When it comes to campervan converters, there’s a huge choice. Bear Hug Campers falls into the smaller, more bespoke end of the market, where ’van builders seek to provide customers with a made-to-measure service.
Based in Surrey, just off the A3 near Petersfield, the company is headed up by John Stuckey and has developed a multifaceted business model, offering customers both full builds and specialist systems builds, such as electrics.
Not only that, it provides expert training and a support network for self-builders looking to do some or all of their own self-build campervan conversions.
Starting out
John’s interest in subjects such as woodwork, metalwork, motorbike building, design and photography was the perfect nursery for what has now become a full-time career.
Originally a book designer for a publishing company, he was keen to do something more aligned to his practical interests and started by converting a van for himself. He learned all he could about vans the hard way, taking them apart and putting them back together again, and finding the best materials, methods and campervan layouts.
His first conversion was a medium-wheelbase Fiat Ducato, a van he later converted again to use as a show vehicle to develop the business and advertise the sort of conversions he could do.
“I loved that ’van,” says John. “It was rebuilt for a couple and a dog, so it was ideal for me and my partner and we took it to several shows. It’s still one of my favourites.”
It was while he was working on this personal conversion that he received his first commission, which came by word of mouth and through showing photos of his current build online.
“It was a bit lucky,” he says, “ because they had a build lined up with another company that fell through, so they took a leap of faith with me.”
A leap of faith it may have been, but the clients were so pleased with the result that it was shared extensively online and led to more commissions.
The business started officially three years ago and John now works with a regular contractor to do full builds. They are currently on number eight, although they also do partial builds and systems fittings in between full builds. John says: “Every single bit of wood is handmade by us to fit, which is incredibly labour-intensive, but the outcome is, you get a really nice high-end build exactly as you want it. We do about four a year.”
Scope and range
Most of the conversions Bear Hug has done are medium- or long-wheelbase panel vans, such as Mercedes Sprinter, Peugeot Boxer or Citroën Relay, all options which are among the best vans for a camper conversion, and they are developing a smaller VW Transporter build to cater for the smaller van market.
John’s regular contractor is a boatbuilder skilled in custom cabinetry, lending the builds a quality, artisan finish. They use an outside upholsterer with whom they have a strong relationship, and everything else they do themselves, other than the van mechanics.
Cabinetry, plumbing and gas and electric systems all come within Bear Hug’s area of expertise. Usually, customers approach the company early on in the process, early enough that clients can be advised on which type of vehicle to buy.
Electrics
Fitting and building electrical systems is one of Bear Hug Campers’ particular specialities. They will often assist self-builders who prefer a professional to fit an electric kit or system that they might have bought. Electrics are a part of the business that John hopes to expand and the area that they get the most questions about.
He explains: “The self-builders we help have a lot of questions about woodwork, but want to give it a go themselves. However, when it comes to electrics, many prefer to leave it to us for the electrics install. People think twice about fitting anything that has that safety element to it.”
Bear Hug’s full builds are fully customised, with everything handbuilt to fit, so it makes sense for the team to take on smaller jobs, such as electrics installations, in between.
“We’re creating a second sister website, called Bear Hug Electric,” says John, “and we’re starting off with four kits that customers can buy and we will install for them. These range from a modest 12V to a large kit that can power higher-wattage items, all with a decent amount of solar capacity.
“People need help with these things as they can be dangerous. Getting it done right is important.”
Self-build help
One area of the business that has proved popular is the online courses and support that Bear Hug offers. The company has built a community of self-builders who can use the online videos John has created to help in their own conversions.
John says: “I was trying to make a point of answering all the questions we got and could see that a space was needed to help people in a more structured way. So I spent a year documenting the builds we were doing – processes and stuff.
“I had a test pilot student who I would meet on a Zoom call every week to help them through their build and find out what they were struggling with. I then launched the first iteration of the self-build course, which has a private group of everyone who’s on the course. They can all talk to each other and we have monthly calls with me so they can ask me questions. In between the calls, I’m answering questions almost daily. It’s on an online platform and there’s an app as well, with all the access to the course content.”
While it is a lot of work to run the course, John believes it is worthwhile, as people who do the course will come to Bear Hug for systems installs. So it feeds the business as a whole with students helping promote the business. Indeed, that first student has gone on from converting his first van to working for another van conversion company.
Other than electrics, what do people struggle with? “I think it’s the first, getting going part,” says John. “Getting the structure right and all those things in the right place. One of the biggest hurdles is drilling a hole and cutting windows in your van – that first time is scary. Having a bit of reassurance that they are doing the right thing in the right way is what they need.”
After some more advice for getting the most from campervanning? Then head to our Go Campervanning: General Advice section for more great ideas!
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