Both the experience of doing my last conversion and the lack of
free time due to work convinced me it was a good idea to pay for
a professional conversion. However, as I am sure many
windsurfers have found out, explaining how to convert a van for
windsurfing is a challenge and finding someone who is able to
take your ideas and design something bespoke is rare. When it
works the results can be fantastic. This is where I get to say the
lads at SimplySurfBus did an astounding job because aside from
the general outline they created something that genuinely is cool
to drive around in.
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So here is a recipe for creating your ultimate van, be it for
windsurfing, kitesurfing or any other sport.
1. How much kit do you want to take all at
once on a single trip?
For me this was a quiver of sails, two windsurf boards, my wife’s
kitesurfing kit, two surf boards, two stand up paddle boards, two
mountain bikes and all the associated bits and pieces.
Remembering not to forget clothes, food and camping cookware.
2. Do you need a vehicle that is driveable
on a day to day basis?
If the answer is no, then your options suddenly become easy. If I
didn’t need to drive my van in the city I would have bought a VW
Crafter or equivalent. Kit storage and living would have been
easy. The reality is that these vehicles are big and have a variety
of limitations. The difference between short and long wheel base
vans in terms of space is massive so try some out to get an idea
of what will work best. Remember: the bigger the vehicle the
more it will cost on ferries, the more difficulty with height
restrictions and the more fuel hungry. Personally, I also don’t like
driving a Crafter size vehicle on long trips as they feel very much
like a van and aren’t nearly as comfortable.
3. How many people do you need to carry?
Often a limiting factor for many vehicles. My previous van had
two captain seats and that meant that any trips where I wanted
to pile mates in to come meant a second vehicle. This may
seem a small concern but planning for this aspect will ensure
your vehicle remains future proof and not limited.
4. What’s the budget?
The reality is vehicles are increasingly expensive to buy and run.
Budgets can be small or large but the age and quality of what
you buy will be affected. I have had vans both on low budget and
on large ones, the simple fact is that you have to compromise
somewhere. We chose to buy a good quality base vehicle and
then convert because longevity and resale value are hugely
improved.
5. Is it a camper or a day van?
The final question is important as it will affect your layout
drastically. If you plan to live in your van you might want a fridge
or cooker, the DVLA has a list of specifics that allow a van to be
converted into a camper. We stay in Scotland a lot of the year so
an essential was a night heater. This affects speed limits in the
UK and should act as guide for any conversion. More importantly
where and how are you going to sleep; tent outside, pop roof,
rock and roll bed, etc, again will limit function of the van. Also,
worth considering what to do if you wild-camp and how to be
completely self-contained.
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