BEHIND THE SCENES AT... BEAR HUG CAMPERS

Paul Critcher meets a team helping van converters to help themselves

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When it comes to van 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 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 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."