Vera

Yes, she is to be known, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health as Vera the Vanette. The entymology, from the Russian, meaning faithful, seems apt - providing of course she doesn't run off with the first VW Campervan she spots... I'm hoping she lives up to the name.

Anyway, I've been busy planning the conversion. I'm going for quite a technical build - well, technical for me at least. It's going to have a  bench seat on the drivers side with slide out section to the front of the van to extend into a single bed. That bit of the build is going to be a bit of a challenge for the likes of me. I have the mind of a designer - but the carpentry skills of a small child. I can see this is going to take me quite a while.

On the passenger side I'm going for a full height cabinet towards the rear - stop it - and a mid height worktop with sink and cooker inset, all enclosed in a hinged lid to cover while in transit. I'm thinking to start the build with that bit as it's more straight forward and should hopefully allow me to hone my limited skills a bit before attempting the more challenging part of the build.

First off though, I'm going with ply on the floor finished with vinyl tiles for easy cleaning. Then I'm going to ply out the walls. Hopefully I can squeeze in a bit of loft insulation. I'm thinking to maybe lay a bit below the floor as well, not to act as insulation as it will be compressed flat but more to act as a buffer to absorb a bit more of the drive noise and reduce rattling. Then finally, once I've finished all the other bits I'm thinking to finish it off with carpet on the walls and various parts - but with my skills it may never get to that part...

And here she is, in all her glory (or not):-

Vera the Vanette