait to see the progress!
hit a few teething problems with the leg configuration for the bed, at 4′ x 6’4″ it needs a few supports lol just need to work out how and where to go round the seats and it needs to fold up nice and neat….
Little update,Made numerous changes over thast few weeks, had a tempory fitting today and all looked well, as its on a budget, im recycling many bits which is making the job harder lol, nothing like a challenge!!!
Made a copy of the seat ‘feet’ so that the whole thing locks into place, need to trim down 2 legs, then basically ill strip the lot, clean up the welds and paint it all up, going to use the double foil single bubble insulation rolls from B&Q to make window screen, fix them on with either suckers or velcro….
Did you know that the floor has a 3″ slope over 6 foot!!!!Had to rework all my measurements lol..
Stuart, just wondered how you’ve got on with your 806 ‘camper’ conversion?
HI, Not done a great deal, as it happens im going away for the weekend with my 2 boys, going to blackrock sands in Porthmadog with the VW forum, ill be able to get a few pics of the whole setup…
Hoping to make a proper rock and roll bed for the rear so it will be used as a seat for everyday then pull out for weekends away!!!
Good luck at Blackrock, and put us down for A: camping vehicle photos and B: a rock and roll bed!
Great idea.
I’ve already tried my 2001 Synergie 2.0HDI out for size and at 6’2″ I can fit lying down too.
As an asides, I also have a plan for a centre table for mine. I recently got hold of a centre middle row seat from an 806 to replace the rear picnic table panel which was missing from mine.
Having now done so, I have removed the seat back and base complete with mechanism. I am now fabricating a table which secures to this and fixes right in the middle of the car.
In 4 seat configuration (as we are about to use ours for holidaying), our very own table will come in very handy, especially with the front seats swivelled round to give us our very own lounge out of the Great British Summer. 🙂
Brilliant John, great idea. Had any thoughts on sourcing an MPV awning for your Synergie holiday van? Do send us any nice shots you take on your holiday – we’d love to see your Synergie in action!
Glad someone else is having a go at this sort of conversion
I made a removable kitchen cabinet with small single stove and fitted wash bowl, storage under for fresh water and plates etc. this fits down one side where rear seats were. have now made a bed 6ft by 21″ a bit narrow but should be ok. it is in two sections which bolt together with three cushions on top. storage under including a portapotti. All strapped down using the seat mountings for when Im on the move. And all comes out if I want the seat back in.
Would really like an elevating roof but no one seems to do one
Great idea! Send us a photo if you get time, and the vehicle you made it for. Sounds ingenious!
Extra info.
I obtaine some time ago a CARNOPY that fit on the rear very good no rain comes in with the boot lid up but it only has two side panels. Is available from a guy in Scotland about £50 see on web site under CARNOPY
Hi Roger, good spot, I’ve found it under Carnopy – could be good for MPV owners wanting a very quick and cheap covered area as part of a quick camping solution. It’s obviously not an OzTent, but it looks useful as a quick shelter. I’ll contact them and see if we can review one on our Synergie.Here’s the link.
All works OK and is very comfortable. Took me about an hour this morning to convert from people carrier to camper, that included cleaning out inside.
I have some photos but seem to have a problem getting them onto the site unless someone can give me an email address to send them to.
I have now obtained a drive away awning from a small motorhome. 8` wide 6` deep ht from 6` to 7`plus at the vehicle, fits on the side and covers from the rear to just infront of the windscreen. Needs a bit of adapting to get a reasonable weatherproof seal, am trying it out this weekend
Not Forgotten!!!!
got my ‘stealth box’ as its now known as complete, carpetted the top, just in the process of refurbing my camping stove, little unsure wether to fit a sink into the unit….
Progress on hold at the moment since a nice kind lady decided to remodel the side of my car!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully car comes back next then im away for a month…
This is definetly the way forward for urban bound surfers/outdoorsee types on a budget. I’ve been using my toyota liteace in just this way for several years now…great for quick, low impact raids to the coast…need to get a new vehicle and synergie is up there as a serious contender.
BTW you need to sort out a system for keeping heat in/cold out…all that glass means heat loss
Thanks Phil, like the sound of your Liteace. I’ve always liked the Liteace, a really neat looking day van. Quick Q: Why do you need to replace the Liteace? And Phil, we do need a solution for windows. I know that someone makes window insulation kits for VW T4 and T5s, I wonder if they’d consider making kits for other vehicles? What do you do to keep the heat in/out in the Liteace?
Just taken the plunge and bought a 98 Synergie 1.9 diesel,which will be my new surf veehickle…i’ll keep you posted on how the “conversion” goes.
Regards the blinds get a roll of the thermal foil/bubble wrap, dirt cheap and some stick on magnets, its virtually the same stuff, just not finished off with fancy edges. As an alternate to magnets i had some cheap rubber suckers lay around and have experimented with them….
Mate of mine just converted his T4 and used these as blinds, great job….
Used mine for a lads night out, me and the 2 kids and my m8 with his 2 kids in his T4, Toasty warm!!!!!!!
Had a great night on a carpark in Cricketh, Wales. Need to get modding a bit more now, going to make a Rock & Roll rear seat………
Spotted what looks like a gas powered 2 burner on the right. Be very very careful of using any gas/parafin powered cookers/heaters/lamps inside a closed space as the carbon monoxide will kill you. Sounds unlikely – well earlier this year it happened to a 30 yr motor biker racer in the UK…
Oooh, good point, and one to bear in mind for all of us. Ventilation is vital!
Hi. Take out all back seats bar the little middle one that is moved to behind drier for our collie to ride on lol. Use Outdoor revoltion drive away annex strapped over the car roof + your loo can be placed inbetween car + annex for private uses! Our bed in 2 foam roll out camper rolls topped by 2″ mattress scrounged from dead z-bed then we use our memory foam topper and 2 decent sleeping bags. The VW t4 window silver screens do front + side windows, the wrap around frost/sunglare screen shuts in rear tailgate + Radiator silver foil stick on over windows with removable sticky dots. 2 ring grill burner/grill used outside van or in annex for cuppas + toast. I’m 5’6″ + hubby 5’11” Cool bag with most stuff like milkbutter keeps cool for weekend. Happy camping.