After months of searching and too many viewings to count, we’ve finally found our van. It’s a 2011 Peugeot Boxer H2L3 – which means it’s bit of a beast.

It might not be much to look at right now but it’s the perfect base for what we need. Just under six metres long and over two metres wide this gives us an internal space of lenght 3.5m, width 1.86m, and height of 2m. The perfect interior for a cosy and comfortable camper for two people.

The plan is to incorporate the following into the layout:

• A platform bed in the rear, which folds in half when not used
• Bed folds to reveal a table and two benches
• Kitchen unit with sink, gas stove, and fridge
• Bathroom with composting loo, sink and shower
• Full electrical system with lights and charging points
• Gas hot water system for sinks and shower
• Diesel-powered air heater
• Solar roof panels (for going off grid)
• Insulation (sheep’s wool)
• Wall panels
• Ceiling panels
• Flooring
• Windows in the sides and roof

I’ve already designed the electrical system and calculated loads and the wires and fuses needed. I’ll post the system diagram separately once I’ve transfered it from the current handful of scribbled pages of A4 to an electronic version.

Water and gas systems are also designed, and are in the same state as the electrical diagrams.

In case you’re interested I will write a full post detailing my assumptions on device usage, power and current calculations, and other considerations in a separate post.

Before any of that goes in though we need accurately measure the interior down to every last nook, kink, and cranny. Then design the layout of the major units/rooms/furnishings etc. and start putting the different systems in piece by piece.

First things first though, it needs a bloody good clean inside and out!