Make Your own Hippo

In the 3 days between arriving back in the UK and heading off to Europe managed to build a hippo for between the front two seats. Its not quite finished as the draw is currently on a magnetic catch and not a spring loaded on but apart from that it worked. Added loads of storage for michelin maps of Europe, campsite and aire d service guides all of our reading material for three weeks first aid kit and a ipad when not in use. The draw also was a god send for ferry tickets, toll tickets etc etc etc Oh and extra strong mints. And the real wow was to have cup holders.

To make life easy was made with pre- cut birch furniture grade 13mm ply. Swansea timber and ply being responsible for making perfect cuts even down to the curves. Including all fitting - piano hinge, gas prop (still to be fitted) - handles locks, varnish etc total cost was just over 70 pounds.

Looking good
You may find you receive an enquiry or two

Tilly wrote
"Personally I'm reluctant to loose the ability to go front to back of the van"

I agree with Tilly but would be interested in something similar that was lower (for step-over) or set only to one side (for walk through)

Belgiumbay, Could you do a half-width version?

osg

Wheels?

Hey guys

i posted the design earlier in the year (link below) if any one wants it as a pdf just send me an IM i have plans for 18mm ply and 13mm ply

Any good timber merchant (not a DIY shop) will be able to cut Birch ply and just adapt the design as you feel like

For us stepping into the back is not a prob - when we are camped up we have a hammock up anyway and on the move as we use it mainly south france etc then we always get out and in through slide door

One thing that did strike me though was that if it was about 100mm lower it would make a great buddy seat as well

https://servimg.com/view/14663826/51

Very interesting. I don't suppose anyone has plans for a portaloo holding buddy seat do they?

Hi walmsley

oddly yes

however as I am back in azerbaijan rather than the uk i dont have the plans here and also they are drawn up for a camping gaz portaloo

I will see if i can get my father to scan them in for me - they were done the old fashioned way - and then its just a matter of adapting the measurements for a thetford etc. the one i built also has a storage area under it for a tool kit - but that only works because the camping gaz is not tall like some of the thetfords

not the best picture but the only one we have that shows the full buddy box (other side has a flush opening)



box was made from jewe mdf finished in the same cavados foil as our vanwurks interior but can be made from ply or any other particle board though after using it for two years I would recommend varnished beech ply

Nice and inventive belgiumbay. We like that kind of stuff here!

Love it, and the price!

Nice work.

I too like to be able to move easily between front and rear, however what is really sending me bonkers is not having anywhere for a water drinks bottle.

I will put my thinking cap on but if any of you creative folks have any ideas for cup/bottle holders I am very interested!

Cheers K.

We added a hippo to our spce but now we've got it I'm not sure it was such a good idea.

Works fine but makes changing gear quite difficult - we've moved it now which rather defeats the object.

Kev wrote:

Nice work.

I too like to be able to move easily between front and rear, however what is really sending me bonkers is not having anywhere for a water drinks bottle.

I will put my thinking cap on but if any of you creative folks have any ideas for cup/bottle holders I am very interested!

Cheers K.

I've fitted the under dash tray from Justkampers, has a drink holder in it. Had to do a slight mod as the drink holder is quite shallow.

LINK

walms

I luckily had sussed the gear change thing - so it is a tad (10mm) shorter than the hippo - though I am not sure if having a LHD makes a difference as well though.

I am working on a design for a lower version which in theory wold be step overable. Will have a document draw in the rear end and open like a croc mouth.

Will post at the weekend when finished.

Plus and improved hippo version which is not quite as wide and has document pocket on the outside - we use the michelin multiflex atlas to get around france and while having it in the hippo does make this tidy it would be so much better to be in reach.