Specification

For suppliers see 'Sources' section.

Cost

  • £22,000 (note 1, below)

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The Van

  • Chassis: 2007 Fiat Ducato X250 long wheelbase, high roof, panel van
  • Engine: 120bhp 2.3 litre turbo-diesel
  • Transmission: Six-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel drive
  • Brakes: Servo-assisted discs all round
  • Suspension: Front: independent on coil springs. Rear: rigid axle on leaf springs
  • Features: Central locking on all doors, ABS, electric windows and mirrors, drivers air bag, radio/CD player, trip computer
  • Warranty: 2 years base vehicle
  • Optional extra: Metallic Paint, Deep Red!

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Dimensions & Weights

  • Length: 5.99m (19ft 8in); not inc. bike rack
  • Width: 2.05m; (6ft 8.5in) across body, manf. figure
  • Width: 2.235m (7ft 4in) - wing mirrors folded
  • Width overall: 2.46m (8ft 1in) - wing mirrors in working position
  • Height unladen: 2.52m; manf. figure
  • Height: 2.64m (8ft 8in) actual inc. awning & rooflights
  • Rear overhang: 1.02m (3ft 5in)
  • Maximum authorised weight: 3,500kg
  • Actual weighbridge weight: 3,080kg (note 2)
  • Payload new: 1485kg (before conversion)
  • Payload now: 420kg (note 2)
  • Front axle max allowed: 2,100kg; actual weight: 1,680kg
  • Rear axle max allowed: 2,400kg; actual weight: 1,400kg

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Interior

  • Layout: Two, three-point belted cab seats; one swivelling passenger seat, fixed driver's seat. Front lounge, nearside kitchen, offside washroom and wardrobe
  • Insulation: Eco-Therm polystyrene; 25mm ceiling and floor; 50mm on walls.
  • Interior height: 1.855m (6ft 1in)

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Kitchen

  • Sink: Smev stainless steel rectangular combined bowl and drainer with smoked glass lid, folding chromed brass mixer taps with swivel spout
  • Hob: Smev 3-burner stainless steel with hinged glass lid, push-button ignition
  • Oven/grill: Smev push-button ignition and internal light, 20 litre capacity.
  • Fridge: Waeco CR-80, 12volt compressor type, capacity 80 litres

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Washroom

  • Toilet: Dometic CTW4110 ceramic swivel-bowl, with electric pump and water tank, cassette version
  • Basin: 'Cora' Countertop Ceramic Basin
  • Tap: 'CDA' Single-lever Tower Mixer Tap, TV6
  • Shower: not yet fitted

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Beds

  • Offside single: 1.83m (6ft 0in) long, 740mm (29in) wide
  • Nearside single: 1.83m (6ft 0in) long, 710mm (28in) wide
  • Alternative transverse double: 1.83 x 1.83mm (6ft x 6ft)

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Equipment

  • Fresh water: Underslung 66 litres
  • Waste water: Underslung 50 litres
  • Water heater: Propex Malaga 3E, gas and/or mains electric operation
  • Space heater: Propex Heatsource HS2000E gas or mains electric operation
  • Leisure battery: 2 x 115 amp/hr
  • Solar power: 2 x 80 watt panels with 30amp MPPT controller
  • Gas: underslung tank, capacity 20 litres
  • Lighting: Circular LED in lounge, strip fluorescent in kitchen and washroom, adjustable LED spotlamps in lounge
  • Sockets: 240 volt double switched sockets in lounge and kitchen, single socket in sofa base (for battery charger) and small seat base (for space heater)

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Changes to original Fiat Spec.

  • All tyres now: Continental Vanco 2. Front:3.25 bar/ 47.2 psi; Rear: 3.00 bar/ 43.5psi. Pressures recommended by Continental for actual axle weights.
  • Original Tyres: Continental Vanco. Fiat Pressures were, Front: 65psi Rear: 72psi.

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Performance

  • Our Average mpg: 31mpg at 50-60mph using all kinds of roads
  • Faults to-date: see note 3

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Notes

1. Cost

We did not set ourselves a budget at the beginning as we decided we would convert the van to the specification we wanted and, if necessary, would wait until we could afford to buy a particular item - therefore cost was not a major factor on choosing what items to install. We are pleased with this figure - when the conversion cost of circa £7k is added to the van purchase price of £15,000, we have a brand-new van for £22,000 with top class appliances and fittings. An equivalent new van from a mainstream converter would cost around £35-40k.

We should make the point that it is perfectly possible to self-build a motorhome for a great deal less money - many SBMCC members have done! (If we were younger, and fitter, we certainly would have welcomed the challenge of building a van to a tight budget). However, realistically, one will need to source a used van, fit it out using mostly surplus or second-hand appliances and budget-priced materials. For example: a vinyl wallpaper covering on inexpensive low-spec 4mm ply would cost a quarter of what we paid for real cherry wood veneer. It's all a matter of personal choice and circumstance. The SBMCC website also has guide to costs.

2. Weight/Payload

Measured on 9 August 2012 at council weighbridge. Fully loaded ready for touring with Mad Mumsie and me in front seats we still had 420kg of payload remaining (that's a lot of wine!). The diesel fuel tank was half filled, fresh water tank holding 35 litres (further 12 litres in bottles), waste water tank empty, LPG tank half full (40%), and all accessories on board (wheel wedges, tools etc); clothes in wardrobe. This is the situation one would be in if stopped en-route by police carrying out weight checks.

Note most published figures for 'user payload' only include the driver's weight, not the passenger too.

3. Faults

1. Propex Water Heater. Fault: Intermittantly failed to light. Cause: Poor quality connector on thermostat signal wire fitted at manufacture. Remedy: We replaced connector.

2. CAK Tanks, Waste water drain valve/tap. Fault: Ears on tap body broke off. Cause: Poor design, unsuitable plastic used - ageing prematurely. Remedy: Replace drain tap with brass version - see Water section.

3. Spare Wheel Carrier Recall (Fiat letter received December 2011). Fault: mechanism prone to jamming; spare wheel coming off! Cause: Defective design. Remedy: Fiat Dealership replaced carrier with new design FOC. True of many Sevel X250 based vans.

We did have faults on the original Thetford cassette toilet and Whale mixer tap, but these products have been replaced so are not relevant.