Winter warmer

 

 

Just wanted to remind myself and everyone else what we've had and what is to come. Sometimes in the winter a drive in the van just evokes a little bit of summer for me. We had two good weeks in Cornwall this summer. The plan for 2014 is to put the van on the boat to Santander, spend a week in Northern Spain then meander back up through France. Going to order a sun canopy...

Winter camping

Ok, testing this mini oil filled radiator on the drive, only 600w, it's snowing at the moment and I can report it seems to work. The plan is to go away for the night next weekend when we will be able to keep it on all night. I already have a fan heater which is good for a blast of heat but I'm hoping this will provide a reasonable level of background heat.

Summer sun

The van has had plently of use over the summer. West Beach at Littlehampton is a great place to pitch up for the day:

Went to T4/5 Fest at Beaulieu on our way to New Forest. It was a great event, a real mix of characters ranging from youngsters in battered, stickered and lowered T4s to fully loaded older Cali T5 owners. Everyones van was different and in some way personalised by owners. Good vibe and a good water fight.

Glen turned up with my old van, which he's done a lot of work to since I had it.

Then we went on to the New Forest for a few days and then to the Isle of Wight.

This cost £100!

Mobile beach hut at Ryde Promenade, watched the world go by for a good few hours here.

 



Keep it simple and have fun

Well we have been away a few times so far this year, we were rained off in Somerset in Jubilee week but we have had a couple of good (reasonably) dry weekends since then and a good number days out where we have had maximum use of the van as a base/tearoom/cafe and resting place.

One thing I am sure of is that keeping the spec simple gives maximum flexibility. Using crates and a portable 12v coolbox means you can load and unload the boxes in the kitchen at home. The van stays loaded in the summer minus clothes, food and water ready for a quick off whenever we want.

Here's a few pictures of recent camps and days out:

West Wet Somerset

West Wittering

Preston Park Brighton

Newhaven

Ashdown Forest

Double front seat swivel

This is a clever bit of kit from Kiravans, not cheap but well made. It allows my double front seat to turn round allowing for seating for five in the rear of the van, it really opens up the space. Importantly you also get to keep all that valuable storage under the seat.

Here's how I fitted it: The electric terminals under the seat have to be tucked under the floor, you have to take about 5mm off the top of the floor studs, I took the studs out of the floor and did this in a vice in the garage. The swivel plate goes over the modded studs and the seat bolts easily onto the swivel.

To turn the seat you have to unscrew the four substantial knurled bolts and lift and secure the bolts clear of the swivel. It is a bit hit and miss getting the bolts re-threaded, two were very stiff and I noticed some paint being pushed out the threads. I oiled each one and have used them half a dozen times now and it's getting much easier. 

The seat sits an inch higher and I have had to move my kitchen unit over a bit, it's all a tight squeeze with the bed down but means if my daughter wants to sleep we can sit in the van in the warm and read if the weather is bad.

Today we had a day out in the van, after we had walked the dog we had soup and played cards comfortably in the van while the May weather impersonated January.

Subtle steels

Yesterday I had a day off work and fitted the new steel wheels (using my new bargain Lidl £20 trolley jack which makes things a bit quicker). Hopefully they wont be putting any more salt on the roads. Still getting used to the look and stance, think it might need to go a bit lower but not sure.

My first attempt at carpeting and self tappers was on the sliding door using the ply lining base before I discovered the MVM fixings (see earlier posts), a few weeks ago I retrimmed the original hardboard panel so I fitted it with fixings to match the rest of the interior panels. The last picture is of the bonnet strut I fitted a while ago. This is great for me as I regularly need to get under the bonnet to access the 240v hookup. I also fettled the drivers door to fit perfectly flush. Gave it a good clean as well. All easy mods and a nice way to spend your day off.

Same colour van honest:

Retrimmed door panel:



Bonnet strut:

 

Praise to the lowered

Here's a few pictures, stock:

A year later, spot the difference, five external ones, answers below:

Bus stop, back end could do with a wipe:

A: coilovers, windows, repeaters, deflectors, wheels painted

Coilovers fitted - first impressions

CMC Coilovers are now fitted. I have only gone for a moderate drop and the dampers are on the softest setting. Impressions so far are that it feels much more controlled, no wallowing when cornering or under braking. My biggest fear was that it might be crashy and hard as has been my experience with lowering springs on other vehicles, gladly I can report that it feels firmer than standard but compliant with no bottoming out through potholes or over speed bumps so far.
The van also feels noticably lower when you are driving which makes it feel generally more planted engendering more confidence in its handling. Bear in mind this is all from someone who doesn't race around but was looking for a general improvement over stock.

Oh, and it looks heaps better, pictures to follow.

Suspension and wheels

Well I guess it was only a matter of time, I could no longer resist the urge to go lower. I have tried reasoning that it is more comfortable to ride high on the standard set up, speed bumps aren't an issue, I could use the money on another mod, err... what else? Reasons to go lower: better handling, better stance, get under lower barriers, less step up into van, ok the last few are a bit weak. Bottom line is I want it lower, I know its not really logical.

Over the past few months I have done plently of research. I am going to pay to have the work done so I only want to do it once. I have had lowering springs on several cars and my T4, the ride is generally quite hard, the height is not adjustable but they are an affordable option.
I have never had coilovers, they are height adjustable and most have adjustable shocks as well. I expect though that once you have it set up you leave it that way. Here are some of the coilover options:

• Prosport/JOM, aren't a great deal more expensive than springs, the ride height is adjustable but shocks aren't, that may be ok but it may not. 
• VMaxx/CMC, these seem reasonable value and are generally well reviewed.
• H&R/Eibach etc much more expensive but probably the best.

I have gone for CMC, mid range, fully adjustable, well reviewed. Here they are before fitment.

Next the wheels, I have refurbished my 16'' steels and they look ok but the tyres are skinny and they have a huge profile (16/205/65). Again I have tried to resist changing but if I am going lower I have to change the wheels right? Besides at the moment the 16'' have plently of tread so I should get something for them to offset the cost of new wheels.

I rather like 18'' alloys, don't want anything bigger and with budget tyres they are affordable new, there are second hand options occasionally but they tend to look used so you have to factor in a refurb. I also like the OEM T32 17'' steel wheels, these come up secondhand sometimes or nearly new occasionally when they are swapped out for big alloys. If they need a refurb I could do steels myself.

So the search began, over the past few months I have been scouring the web and have ended up with a set of 17'' steels sourced from a new van, they are fitted with 235/55/17 Dunlop Sports and have done 108 miles on the road. I have resisted putting these on until I have had the suspension sorted.

I ain't finished yet

It's been a while since I have updated the blog. The van has been used for weekend trips at the end of the summer and has been used to haul various big bits around Brighton and Hove as well as the second vehicle in the household for regular journeys. It is running really well and as a reward has a few mods coming in the new year. Over past few months minor adornments include a flower garland for the front window and a sticker for the offside. Here are a few recent shots:

Summer holiday

This is what I really enjoy, over two weeks in the New Forest , Isle of Purbeck and South Hams in Devon. On the way down we stopped in Southampton to show the previous owners what we have done to the van, we were invited to stay for tea and cake, they were really pleased the van was being well looked after and used. Here he is reunited with the van.

After a few days in the New Forest we stopped briefly in Poole.

We then caught the ferry to Sandbanks, makes me feel like we are going abroad.

 It was then a short drive to Corfe Castle where we stayed for five nights.

After Corfe we headed for the South Hams in Devon, we stayed on a site near Hope Cove, this was the view from our pitch.

It was a tight squeeze down some of the lanes in South Devon, the van behaved well though and the conversion worked well in practice for a protracted period.

Used, abused, fettled and fiddled

Been away in the van a few times now and learned a few lessons. First off it is much more comfortable that the T4, very little road noise either. The bed occasionally squeaked when you went over a bump but I have cured this with a couple of rubber feet cut from an old rubber car mat. These go under the front legs. I have also fitted a heavy duty 12v trailing socket which I am much happier with than the usual car accessory one. I have had to buy some meatier magnets for the blinds, they now hold really well. The JK front exterior blinds are a bit skimpy in their cut in my view, they are ok but only just. I am glad that I haven't bothered with a kick board under the seat. I use three crates under here, it's not beautiful but it is practical.

The double front seat is great:

• we can all sit up front, 2 adults one child one little dog
• you don't have to faf with the belts when you set up the bed
• you can afford to be less precious about storing stuff in the back (although you need enough space to sit and make/drink tea)
• the folded seat with the kitchen top on it makes a great table
• or a seat for kids with a rug
• or storage for our clothing holdalls at night
• there is loads of space underneath for storage

There is less room under and behind the rear seat than with the bluebird seat in the T4 but the cannons forge sits further back so there is a little bit more floor space.

The rear o/s bumper has gently kissed a brick wall. This has led me to the colour coding debate. I have smoothed it but the scrape is still there. I can get a new rear bumper through ebay for £100 (£190 from dealer!). Colour coding is £250 min plus I'll need a protector for the rear bumper. Coding looks good but the bare plastic doesn't offend me.

Then there is the suspension. I'm too old to be a boy racer but would prefer a lower stance and less wallow. I am considering H&R springs. The wheels will stay until the tyres are worn out.

Scrubs up well

Over the past few months I have really focussed on the interior as I wanted the van to be ready to use to camp in as soon as possible. Luckily it was ready just a few days before the hot Easter weekend when we managed to get away in it. The great thing about camping is that you have time to reflect. Looking at the van I realised I hadn't washed it properly since January! So after I refurbished the wheels I gave the whole van a proper clean. The metallic green paint is quite forgiving of dirt but it looks much better clean!. Here's a standard 3/4 view:

Step in style

You will see in an earlier post that I needed to sort out the side step. The panel van step didn't cover the new floor as its about 1-1.5cm higher with the insulation, ply and then carpet. The answer is a new step designed for the VW Shuttle which is deep enough to go over the three layer floor. Ordered from VW for £30+VAT came the next day and not too expensive. I had to trim back the fins on the rear upright edge to get it to fit and it comes with an apeture for a courtesy light which I have blanked off. Looks much neater:

Wheels of steel

The steel wheels and tyres that came with the van are all in good shape and I just can't justify changing them at the moment. The wheels themselves are pretty poorly painted by VW. It looks like they spray a very thin layer of silver over a black base coat. The black base coat was visible in places on all the wheels and they all had minor rusting from stone chips.
I have considered having them powder coated but when I looked into this the costs mount up to about £50 per wheel. I have previously painted steels with hammerite enamel finish from a tin with reasonable results and longevity so it I thought I'd have a go with smooth hammerite from a spray can. Here's how I did it:
One by one each wheel is removed, cleaned, rubbed down properly with wet and dry and then cleaned again. I then let the tyre down so I can tuck masking tape under the rim, I carefully tape the valve and weight and then mask the tyre with paper. Each wheel is then treated with 4 coats of paint.
This is a slow time consuming process, as I write I'm on the third wheel. I enjoy the actual spraying, it is rather satisfying seeing the old marked wheel disappear slowly under fresh paint, here is a masked wheel and the result on the van.

First camp!

Easter Saturday 2011 will be remembered for the weather and the first night out camping in the van. I finished shaping the silver screens in the week and this was the last job I needed to do before we could comfortably camp in the van.
We decided to stay local and went to http://www.blacklandsfarm.co.uk/. Hadn't been here before and we were pleasantly surprised, loads of space and quite informal.
Things went well, we didn't forget anything major, the weather was hotter than July and evening was warm too.
In the picture you can see the new Quechua pop up awning/tent. I have a full awning but it takes a while to put up. Previously if I didn't put up the awning I used a pup tent as a shed to store clobber and mark the pitch when off site.This awning literally pops up, you have to wrestle with it a bit to put it down but it beats threading poles any day.
The night in the van was comfortable. All in all a great first trip.

In the evening we were joined by family

Screens, kitchen pod, mains sockets

I have looked around and full set of silver screens for a T5 is really expensive. The cab internal screen in my T4 was always awkward to fit and left sucker marks so I have gone for a set of JK external screens for the cab. For the rear I have used silver bubble insulation cut to size for each apeture and held in place by magnets. Seems to work ok on this test as shown below but I think I'll need some more/stronger magnets especially for the tailgate.

The kitchen pod I kept when I sold my T4, I was expecting to sell it with the van and build another which I was quite looking forward to. I built it myself and I have had it a few years so it's therefore tried and tested. A Camping Gaz cylinder feeds the hob. There is a fresh water tank, 12v tap and a waste tank. I have a smallish 12v cooler that fits in under there as well. The handles at the sides make handy vents for this and the advantage of having it in there is you can hardly hear it at night. The whole thing lifts out if necessary. The top just lifts off and one day I'll work out how to use it as a table. I knew this would be a tight fit with the Cannons Forge bed and indeed it is. I have to move the drivers seat forward, push the unit up and then there is just enough room for the bed. If I was building another it would be slimmer.

With the pod in the cover is removed from the rear of the drivers seat to access the mains and 12v socket. I am also storing my 240v to 12v transormer there which I use to power the cool box on mains. Here's the mains unit down the side of the pod. It might be better to have it behind the pod but I'll see how it goes in use.

Electrics

I have kept this as simple as I can. 12v is a direct fused feed from the battery to a temporary socket under the front seat. The 240v input socket is under the bonnet, the best of a limited range of options for siting. Both cables then come through the bonnet release cable hole with a bit of persuasion. The cables then go under the matting and under the drivers seat. 240v is terminated with a pukka camping mcb and rcd three way socket. There is cable to spare and the whole lot tucks under the front seat and the plastic rear cover hides it when not in use.