| [ Total Views: 644 | Total Replies: 9 | Thread Id: 81201 ] |
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 Benno 03
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 02:18 PM |
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Converting a Camper back to a Bus???
Hi Guy's,
I am looking at buying a Kombi that has the camper roof fitted.
Does anyone know if it's possible(everything is po$$ible right) to return the Camper back to a Bus by replacing the roof.
Anyone know someone who has already done this or know of any companies that will do it properley.
Thanks in advance, I'm just coming back to VW's after what feels like far too long with out one.
Cheer's Benno... |
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Phil74Camper
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 02:57 PM |
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This is possible but I'm wondering why you would bother.
You could feasibly remove the entire fibreglass roof (upper and lower), plus the mechanism and the fabric. This leaves you with a very large hole. You
would need another Kombi as a donor vehicle, as the metal roof panel is shaped and has reinforcing ribs that run across the car. This would have been
cut away and removed to make the camper in the first place. You would NOT just weld in a flat sheet of steel - you need the factory cross ribs.
Also the inside of the camper roof - at least in factory Sopru ones - is upholstered and trimmed to match the fibreglass roof. Even once you replace
the steel roof, you would have to re-trim the roof.
Then what do you do with all the camper fittings - cupboards, fridge, stove, gas and lines, sink, water tank, 240V fitting and wiring, raised
vinyl-covered wooden floor? You can't realistically keep using them without a pop roof as you can't stand upright. You could remove all the camper
fittings (re-filling the body cutouts for the water and LPG tank, and the 240V plug) and fit seats, belts, floor mats and trim panels from a Microbus
- which means you need a donor Microbus.
Surely it would be easier to just look for a nice Microbus, which is already the way you want it?
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 Bizarre
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 03:17 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Phil74Camper
Surely it would be easier to just look for a nice Microbus, which is already the way you want it?
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mmmmm................. sometimes i think it would be easier to convert
HEAPS of campers for sale compared to the number of GOOD micro's
Futue te ipsum!!!
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 helbus
A.k.a.: Pete S
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 05:23 PM |
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You may spend $5000-$10,000 converting from a camper to an 8 seater bus professionally
You may spend the same buying a reasonable to good 8 seater bus. Your choice, but at least you can sell the complete camper you have now to help buy
the good 8 seater.
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Joel
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 07:12 PM |
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could always do like roy at the busstops galah bay, put a button on vinyl cover over the hole, and have a sardine top kombi 
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71-BEETLE-SEDAN
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 07:22 PM |
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Just take it out and make it a massive sunroof, or like they do at west coast customs and put a big sheet of lexan or perspex in there.
Even better mae a persprex box o put on top and drive round waving to people like the pope.
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h
A.k.a.: Towely BuMpEr KING! ILLegal ALIEN on a roadtrip
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 07:23 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Joel
could always do like roy at the busstops galah bay, put a button on vinyl cover over the hole, and have a sardine top kombi
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Joel
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 07:28 PM |
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yep, would look alittle something like this
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colonel mustard
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 07:47 PM |
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could be worse
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Phil74Camper
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| posted on January 6th, 2010 at 09:21 PM |
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The Sopru Campmobile factory used to make Australian campers by cutting the hole in the roof with a template and power nibbler, and they just threw
away the large piece of roof metal (and cross bars) that were removed. Every other local camper converter - Swagman, Trakka, Dormobile - did the same.
This reduced the strength and stiffness of the body shell considerably. The fibreglass replacement section put a little strength back, but not nearly
as much as before. Putting in a lexan/perspex sheet, or heaven forbid a flappy vinyl sheet, and the result is a bendy and twisty Kombi bodyshell.
German Westfalia campers were different - they used a specially-made Kombi bodyshell that was ordered especially from the Hanover Transporter plant.
It had a different roof pressing that had the roof hole designed in, with an additional lip and strengthening panels around the perimeter. There was
NO cutting out roof holes there. A bit like the difference between a genuine Cabrio Beetle and a chop top.
You could still make a Microbus out of a stripped Camper - just leave the pop-up roof and existing roof lining in place. Much more room inside, and
more flexibility for family trips. The slightly greater drag is miniscule compared to the Kombi's already brick-like aerodynamics, and around town
and in traffic there's no difference at all.
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