What would people recommend as a base van? Interior design would be along the lines of the high rear bed Crax has mentioned to allow for a mini garage/bike store at rear.
Say requirements were stealth only, no windows, no or easily removed bulkhead to allow for swivel chairs. High or extra high to allow standing, minimum MWB but probably LWB or more....no VW.
Is it worth buying a cheap van, good bodywork, but with knackered engine and fitting new engine - rather than buying a used 'runner' for more but may break down on you and cost more?
Well
@MacB possibly the best idea would be for you to pop along and join us on the free diymotorhome.co.uk where there are a lot of like minded people quite literally brimming with details, ideas and help for someone like you.
As for me, I bought a 2008 Renault Master LWB with slightly more than 110,000 miles on the clock and not the most loved exterior, i.e. it had quite a few dings and dents, but that was of no concern as I thought I was going to convert this one, learn how to convert a van and then sell it on before buying either a new or very nearly new to carry out the conversion on the one I was going to keep............. WRONG! We love 'Millie' so much, she is so perfect for us and we have now driven so many miles in her that we can't even consider selling her!!
If you buy sensibly, you will only consider either a Renault Master/Vauxhall Movano or what are called the Sevel built Fiat/Peugeot/Citroen ranges of LWB L3 or L4 length vans, the reason being that they have fully galvanised bodies and nice low load bay floors. The problem with any Ford van or those manufactured by Mercedes is that they all rust like hell warmed up!
The Sevel Fiat/Peugeot/Citroen vans are the easiest to convert as they have the squarest and widest bodies, so most people can easily build in a full sized bed across the width of the van at the back end with a thumping great big garage for the bikes underneath, and yet there is still enough room to build in a decent seating area, a proper loo/shower and a kitchen.
One of your most important objectives is to get the van re-registerd by the DVLA as a motorhome as this will save you a veritable fortune on insurance and ferry or Channel Tunnel charges.
You are best advised not to make a stealth van as camping and caravan sites don't like them and many will tun you away, furthermore if you are into 'wild camping' you are far more likely to get knocked up by the boys in blue in a stealth van than you are in a motorhome, and lastly, whereas a van has in theory lower speed limits imposed on it, that doesn't apply to one that looks like a motorhome.
But best of all MacB, pop along to the best and most friendly diymotorhome forum to be found on the entire internet, I will be looking out for you.
All the very best
BB