SimonH Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Having just bought a Renault Grand Espace (we needed 6 full size seats and a VW Caravelle was just way too expensive) I'm thinking it'd make a good day van. Kind of a half way house between an MPV and camper. With the rear seats removed it's certainly big enough for a double bed. I now just need to work out if I can build removable kit to fit into the existing seat runners. These are the kinds of daft things you think of with too much time available :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Not mad at all and sounds like an excellent project to me! Maybe try looking at the various Mazda Bongo etc converters for ideas as they too are a 'compact' vehicle? People like O'Learys have a wide range of van fittings etc and there are lots of dealers not so far from Bourne for you to visit and have a gander for inspiration. Good luck and please keep us up to date with developments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Have you looked at the 'Easy-box system? Widely advertised in France and one of the larger models would be compatible with your 'Espace' Watch the video............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 The French company Variovan converts MPV-type vehicles into campers, including the Grand Espace model. There are some photos that may be useful here http://www.variovan.fr/vehicules201307.html This may also interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonH Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 Thanks for the replies and links, I'll be spending a few office hours researching today :) I'd already contacted the Swiss Room Box people but unless I can get myself over to Geneva they don't have anything to look at. It's pricey but looks well thought out. I'll let you know how it goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 SimonH - 2014-07-01 9:44 AMThanks for the replies and links, I'll be spending a few office hours researching today :)I'd already contacted the Swiss Room Box people but unless I can get myself over to Geneva they don't have anything to look at. It's pricey but looks well thought out.I'll let you know how it goes The nearest dealer is in Belgium so no excuse for a winter holiday! Swiss box dealers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Hi Simon.. I'd agree with Tracker, it'd be worth checking out some Mazda Bongo type sites... For ideas,take a look at the pinned "Show us yer insides .." thread( under the "Campervan conversions in Bongos" section),on the Bongo Fury! forum... (..they've got examples of "proper" conversions costing thousands , through to simple homemade stuff, based on Ikea type cupboards). http://www.bongofury.co.uk/ I've knocked up a very basic, wooden slide out and fully removable bed set-up in our Hiace "camping-van" and when used along with our existing camping kit(stored under the bed in a couple of sturdy stackable plastic crates), along with a tarp or pop up awning, it makes a very usable "weekender"/festival vehicle.. (We've actually used it more than we had originally envisaged, so much so that we've ended up getting rid of the MH). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Try a breakers yard to obtain some of the rear seat to floor mountings for the equipment, they should make your project a relatively simple job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie gibblebucket Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 What about the Amdro boot jump - any good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Two more sources of kits to provide livability for your people carrier in addition to Swiss room box Theres Ludospace and Vario van so that you can join the world of Micro campers..Enjoy!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonH Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 I'm keeping an eye out for used seats so that I can use the runner brackets. A lot of the existing conversions I've seen are OK but there is nothing specific to the Espace so it would be a bit of a compromise. Being so tight for space anyway I don't want to waste any. However they have given me a few ideas so it should be easy enough to get something made to measure for the espace. Cheers for the input so far :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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