Awesome Geoff and inspirational. I'm also a former teacher. I'm about to start a build on my Previa (Kiwi word for Tarago), and you've given me some good ideas. Simple is best and easiest for me. All the best. Cheers.
Just bought a Toyota Estima and hate the bastard. This solution will help make life easier mate. It’s a conversion but needs RE modification. Put airbags in the shocks., as it’s an import (Japan) nothing ever fits properly. Thanks for this!!!👍
Thanks for the positive comments. Camp stretchers aren't for everyone but, once again, flexibility and simplicity are important for us. Being able to convert to a camper from a peoplemover quickly and efficiently makes it more likely that I will make use of it and venture into the great outdoors!!
I hear what you're saying Michael. You're point is well made and well taken. the stretcher bed actually sits behind the cupboard and prevents it from flying forward. Since I made this video I have bought a new fridge and have considered tethering it it in some way shape or form. When loaded up with supplies the fridge is pretty heavy and I reckon unlikely to come flying forward anyway. Whatever I use to tie it down will be simple in any case. Cheers and thanks for your comment, Geoff.
@@geoffmeikle Good on you mate it's not a criticism sometimes it's easy to overlook the obvious, there appears to be plenty of places to tie down to you floor, we don't get that version in the UK. Stay safe.
While breaking hard would be a memorable mess, the real issues is a crash and or roll-over. That won't be memorable as you will dead or brain damaged. All that stuff flies forward into at 100km with the injury being mass times speed. Apart from the safety issues, it's cheap and smart.
A couple of years ago I replaced the fridge with an Eva Kool, which has a compressor as opposed to a heat exchange system which is a bit old hat these days.
The fridge and cupboard at the back are fairly weighty so they are pretty right. Anything that you place between the back of the front seats and the front of the fridge/cupboard will need to be secured in some way. We don't go very fast or over rough terrain so having stuff flying about in the back hasn't been a major hassle. I think you would have to make a judgement call based on your personal preferences. Thanks for your question Brian, hope this helps. Cheers, Geoff.
Thank you for your response Jaahda. Most of the materials to do my setup were recycled from bits and pieces that I already had lying around. From memory the only thing I had to buy was a sheet of 12mm plywood.We are currently in the throes of buying a new compressor style fridge, which may or may not necessitate getting a dual battery system installed in the vehicle. That could be expensive. Because the vast majority of our accommodation is at caravan parks on powered sites, a dual battery system is not likely to be needed and to be honest installing a dual battery system in an old Tarago is probably overkill anyway.The comfort factor of the stretcher bed is very much an individual choice which is related to an individuals personal preferences and comfort threshold. I have a self inflating mattress on top of the stretcher and also have recently switched from a sleeping bag setup to sheets and quilt which I have found to be more comfortable. As regards the bottom line costs of any setup, it can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. Our setup was very cheap because we already have the building materials, but our accommodation is relatively expensive because we like staying in Caravan Parks with good facilities.( My wife especially!!)Hope this helps,Cheers and good luck,Geoff.
@@geoffmeikle You might be surprised - seems to me that these old vans turned into campervans retain their value - and can be quite valuable. So you may not lose ur money. Take a look at prices in your area ;-)
Hard to hear this guys voice and l would not like to think about how noisy it would be in that van with all that stuff bashing around plus its not really safe. I am all for tarago camper conversions but not this one
I am hearing what you’re saying. I have taken it on a number of trips and been pretty happy with it. Your point about safety is well made and well taken. I have used common sense when making decisions about strapping stuff down, speed and terrain…..Thankfully I’m still here to tell the tale 😀 Good luck with your conversion and happy travels.
very useful video Geoff! we are just off for Christmas road trip... this is bloody awesome
Awesome Geoff and inspirational. I'm also a former teacher. I'm about to start a build on my Previa (Kiwi word for Tarago), and you've given me some good ideas. Simple is best and easiest for me. All the best. Cheers.
Good luck Ray!
Just bought a Toyota Estima and hate the bastard. This solution will help make life easier mate. It’s a conversion but needs RE modification. Put airbags in the shocks., as it’s an import (Japan) nothing ever fits properly. Thanks for this!!!👍
I’ve upgraded since that video, made a new video of the upgrades whilst cooking snags and drinking beer with my mate!😀👍🍺
U R the king of the road , Mite . love it .
Soooooooooooooooooooon am making one similar to this ..... thank you a heaps, Mite . Cheers.
This is really practical, especially the camp stretcher, you still have storage space and room to move around. Great design.
Thanks for the positive comments. Camp stretchers aren't for everyone but, once again, flexibility and simplicity are important for us. Being able to convert to a camper from a peoplemover quickly and efficiently makes it more likely that I will make use of it and venture into the great outdoors!!
Thanks so much for this! I'm thinking of buying a Tarago so this was super helpful.
I'd be worried if I had to brake hard with that lot flying forward otherwise very good, needs securing down for safety.
I hear what you're saying Michael. You're point is well made and well taken. the stretcher bed actually sits behind the cupboard and prevents it from flying forward.
Since I made this video I have bought a new fridge and have considered tethering it it in some way shape or form. When loaded up with supplies the fridge is pretty heavy and I reckon unlikely to come flying forward anyway. Whatever I use to tie it down will be simple in any case.
Cheers and thanks for your comment,
Geoff.
@@geoffmeikle Good on you mate it's not a criticism sometimes it's easy to overlook the obvious, there appears to be plenty of places to tie down to you floor, we don't get that version in the UK. Stay safe.
While breaking hard would be a memorable mess, the real issues is a crash and or roll-over. That won't be memorable as you will dead or brain damaged. All that stuff flies forward into at 100km with the injury being mass times speed. Apart from the safety issues, it's cheap and smart.
Great job mate
Very clever!
Geoff, fix your very low quality audio.
Nice work I subscribed
Cheers for that.
What online shops stock the fridge?
A couple of years ago I replaced the fridge with an Eva Kool, which has a compressor as opposed to a heat exchange system which is a bit old hat these days.
how much does the stuff get tossed around without being fixed to the vehicle?
The fridge and cupboard at the back are fairly weighty so they are pretty right.
Anything that you place between the back of the front seats and the front of the fridge/cupboard will need to be secured in some way. We don't go very fast or over rough terrain so having stuff flying about in the back hasn't been a major hassle. I think you would have to make a judgement call based on your personal preferences.
Thanks for your question Brian, hope this helps.
Cheers, Geoff.
Very Good. What cost? But is that stretcher actually comfortable?
Cheers
Thank you for your response Jaahda. Most of the materials to do my setup were recycled from bits and pieces that I already had lying around. From memory the only thing I had to buy was a sheet of 12mm plywood.We are currently in the throes of buying a new compressor style fridge, which may or may not necessitate getting a dual battery system installed in the vehicle. That could be expensive. Because the vast majority of our accommodation is at caravan parks on powered sites, a dual battery system is not likely to be needed and to be honest installing a dual battery system in an old Tarago is probably overkill anyway.The comfort factor of the stretcher bed is very much an individual choice which is related to an individuals personal preferences and comfort threshold. I have a self inflating mattress on top of the stretcher and also have recently switched from a sleeping bag setup to sheets and quilt which I have found to be more comfortable. As regards the bottom line costs of any setup, it can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. Our setup was very cheap because we already have the building materials, but our accommodation is relatively expensive because we like staying in Caravan Parks with good facilities.( My wife especially!!)Hope this helps,Cheers and good luck,Geoff.
@@geoffmeikle You might be surprised - seems to me that these old vans turned into campervans retain their value - and can be quite valuable. So you may not lose ur money. Take a look at prices in your area ;-)
Hard to hear this guys voice and l would not like to think about how noisy it would be in that van with all that stuff bashing around plus its not really safe. I am all for tarago camper conversions but not this one
I am hearing what you’re saying.
I have taken it on a number of trips and been pretty happy with it.
Your point about safety is well made and well taken.
I have used common sense when making decisions about strapping stuff down, speed and terrain…..Thankfully I’m still here to tell the tale 😀
Good luck with your conversion and happy travels.