It's been a while since we had a thread about sweet van conversions. My project this winter is to buy a reasonably priced van and pimp it out on a budget ready for lots of fun kiting weekenders.

post pics of yours.... all advice welcome!

this could draw some derision from the kooler than kool krew, but I am a massive fan of the surf art of Drew Brophy, and the piece de resistance of my dream van conversion must be a paint job that pays homage to Drew's unique style and vision. Never having been much of an artist and not having a whole lot of coin this may never eventuate. But if i could, I would cover the van in Drew's surreal creations. Check em out:
on his homepage
drewbrophy.com/portfolio/

This is his 'Dream Machine'


He designed the Hinano girl!!





But my ALL TIME fave has gotta be this one...

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ezza said...

this could draw some derision from the kooler than kool krew, but I am a massive fan of the surf art of Drew Brophy, and the piece de resistance of my dream van conversion must be a paint job that pays homage to Drew's unique style and vision. Never having been much of an artist and not having a whole lot of coin this may never eventuate. But if i could, I would cover the van in Drew's surreal creations. Check em out:
on his homepage
drewbrophy.com/portfolio/

This is his 'Dream Machine'


He designed the Hinano girl!!





But my ALL TIME fave has gotta be this one...

hey ezza, if you want a sweet paint job look no further than your local art students. university students that do art are particualry smelly and poor, and will do all sorts of stuff for some beer and drug money. I got this uni art student to do pencil sketches of my old mans sail boat for a fairly paltry sum ($150) the results were outstanding.

Thanks myusernam, I was thinking something along those lines could be cool. What aspiring starving artist wouldnt think a whole van as his (or her) canvas would be sweet. I'd be willing to pay a sum.... But couldn't afford the pro spray, so would be happy with 'student art' quality, which could be pretty awesome anyway.

Edited to say: a couple of people have emailed me their vans for sale, that is cool, but I have to sell a car first to pay for a van, and will be looking in the under $6k region, mechanically ok doesn't have to be a great beauty. Happy to look at anything that fits into that criteria

We are moving back to Tassie in July and buying a 8x5 single axle trailer for the move.

Once home I am going to build a ply camper top that will be removable by simply sliding off the trailer.

Will have a bed in the front (over hanging the draw bar slightly) kitchen down one side with that side wall opening out to make the kitchen accessable inside and out.

The other side will have storage with board racks and hooks to hand kite bags.

Using a trailer means I can tow it behind the falcon for normal trips of borrow the old mans Patrol for 4WD based trips. It will also mean I can set up camp and do day trips from there without having to pack everything up.

Anyway, that's my plans!!!

tafe students panel beaters and spray painters will do a gypsy paint job for u

this must be sickest kiting vehicle on the planet




followed by the silver arrow



pimping aint easy mate. good luck with your van keep us posted!

Why is that trailer the siiiikest? Haven't you seen a semi? They have 12 wheels!

New Trailer to follow

Wow - a stretch Merc limmo!

No more sympathy for the retailers Jas.

Oh, sweet van WOK.


The other option i've been considering is to set up a trailer. I have a company car (ford falcon) that I drive 99% of the time so i'd just have to convince them I need a tow-bar for some reason.

I'd want to be able to sleep in it and carry SUPs, surfboards and kite gear, eskies, BBQ etc. The only drawback would be if I ever get the sack and lose the company car I can't get from A to B in a trailer.

This is my van, had it for about 12 months. Its the Hyundai iLoad diesel and its pretty fast
Heaps better than the old Toyota Hiace.
Not as big as Jason's but I recon I
could drag him off at the lights.