New project van for PM

nrdonnelly · Apr 16, 2013

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Dear all.
Thought I would introduce our newest team member. This Auto Sleeper CB22 is my new van and my first motorhome for about six years after a spell of caravanning. Obviously a budget purchase, this sub-£1000 van is not going to be subject to a money-no-object makeover. A budget tidy-up, quick check over and safety once over will be completed before she heads off to the Reader Rally at Stowford Farm from 3rd May. Then I'm planning a few more bits of work (repairing the damage to the front wing, replace the damaged wallboard in the overcab, make the washroom a little less tragic) before heading off to the continent.
Any info, tips or warnings about Bedford CF, older coachbuilts, classic insurance or anything else very welcome! Look out for more updates on here over the coming weeks. MOT booked for Monday 22nd April. Fingers crossed...

gjh · Apr 17, 2013

One of our sons bought a 1981 Bedford CF 250 Cavalier Coachman about 18 months ago.
The major items have been: bodywork tidied up and resprayed; upholstery renovated/renewed (a great job by Tappers) and we've checked and (where necessary) rewired it to correct errors by previous owner(s). Still bits to do but its a great little van.
Graham

nrdonnelly · Apr 17, 2013

Hey Graham

I haven't got my hands on it yet but I suspect I'll be doing similar work. There is a little bit of welding to attend to but nothing structural. Yet.

Main things are inside where it has had some damp repairs and the interior finish is not up to even my low standards! I've done damp repairs on caravans in the past so a bit of reboarding doesn't faze me.

Am really looking forward to getting started but the first priority is to go away in it and see how I get on!

More updates soon!

P.S. Haynes manual has just arrived.
Total spend on project so far, excluding buying it - £3.99

Flicka · Apr 17, 2013

Hi Nigel - congrats on your "new" purchase, hope you have lots of fun with it.
We had a CF 2.3 petrol back in 1975 (we converted Snapon Tools Luton body).
A couple of points :- keep a careful check on payload & if the 2.3 petrol engine check the age of the cam belt.
Good luck with the updates.

TonyJones · Apr 17, 2013

Congratulations Nigel!
As most people know, I'm a bit of a Ford fanatic, but I've always had a soft spot for Bedfords in spite of that, and have owned a couple. Never could understand how Vauxhall made such rubbish cars when they were capable of producing really good vans!
Our first trip abroad was in 1977, in a 1971 petrol CF van (not camper) with a couple of tents. Happy memories - the 2.3 OHC petrol engine was a joy to drive, went like the clappers but a bit on the thirsty side if I remember rightly. And with petrol at nearly 50p a gallon ... !
Motorhome-wise, in 1994 we took the kids to Legoland (the REAL one, in Denmark) in a 1984 Glendale coachbuilt on a CF2 2.3 diesel. Rather less lively (no turbo back then), and no danger of breaking motorway speed limits, but solid and reliable, with plenty of low-speed torque to save gear-changing. Shame Glendale folded, the quality of the "caravan" end was excellent too.
So ... if your new baby is a diesel, don't expect to be able to get anywhere very quickly (although it'll go round roundabouts at 12mph in top gear); if it's a 2.3 petrol be prepared to pay at the pump for all that power (unless you can cultivate a very light right foot, but where's the fun in that?). And yes, if you've no evidence of cam-belt change get it done. Shame to spoil a perfectly good engine!

nrdonnelly · Apr 19, 2013

Great advice there. Thanks chaps! And some great stories too! I went to Legoland (the real one) in a 1983 Freight Rover with a Reimo conversion in 2003. That was in a O-series 2.0ltr petrol. That was not very economical either!

My Bedford is a petrol one, but as I live (just) inside the London LEZ, I couldn't have the diesel anyway. Collect her tomorrow so I'll post some proper pictures. Cambelt is on the list of jobs to attend to early on!

All being well, she'll be enjoying a maiden voyage to Stowford Farm Meadows on the early May bank holiday weekend. Fingers crossed...

gjh · Jan 2, 2014

How is the project going Nigel?

Rob managed a few good trips in his CF last year.

516yuanyuan · May 16, 2016

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