VW Transporter Day Van Conversion
Discussion
ChocolateFrog said:
Yes but I've gone for fixed all round, possibly a mistake although my van doesn't have AC which I'm now thinking is probably a mistake so I've been looking at Truma Saphir AC and heating units in one, would probably fit under the floor.
Heard there are problems with the sliding windows leaking although this might just be genuine ones. My intention would be to open the side door if it got too hot.
It's just the genuine ones that leak. My regret is because it would help to get a bit of a through draught at night when the weather is warm (not that often then...), I like to keep the doors locked when we're asleep! I don't have AC either, and it's not been an issue in three years for me. Heard there are problems with the sliding windows leaking although this might just be genuine ones. My intention would be to open the side door if it got too hot.
LeighW said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Yes but I've gone for fixed all round, possibly a mistake although my van doesn't have AC which I'm now thinking is probably a mistake so I've been looking at Truma Saphir AC and heating units in one, would probably fit under the floor.
Heard there are problems with the sliding windows leaking although this might just be genuine ones. My intention would be to open the side door if it got too hot.
It's just the genuine ones that leak. My regret is because it would help to get a bit of a through draught at night when the weather is warm (not that often then...), I like to keep the doors locked when we're asleep! I don't have AC either, and it's not been an issue in three years for me. Heard there are problems with the sliding windows leaking although this might just be genuine ones. My intention would be to open the side door if it got too hot.
ChocolateFrog said:
Also got the tracker fitted and hidden away, no pictures for obvious reasons.
I like the novelty of texting my car and it telling me where it is.
I wouldn't mind something like this for mine - any more details on the system you have? PM if you prefer, or just tell me to mind my own business!I like the novelty of texting my car and it telling me where it is.
ChocolateFrog said:
Also got the tracker fitted and hidden away, no pictures for obvious reasons.
I like the novelty of texting my car and it telling me where it is.
Been looking at a few options on this. There is one you can use that has different APIs in there as well and you can get it to text you battery voltages and things as well. Will dig up a link if i can find the system.I like the novelty of texting my car and it telling me where it is.
LeighW said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Also got the tracker fitted and hidden away, no pictures for obvious reasons.
I like the novelty of texting my car and it telling me where it is.
I wouldn't mind something like this for mine - any more details on the system you have? PM if you prefer, or just tell me to mind my own business!I like the novelty of texting my car and it telling me where it is.
geeks said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Also got the tracker fitted and hidden away, no pictures for obvious reasons.
I like the novelty of texting my car and it telling me where it is.
Been looking at a few options on this. There is one you can use that has different APIs in there as well and you can get it to text you battery voltages and things as well. Will dig up a link if i can find the system.I like the novelty of texting my car and it telling me where it is.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003XDN58K/ref...
Had one of those days where literally everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Made some progress but had to abandon fitting the window as the adhesive that bonds the panels together didn't go off in time before it got dark.
And that's about as far as I got. Started off using a nibbler but couldn't get it in the right place due to the inner lip so resorted to the jigsaw which did a pretty good job.
There's some sealant between the two panels that needs removing. I was led to believe it was like putty and would be easy to remove. Not so, it had the consistency of vulcanised rubber and a limpet like grip on the van. Took 2 hours with a combination of Stanley, chisel knife and scribe to persuade it out.
Time for a beer and regroup.
Made some progress but had to abandon fitting the window as the adhesive that bonds the panels together didn't go off in time before it got dark.
And that's about as far as I got. Started off using a nibbler but couldn't get it in the right place due to the inner lip so resorted to the jigsaw which did a pretty good job.
There's some sealant between the two panels that needs removing. I was led to believe it was like putty and would be easy to remove. Not so, it had the consistency of vulcanised rubber and a limpet like grip on the van. Took 2 hours with a combination of Stanley, chisel knife and scribe to persuade it out.
Time for a beer and regroup.
A much better day today. Still took 45 mins to remove the masking tape residue, didn't think it was ever going to come off.
I tidied up the cut out for the window and primed the surface to take the glazing sealant.
Before fitting the window I fitting the carpet to the the exposed metal areas on the side of the van.
Then it was on with the window. A couple of tips I picked up helped a lot. I used a paint marker pen to roughly align the window to the frame before applying the sealant which means you're not smearing it around to much when you're fitting it for real. The second one was to use a ratchet strap on the inside to apply tension while the glue goes off.
|http://thumbsnap.com/Kk3NExfZ[/url]
While that was going off I finished sound deadening the floor, ended up with about 20 cm left over, not bad from the 70m I bought.
Excuse the mess, again!
I then fitted the second window. This one is 'fake' i.e. There's no cut out. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, I think it looks better with w windows and fills the recessed area of the van. Secondly, if I cut out the panel it would potentially be obscured if and when I fit units. If you don't fit one it can look slightly homemade as the front window curve doesn't perfectly align with the curve of the van, whether it's manufacturing tolerances or the panel is distorted slightly from joining the inner and outer panels together I don't know, I've seen it on other vans and I didn't like it.
To stop you being able to see the panel underneath I used limo tint on an already tinted window so it's virtually black. I also left a gap in the sealant to avoid any condensation between the panel and window.
[url]
I tidied up the cut out for the window and primed the surface to take the glazing sealant.
Before fitting the window I fitting the carpet to the the exposed metal areas on the side of the van.
Then it was on with the window. A couple of tips I picked up helped a lot. I used a paint marker pen to roughly align the window to the frame before applying the sealant which means you're not smearing it around to much when you're fitting it for real. The second one was to use a ratchet strap on the inside to apply tension while the glue goes off.
|http://thumbsnap.com/Kk3NExfZ[/url]While that was going off I finished sound deadening the floor, ended up with about 20 cm left over, not bad from the 70m I bought.
Excuse the mess, again!
I then fitted the second window. This one is 'fake' i.e. There's no cut out. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, I think it looks better with w windows and fills the recessed area of the van. Secondly, if I cut out the panel it would potentially be obscured if and when I fit units. If you don't fit one it can look slightly homemade as the front window curve doesn't perfectly align with the curve of the van, whether it's manufacturing tolerances or the panel is distorted slightly from joining the inner and outer panels together I don't know, I've seen it on other vans and I didn't like it.
To stop you being able to see the panel underneath I used limo tint on an already tinted window so it's virtually black. I also left a gap in the sealant to avoid any condensation between the panel and window.
[url]
Took the tape off today and nothing fell off, which is nice.
While the rain was pouring down I decided to trim the A pillars in some faux suade. Before and after.
Then trimmed the frame on the nearside.
Pleased I made the effort to smooth the wheel arches as I think they came out well.
Once the seals have been replaced it really starts to feel like it's coming together.
Then moved onto the floor as my knees can't take anymore kneeling on corrugated steel. I used 5 mm insulation to level it. Unfortunately I used contact adhesive which dissolved it quite quickly meaning I had to redo about a third of it, you can just about see it in the picture.
I then replaced the original 12mm ply floor as it was in good condition and fitted well, just gave it a lick of paint.
I've laid 3mm underlay on top of that ready for the flooring.
While the rain was pouring down I decided to trim the A pillars in some faux suade. Before and after.
Then trimmed the frame on the nearside.
Pleased I made the effort to smooth the wheel arches as I think they came out well.
Once the seals have been replaced it really starts to feel like it's coming together.
Then moved onto the floor as my knees can't take anymore kneeling on corrugated steel. I used 5 mm insulation to level it. Unfortunately I used contact adhesive which dissolved it quite quickly meaning I had to redo about a third of it, you can just about see it in the picture.
I then replaced the original 12mm ply floor as it was in good condition and fitted well, just gave it a lick of paint.
I've laid 3mm underlay on top of that ready for the flooring.
I'm thinking of getting either a Transporter or a Vito as my next vehicle. Size of dogs forces the decision somewhat, but I will probably also convert it.
Don't want to go full camper, as I always just eat in the pub when camping in tents. Just swivel seats up front. Full width bed/seats in the rear. Maybe some cupboard space, and then a pop top roof.
Loving the job you've done so far... looks very nice.
Don't want to go full camper, as I always just eat in the pub when camping in tents. Just swivel seats up front. Full width bed/seats in the rear. Maybe some cupboard space, and then a pop top roof.
Loving the job you've done so far... looks very nice.
Got a couple of hours in on the flooring this evening. I deliberated long and hard over what to use but in the end I decided to go wood as I had some left over from another project. It's pretty heavy duty engineered oak so is overkill for this job but should look good and last a long time.
Picture with the underlay down
Not many jobs are 10 minute jobs but that one was. Decided on slightly complicated layout, I may regret that later. Got about a third of the way through and I think it's going to look great.
I've got an American forces coin that I was given on Herrick 17 so instead of it living in a drawer never to be seen I'll recess it into the middle and seal it in with some PU resin.
Picture with the underlay down
Not many jobs are 10 minute jobs but that one was. Decided on slightly complicated layout, I may regret that later. Got about a third of the way through and I think it's going to look great.
I've got an American forces coin that I was given on Herrick 17 so instead of it living in a drawer never to be seen I'll recess it into the middle and seal it in with some PU resin.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff