Projectamber

Trailer progress

Hey folks,

The trailer is getting quite close to completion now!

Today I’ve been mostly on electrics, swapping the old tacky rear lights for some posh ones, running a mains hook up, the RCD and mains plugs throughout, fitting us a and the 12v side, although most of that was luckily already in.

I’m hopefully setting off in a min to go and pick up a new hitch coupler as there are 3 issues with the current one. As that holds the trailer onto the van th...

Walls, Floor & Water Tank - Emma's Camper Build - Ep.3

We're back on Emma's van, slowly catching back up as this brings us to April of this year, After Portugal 1 & 2, and up to when I could actually start seeing Emma again.

We tackle a lot of jobs within these two weekends, cab seats, floor, walls, wiring, Lino water tank and more.

Emma's Sprinter build - Ep1&2.

In this week's video I'm taking you waaay back.

Before Portugal, trip 1 and 2, right back to August last year where Emma had bought a new van to replace her VW T4.

Joining me full-time, we decided very early on that the one van approach wasn't going to work for us, we both enjoy our own time and space, so with the dual van option it gives us that, as well as the freedom to go off on our own, rescue either van, and because they're the same make, even share spare parts.

2021-07-05 21:19:20 +0000 UTC View Post

Having a dip

Lance likes it when we stay at Emma's, he lives like a doggie king. 😆

School Bus Turned Full-time Home in UK

Here is that awesome School bus from the Overland show in a bit more detail.
Simon the owner was kind enough to give us a tour and give us some great insight into the conversion and living with a big old American Schoolie.

If you want to see more, check them out on Instagram: @queenbeeskoolie

The Adventure Overland Weekend

The first re-introduction to a large gathering since the Lockdowns began, I was a little anxious about the Overland show. We had a lot of visitors and we did have to answer the same questions about Portugal 1627 times, but it was an incredible event and allowed everyone a slight flavour of life before Corona.

We had a great time seeing old friends we haven't seen since it all kicked off, meeting so many new people and making new friends, one of these people, Kieran, who is here on Patre...

Emma's van

I've been back with Emma today getting on with some of her van.
It ground to a halt with everything going on last year and us going to portugal.
But now with the weather turning shes really starting to make progress.
Today we've been cutting out the side walls to give that bit of extra leg room in the bed,
Marking out how and where she want furniture and beginning to frame everything up.
Oh, and not to forget the rug she bought before the van that's dictating the entire lay...

Finding a chassis for the BT box - trailer project: Ep.1

With the tow hitch on and just needing the electrics fitting, i set about doing that before the trek up to Scarborough to collect a chassis.

It took me so long to track one down that was suitable and the right price but we got there.

From the hilarity and stardard Project.amber clumsiness ensues in abundance.

She's blown a turbo!!

I was expecting it a year ago, but Amber's turbo has now let go.
In true Sprinter form she still drives fine but putting your foot down just makes funny sucking noises and no extra power, lots of smoke and the fuel consumption has gone REAL bad!
I've gone through all the easy stuff, vaccum pump, pipe leakes, sensor cleans but to no avail. I've now got into the turbo and the turbine spindle can wiggle enough to touch the side walls = she dead!

Not at all suprised considering the a...

Sprinter Sill & Step Replacement - Rust Busting

It's time to do a proper job on the bodged sill I had to do before our return to Portugal.

A small hole appeared that we were going to "quickly sort out" turned into the entire sill crumbling to bits.
Not having any panels to weld on to hand and our ferry in 2 hours, we made do.
but leaving it like it is will just allow rust to continue further, so I ordered the new panels including the step and whilst at Paul's we hit it.

Maiden Voyage!

Even though its far from finished the trailer has come along nicely.
Its now on its wheels, and for the first time in 8 months its on the move!
The maiden/test voyage highlighted some issues:
1- the doors dont like to stay closed.
& 2 - the trailers brakes/hitch keep applying and creating a yoyo effect.

So they both need looking at!
But other than that it tows lovely and the van doesnt seem to strain too much.... you know, when those brakes arent applied.

I di...

Custom Sink build in Camper Conversion: Can't find one? Make one.

My old sink lasted 4 years before breaching and going bad. I was surprised it lasted this long to be honest, as the entire van was only built to last a year long trip. So it's time to rip out the old and build a new one, better, faster, stronger. Using recycled aluminium form my trailer build and the Slaphead project, I tweak the original design and create a new, more sturdy, and less leaky sink.

Building a Custom Tow Hitch to a Sprinter Ex-Ambulance [+ Diff service]

Now that I'd decided to push forward with the trailer project, the first thing I needed was a tow hitch for the van so I could then find a chassis. Not an easy task on Amber due to her being an Ex-ambulance and the two rear ends of the diff had been lopped off for the tail lift and rear step.  

Whilst under here and good access, I also got onto the much needed task of swapping out the diff oil, which wasn't pretty.

Went a bit "experimental" with some of the music choices on t...

Sprinter Cam Shaft Sensor replace

Hey folks,

Happy Sunday!
I wasn't going to bother posting this to Patreon as it's just a little mechanical tip video when Amber spat her dummy out in Bakewell. It turned out to be a really easy fix, however that did cut this video right down.
I've stuck it up anyway as you guys are here for the story and when's going on both good and bad, plus some of you may even have a Sprinter, and if this happens to you it's easy to think it's a big problem and going to be a costly garage ...

The New Trailer Project - The BT Box

Hey all,

How are we all doing? Enjoying the ability to hug again? 😉
So, were past all the moody, frankly bullshit odds n sods I did over quarantine and lockdown.
Now it's onto the good stuff, the videos of quite a large undertaking I've been on. Getting a workshop trailer project off the ground (pun intended... no wheels!)
The van required a tow hitch, which coz ambulance, was not a simple job. The box was relocated whilst we were in Portugal to Am-Bol-East and in all hones...

Pretending to know cars - Assisting at a Prestigious car auction

As soon as the lockdown had eased once again, I headed over to Jez at Am-Bol-East coincidentally on the 1 year anniversary. He had a few jobs he needed a hand on and was headed to a classic car auction where two of his collection were listed, so asked if I'd like to join in "seeing what's what" A day of perving on metal and generally messing about persued.

Why I went quiet again on Youtube.

Hey you lot,

I know this doesn't necessarily relate to you guys here on Patreon, but I didn't want to leave you out seeing as this has some info I don't think I shared regarding the YT channel issues over the past few weeks, I had right fun and games!

It also contains a warning for any of you that may also have a channel, the weird and wonderful world of Multi Channel Networks. 

Then finally a peak at what's to come in the next few videos, of course of which you will ...

Adding Deck Lights

After rediscovering a set of led lights I'd bought when I first built the deck, and at the time nothing to do and nowhere to go; I made a start on wiring these up to finish it all off.

Just a short little video from during the lockdown, I was going to scrap it as the audio was shot but decided to have a play with it and do a non-talking video.

Enjoy!

New Bill Threatens Vanlife & Alternate living.

Submission deadline is 14th May 2021. It is part 4 of this bill that is of concern. 

Submit your evidence HERE:  https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/423/legislative-scrutiny-police-crime-sentencing-and-courts-bill/ 

See Nate's Video:   2021-05-10 20:13:37 +0000 UTC View Post

Swapping out my diesel Heater for a Chinese one

Well, this video and the last just flew together! So, because I like you lot, you can have them back to back. 😉

If you've stuck around for a while on the channel you'll know what a colossal pain in the arse my Eberspacher diesel heater has been.

Forever throwing up faults and not firing up, during the coldest of nights or when it been ran and is warm. Unless the conditions are as pin point as inside a hadron collider the bastard won't work!

I've spent too l...

Descending into madness... & projects.

Hey all,

With Emma now gone and still at this point no end in sight for lockdown easing,
I reluctantly had to accept my fate and continue to wait it out until things changed.
The first few days were tough but I soon pulled around and started ordering bits and starting odd jobs to keep on top of the van & make improvements.
Granted 1 of them, changing a clock, is not all that interesting.
But hey this is what I was doing so this is what I will show you.

Me, just abo...

Our Quarantine: Life After Portugal

Following on from our return from Portugal, Emma & I are thrown back into the lovely lockdown life of the UK. We get bombarded with phone calls from the government, go for walks in circles, make tiny hats and do our best to keep ourselves and Lance entertained for the next 10 days of quarantine.

This one is a Patreon only video, and things might be that way for a while actually.
So enjoy zero ads & non of the bullshit I have to sell me soul and do to make money via Youtube. ð...

Towing ready!

Hey folks,
Sorry it's been quiet the past 2 weeks.
The vans had a hell of a lot done to it and I've once again regressed into a feral being, getting absorbed into the repairs and projects.
On the plus side that means there's plenty of content on its way, this weekend I'm sitting down and getting back to the videos.

I did almost finish our quarantine video once we got back from Portugal, but I watched it back in its early stage with no music etc. and thought "well this is a bit...

Repairs and upgrades

Hey folks,
It's been a quiet week from me online but the reality couldn't be more different.
My good friend Paul has once again opened his doors to me, Lance & Amber and has let me start on some of the much needed repairs and upgrades the van needs before we continue forward.

I've ripped out the old sink as it had started to leak and go bad. The new version is made from aluminium, would you beleive almost entirely from the left overs from the slaphead that are still here. Som...

Outtakes 2

Another round of clips from the past chunk of videos showing a little insight to how things really go whilst making them.

Clumsiest, most linguistically challenged man alive 😆.

Racing home before the Hotel Quarantine - Finale (part 2)

Here we are, the last push home and finale to the whole Portuguese land series... for now.

Not going to lie, this one took a while, about 30 music tracks came n went, whole sections removed or cut down (it was almost an hour long at first 😂)
It fought me all the way but I eventually got to a point where I liked it and I hope you do too.

The two ending videos will be going Live on Youtube Sunday, a little earlier than I usually like but I just need this finished up and over...

The impossible Drive Home - Forced again to leave for UK - Part 1

During the whole Offgrid retreat series, behind the scenes we'd been  struggling with bureaucracy and getting our residency in order.  It had already kept us in Portugal a month longer we'd intended, and now with the new Brexit clock ticking down and Lockdown restrictions  both sides getting worse, our options were rapidly drying up. Without much time at all plan, we got our things in order and hit the  road with no idea what was to come.

This is up there as one of t...

The day it all went to s*** - Ep.11

After a day of tying up loose ends and finishing off a few jobs.

Then were treated to a some glorious weather we received news that would totally balls us up and begin the horrible task of trying to go home.

We're nearly at the end!

Almost there! I've spent weeks doing nothing but video stuff and were so close to the end now! Well, I am, you lot have still got 2 videos until this one.  But once this is done I can claim some form of a lockdown life back 😂 and focus on the next few projects. Right in time for the 12th!  

I know some of you know more than people on Youtube about whats going on but I think you'll enjoy the "adventure" all the same, I'd forgot so much until now sat here watching the clips b...

The big burger hike

We decide to down tools and explore some of the offroad tracks surrounding us, all in an effort to counter-act the huge burger night we had planned.

Brought to you as a rip off M&S advert, just because I always wanted to 😂

Enjoy.