Gary's Camper Van

This van was imported from California and I collected it from the docks for the customer. On initial inspection the van wasn’t in bad shape and just required a few patches welding in underneath.

Gary had decided he wanted to lower the van so I removed the front suspension unit and welded in a pair of CSP adjusters to help lower the front of the van. Whilst the suspension unit was off, I fitted new ball joints as the old American ones where past their sell by date

With the front of the van slammed, I turned my attention to the back of the van where I lowered it using our own lowering brackets. These lower the rear of the van by 4” and are a much easier and hassle free way of lowering the back of a bay van. I do sell these separately if you’re interested.

Once the van was lowered I gave the brakes an overhaul and replaced and dodgy looking brake pipes and one of the front calipers and a rear drum.

With the van mechanically sound I turned my attention to making it UK legal.

Right hand drive front headlights were fitted, along with H4 halogen type bulbs. The front indicators where converted from an indicator/sidelight to just and indicator and the sidelights where put into the headlights as per correct UK spec. At the back the van had all red rear lenses which although look great again are not UK Legal as there is no flashing orange indicator light. This problem was solved by a bit of re-wiring and by fitting orange bulbs into the reverse light units and using them as indicators. The clock set in the van was a bit iffy, I don’t think a bay window actually does 90mph in first but that’s what the clocks said, so I fitted a good used set. I also fitted the van with a new battery as the old one had had it.

Once I had completed some typical bay window van type welding repairs underneath, I undersealed the repairs and took it for its MOT.

Needless to say the van passed with flying colours and has now been UK registered and is being used daily.