Terasfera - a Pole (in the UK) can do it!
We present another competition camper , made by our readers.
We are creating the competition together with the organizers of the Caravans Salon fair, which will take place from September 24 to 26, 2021 in Poznań.
There, in a special zone, owners of selected vehicles will be able to present them to fair participants. Therefore, a very interesting event is being prepared for the upcoming edition of the fair.
Detailed information about the competition itself and entries can be found here:Did you build a camper yourself? – we are waiting for you .
We are also creating a series of posts on our Facebook fan page that will introduce readers to the competition vehicles and their creators. We invite you to like our Facebook profile to stay up to date with all the news.
In today's material, we would like to introduce you to the car of Monika and Paweł Kotowski, who realized their dream camper project while living in the UK. Britain. They made their first journeys discovering Scotland. How did the construction of their Sprinter go and what conclusions did they draw? We invite you to read!
Interview with Monika and Paweł - the creators of the Terasfera camper
Is your car the beginning of your adventure with caravanning/camping and what prompted you to build your own camper?
The purchase of the van definitely started our adventure with privateering. Traveling has always been our passion and often in January we had the whole year planned in advance until the last day of our vacation. This was also the case in 2020, which surprised us very much. The pandemic initially ruined all our travel plans, but later became the mother of our project. It was because of this situation that we started thinking about alternative ways of traveling. And so the idea to build a camper was born. The passion for DIY and the idea of "do it yourself" also helped us make this decision, because we knew how great satisfaction comes from making even the smallest thing yourself.
Tell us more about the history and parameters of the base car - how did you find it and what did you do?
We made the decision to build a camper quite quickly and spontaneously. And when it came to choosing a specific car, we were literally stunned by the number of types of vans and things that had to be taken into account.
At the beginning we thought that since we would only be traveling together, a small van would be enough. Once we brought to light all the things that should be taken into account when choosing a base for a camper, the situation changed.
In addition to weekend and holiday trips, we also planned a longer trip, and perhaps even a full-time van life. This has already started to tip the scales towards a large bus. We did not plan to go camping, but to sleep in the wild, farther from large cities and agglomerations - closer to nature. I decided that in this situation, a bathroom was necessary.
Paweł, on the other hand, wanted a "garage" for mountain bikes - inside, under the bed. We knew it would take up a lot of space, but we were also sure we wanted to take our bikes with us because we both love riding. Placing the garage under the bed meant that the bed had to be fixed, not foldable. This ultimately determined that it would be a tall, long van.
Ultimately, we chose a Mercedes Sprinter , 2016 313 Cdi 2.1 Diesel. We liked it immediately, and after the test drive we simply fell in love with it. The Sprinter had good opinions regarding the engines, but slightly worse opinions regarding the durability of the body. However, when we came across a very well-kept L3H2, additionally equipped with air conditioning, in a beautiful blue color - we knew that this was the best base for our camper.
How and from what materials did you make the supporting structures, insulation and furniture?
Before installing the insulation, we used a butyl soundproofing mat to reduce unwanted vibrations and construction noise.
We chose several different materials to insulate the car:
For large, flat surfaces, CELOTEX hard insulation boards made of polyisocyanurate (PIR), covered with a low-emission foil that improves thermal properties, 50 mm thick for walls and ceiling and 25 mm thick for the floor.
We filled the small surfaces at the top and bottom of the walls in the Sprinter with recycled wool. We do not recommend using fiberglass insulation as it may cause skin irritation during operation.
The remaining hard-to-reach gaps were filled with polyurethane foam. Additionally, all temperature-conducting metal elements were covered with a self-adhesive foam sponge with a closed cell structure.
The last layer is a vapor barrier foil. It is important to seal the joints to adequately block the transfer of hot air particles to the lower temperatures outside. For this we used self-adhesive aluminum tape.
We made the supporting structures from wooden squares 23 x 23 mm and 23 x 34 mm.
We covered the ceiling and visible parts of the walls with 7 mm thick pine panels.
We used 5 mm and 9 mm hardened plywood on the remaining walls.
We made the furniture from 9 mm and 12 mm plywood.
The countertops and the extendable table are made of 22 mm thick oak wood.
We covered the floor in the camper and the walls in the bathroom with vinyl flooring.
The process of creating a camper
What was the biggest challenge for you in the construction process, what did you cope with yourself, and in what aspects did you use the services of external specialists or companies?
We did all the work ourselves, by hand, without the help of professionals. The challenge was definitely the fact that we had no garage or workshop and we were building the camper literally on the street. In addition, the English weather (constant rain and wind). The most difficult thing in these conditions turned out to be installing water tanks and the gas installation under the car and connecting the parking heater to the car's fuel tank.
These experiences have shown us that "impossible" does not exist.
You've probably been on more than one escapade by car. Looking back, what would you have done differently/changed?
It's hard to believe but there is nothing we would have done differently. We have a well-planned space that meets our needs. We focused on modern solutions and a retro style close to our hearts. The camper is comfortable and functional, but also has soul. However, our travels still give us new ideas for additions and improvements to organize these 8 m2 even better.
Have you summarized the costs associated with the entire project?
We haven't done a cost summary yet. Of course, we initially estimated the budget we would need, but I think we went a little further with our expenses than we predicted. Moreover, the construction project lasted 10 months, so it was not a one-time expense.
Comments, especially from Internet users, often include comments that it is not worth investing in dedicated, often more expensive, camper equipment and that you can always find substitutes. Is this approach correct? What compromises can and should we not make?
Yes, sometimes it is worth using substitutes, not only because of lower costs but also because of aesthetics and convenience. We decided on a "homemade" mattress, a sink, a shower tray and a faucet for the kitchen and bathroom.
You can also find equipment dedicated to campers, but from less known brands. In our case, these are windows that do not differ in quality from branded ones and were half the price.
However, we did not compromise when it comes to devices such as the electrical installation, boiler, compressor refrigerator , gas stove with oven, water tanks or gas tank. Such devices are definitely worth investing in because they are safe to use, will save valuable space and are economical, so after some time of use the costs will pay off.
What autonomy does the vehicle provide? Can you describe the capacity of the batteries, parameters of photovoltaic panels, clean and gray water tanks, and type of toilet?
Our vehicle is fully autonomous. When traveling, all we need is sun and every few days we need to refill/empty the water and service the toilet.
All this thanks to well-thought-out equipment.
Terasfera camper in a nutshell:
- Efficient electrical installation, including:
- Monocrystalline panels 2 x 200 W
- LiFePo4 12v battery composed of four Winston cells 4 x 200 Ah 3.6v connected in series
- separator (charger from alternator)
- 1000w converter
- 230V sockets with USB ports
- Parking heater 5 KW connected to the car fuel tank
- Compressor refrigerator 12v 75l
- Two-burner gas stove with oven
- Hydraulic installation, which includes: dedicated tanks mounted under the car, for clean water 75l, for gray water 55l, external water inlet, water pump , hot water heated by a gas-electric truma boiler 10l
- 16l LPG gas tank mounted under the car, with the option of refueling at gas stations
- Gas, smoke and carbon monoxide detector
- Bathroom with shower and portable chemical toilet
- Double bed 150 cm x 190 cm
- Two sofas to sit on
- Extendable table
More at: www.terasfera.pl
We also invite you to read previous interviews with the creators of the competition campers:
I feel best in the form of trade fairs and meetings with enthusiasts. Technical freak. In my life I have dismantled many motorhomes for the first time. Fan of large vehicles, mountain biking and traveling without weight and financial restrictions. At CampRest, I am responsible for all publications on automotive topics.
