NICK CARTER

With no experience of the campervan world I made a spontaneous decision to buy a Citroen Dispatch with semi raised roof and long wheel base, and started aspiring to do a conversion.

I took it to Scotland and Germany and slept on an inflatable bed in the back and cooked with a camping stove, hardly ideal.

I then started trawling the internet for companies that did conversions and got a varied response. I found Dirty Weekender and soon realised VW’s are in the majority and had I bought the wrong van? When Johnny looked at the van he immediately filled me with confidence. Looking at where wires ran, where plastic panels met metal, and all the details, he would be unhappy to leave a scruffy corner or do anything less than top quality. They had not done many non VW’s but along the way Johnny adapted and found all the right kit to fit my van.

While at the garage I got to see the different types of seats, the furniture kits, all the extras like bike rack and awnings and I was very impressed. It was clear that there was not a hurdle Johnny and his team could not overcome, and the conversion was completely tailored to my needs. The only problem with Johnny is he is so passionate I found it easy to get carried away.

So we decided on what I wanted and I took the van in, I was confident enough that I was not bothered about regular updates or communication but I am sure I could have if I wanted. I did not have a set finish date but we agreed roughly the end of the month and I think I picked it up around the 2^nd or 3^rd of the following month.

When I saw the finished result I was over the moon. It was everything I had hoped for. The windows, tow bar, bike rack and awning rail looked slick and impressive. The interior was amazing; the furniture kit is so practical and attractive. Every edge and corner of the interior is well fitted and there are no loose ends or ugly features. As my Citroen is slightly narrower Johnny had sliced a bit off the furniture kit to make it fit, and it really does. And he even cut a corner off the bed and re-upholstered it so everything is completely made to measure and utilises the space perfectly. He even tracked down a different gas hob and sink due to the narrower furniture kit. Everything is completely to my needs; I wanted to do more “wild” camping so he fitted and inverter and three pinned plugs to power my laptop or DVD player where ever I go.  

Now it is finished my friends and I are so impressed. I can camp anywhere in style and comfort. And every step of the way Dirty Weekender made sure I got what suited me, and did it to a high quality. And if I had to do it all again I would not change a thing.