Getting the van converted

The big question here for us is - do we convert it ourselves, part convert it or have it done by a professional conversion company. Having converted an old ambulance to a high standard in the distant past we realise the amount of work involved. It took a year to complete. That's too tight on time for our trip so we have decided to have the conversion done professionally. This has the added benefit that the electrical and gas installations meet BS standards.

Another benefit is that it is much easier to get insurance - the cost being barely more than a production line motor caravan.

Choosing a converter is not easy. Our method is to visit all those within a reasonable distance (we want to keep an eye on what is going on - and create a photographic record to aid repairs and modifications should any be needed). Looking at the vans they are working on gives some idea of quality, skill, and enthusiasm. Looking at the offices and the way we are received gives some idea of sales approach. I prefer to be received at a down to earth workshop counter than in a flashy office with lots of computers etc to impress visitors.

Once satisfied that they can do a good job the next issue is to decide whether they offer value for money. The cost of the equipment specified is not going to vary much although you may able to negotiate part of the trade discount they get.. The cost of making the furniture and installing the equipment is going to depend mainly on the hourly rate they charge. Ergo, the lower the hourly rate the cheaper the conversion will be - it is virtually impossible to take into account the skill and speed of work of the staff although this will affect the end cost. A converter will give a ball park total cost or if you are lucky a fixed cost. If this is outside your budget you will have to look at your spec again. Don't forget to include VAT if charged.

There is always a waiting period before work can start. This depends on the time of year and usually varies between 1 - 2 months. The conversion can take from 1-3 months to complete. Delays in delivery of equipment can cause the time to extend even more. Converters mostly require an up front fee - usually 5-10% on booking, this may be made up to as much as 50% when work starts, with the balance on delivery.

So far we have checked 5 converters of which we are seriously looking at two. They are preparing a quotation based on our spec. Then comes the difficult bit of cutting the spec down to meet our budget. As we intend to use the van for future trips for several years we can eventually reinstate the full spec as funds permit.

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Written by Clive Barker in preparation for UK to China and back.