Carpeting - iKangooCamping

Plans have evolved as the i-KangooCamping has developed: The early plan was to carpet the full height of the walls.  The revised plan has been to insulate behind the lower panels and leave these as bare plastic which is also more practical when used as a conventional panel van and for carrying bulky or dirty loads.  The plastic panels can be quickly wiped down whereas the carpet, initially planned to cover them, would be difficult to keep clean.

We were knowingly advised that there is a knack to carpeting the interior of the van - and this is very true.  The carpet is heavy, bulky, unwieldy and unforgiving.  The original intention was to fit it as three strips (ie 2 sides plus roof) and cut-out the windows, roof fan and roof vent.  In practice, for first-timers, this was just too daunting so instead the carpet has been applied in smaller pieces.  The joins show but in time should become disguised by the fuzzy pile of the carpeting.  One tip - use fuzzy-pile carpeting not the corded type or you'll also have the problem of trying to match up the pattern and, unless you're proficient at this, will end up with a mass of diagonal stripes!

The carpeting is unwieldy and unforgiving. It doesn't stretch to fit into corners and is more rigid than we'd hoped - making for a frustrating job at times...  Cutting the metal was nothing in comparison to this job.

The van is now finished with new roof vents, side windows, insulation, carpeting, mats on the floor, adapted cupboards and is ready for loading up and heading off into the wilds....