Building or renovating your own motor caravan can be a worthwhile and rewarding project but sourcing the many different components needed can be a bit of a headache.

This website is here to help you find those parts. If we can't supply them ourselves, we will point your browser to someone who can.

If you're starting from scratch, the first things you will need are a roof and windows.

If you decide on an elevating roof, then Reimo supply them for a range of popular vehicles. If a high-top is more your style, these are also available from Reimo and Euro Motor Campers.

You have the choice of double-glazed windows such as those from Seitz, original equipment such as the Volkswagen Caravelle windows or after-market windows from a variety of suppliers.

You are now ready to put a floor in the vehicle and line and insulate the walls but before you do that, you need to run any cables and pipes that will be hidden by the lining. These should be kept to a minimum because you don't want to be taking the interior apart to sort out problems. Similarly, be sure to mark where they are so you don't drill or screw through them later on in the build.

The best material for lining the sides of the vehicle behind the lining panels is rigid rockwool (cavity batts), available from builders' merchants.

The floor need not be insulated but the recommended method is to lay 15 mm battens about 30 cm apart at right-angles to the ridges in the van floor. Lay Miothene in the gaps between the battens and overlay with a 9mm sheet of ply. This type of floor construction is suitable for the Reimo Variotech rail system.

You are now ready to start building the furniture. The most popular method of construction utilises 15mm lightweight plywood, laminated on both sides with a decorative finish. Vöhringer is the market leader in Europe and supply most of the constructors.

Many people find it easier to assemble the kit on a bench, out of the vehicle. It is much easier to work on, especially the wiring and plumbing.

If this is your first time, try to do as much of the design as possible on paper. When you think you have got it right, make a full-scale model in plywood this may seem like a waste of time but it will save you money in the long run - furniture boards are expensive things to experiment on!

As well as the boards, you will need catches, hinges and edge trims to finish the construction neatly.

Appliances for your kitchen area come in different shapes and sizes. For cookers and sinks, you can't better the extensive range from SMEV. There are separate hobs and sinks as well as compact combination units and complete cookers.

To keep your beer cool, there are fridges from Waeco which run on a 12 volt supply (or mains via a charger) or those from Dometic (formerly Electrolux) which also run on gas, useful when away from civilisation.


More to follow, oh yes!