are Vans allowed ? VW T6

[familyguy1]

Just bought a VW T6 panel van. Highline SWB 102BHP manual and plylined to be precise. This will be our second "car" and campervan

I would love to have the time in the evenings to convert it a camper myself but with a busy family life its not possible so I've just dropped it off at a local conversion company to have the following fitted.

pop top roof - SCA (if that means anything to anyone)
three windows to be fitted, two side and the tailgate
sink, hob and fridge/freezer
some units
leisure battery
lights
a rock an roll bed that converts into a bed for the children/adults depending.
swivel front double seat.
towbar

You can go to town (and people do) with customisations but this will be pretty tame.

I'm/we are very excited, stupidly so, as I've dropped it off weeks early for the convert to start/fit in when he can. hopefully done early November.

I know there is a big VW following on other sites, but thought it might be of interest...

piccy link https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/gxwLEtnI...

[TryingHard]

Brilliant. I'm also in the middle of a conversion (albeit a T5) with some DIY and some professional work. Keen to see progress on this.

[Smitters]

Just done the same with ours.

Late model T5.1, fitting Austops roof, glass all round, DAB and reversing camera (do this first/ASAP if you don't have it/want it!), RIB 130 and lights run from the courtesy light circuit. Leaving units/gas/leisure battery for next year or as required, though the ballache of sticking to 60 will probably force my hand sooner rather than later.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on.

[Fas1975]

Am thinking about doing the same. Can you guys share links / contact details of the conversion companies you’re using. Google comes up with a few but if there’s personal recommendations. Would prefer that and happy to travel for the right company.

[familyguy1]

Fas1975 said:

Am thinking about doing the same. Can you guys share links / contact details of the conversion companies you’re using. Google comes up with a few but if there’s personal recommendations. Would prefer that and happy to travel for the right company.

There are so many companies out there that do so many different things using a range of "quality products" I would recommend you research, go to shows and then chatting face to face with some conversions companies. What I thought I wanted changed with their experience of what works and what does not work.

Most put their prices online so you can get an idea for each piece of a conversion. I went with oxcampers, their website http://www.oxcampers.co.uk/conversions.html isn't the best for seeing their past work and it does not push the fact they do quality conversions. But they actually hire out their own vans out, which was a big plus for me that their designs and installations are being tested every week by customers. Plus the owner came across really genuine and practical in his non pressured advice.

Also what swung a 100% professional install for me was I would needed the roof and bed installed by someone, the rest I could of done myself, but time and wanting a quality job done that did not leave me swearing in a cold van for evenings at a time. Mean't I'm lucky enough to pay someone else to do it. So we can just go out and enjoy it !

Hope that ramble helps

[Peanut Gallery]

My vote is vans are welcome!

This thread is good reading:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[familyguy1]

Peanut Gallery said:

My vote is vans are welcome!

This thread is good reading:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

agreed,I would of loved to of been that hands on and looks a quality build, hats of too ChocolateFrog.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Awesome. Can't wait to see the finished product.

This is on the cards for me and the OH in the future. The idea of a mobile base you can bomb around cornwall in whilst searching for good beaches is very attractive.

[Smitters]

familyguy1 said:

Peanut Gallery said:

My vote is vans are welcome!

This thread is good reading:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

agreed,I would of loved to of been that hands on and looks a quality build, hats of too ChocolateFrog.

The above thread was one of the reasons I decided to use a pro outfit - the amount of hours to do it to a decent standard just weren't there in my life, and I also found that fitters tend to quote the same price for parts as I would pay buying them direct. I imagine they get a discount, but in my mind that means I'm paying for the labour and everything else works out the same. This means the carpet will fit properly without sagging, the floor won't peel up and the bed is fitted properly. We're using ours as a day to day vehicle, hence the RIB, so that was always going to be a pro-fit job anyway, as were the windows and roof.

[familyguy1]

Smitters said:

The above thread was one of the reasons I decided to use a pro outfit - the amount of hours to do it to a decent standard just weren't there in my life, and I also found that fitters tend to quote the same price for parts as I would pay buying them direct. I imagine they get a discount, but in my mind that means I'm paying for the labour and everything else works out the same. This means the carpet will fit properly without sagging, the floor won't peel up and the bed is fitted properly. We're using ours as a day to day vehicle, hence the RIB, so that was always going to be a pro-fit job anyway, as were the windows and roof.

exactly my thinking and findings aswell, would of loved to have done it, would my fit and finish be the same, not a chance.

Edited by familyguy1 on Tuesday 10th October 15:27

[ChocolateFrog]

The more the merrier.

Which reminds me to get cracking, finishing mine off.

[Fas1975]

familyguy1 said:

There are so many companies out there that do so many different things using a range of "quality products" I would recommend you research, go to shows and then chatting face to face with some conversions companies. What I thought I wanted changed with their experience of what works and what does not work.

Most put their prices online so you can get an idea for each piece of a conversion. I went with oxcampers, their website http://www.oxcampers.co.uk/conversions.html isn't the best for seeing their past work and it does not push the fact they do quality conversions. But they actually hire out their own vans out, which was a big plus for me that their designs and installations are being tested every week by customers. Plus the owner came across really genuine and practical in his non pressured advice.

Also what swung a 100% professional install for me was I would needed the roof and bed installed by someone, the rest I could of done myself, but time and wanting a quality job done that did not leave me swearing in a cold van for evenings at a time. Mean't I'm lucky enough to pay someone else to do it. So we can just go out and enjoy it !

Hope that ramble helps

You're a gent, thank you

[TryingHard]

Smitters said:

Just done the same with ours.

Late model T5.1, fitting Austops roof, glass all round, DAB and reversing camera (do this first/ASAP if you don't have it/want it!), RIB 130 and lights run from the courtesy light circuit. Leaving units/gas/leisure battery for next year or as required, though the ballache of sticking to 60 will probably force my hand sooner rather than later.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on.

Agreed - we also have an Austops roof but fitted all of the wiring first. Reversing camera, DAB and also ran speaker wires through the gromet to the back door along with power for lights in the doors etc. Fitted dimmer switches and LED strips for main lighting all from leisure battery with 240V, split charge, mains charger etc. My advice is run lots of cabling it is cheap and if you don't use it it doesn't matter.

Got a little adaptor to run an aftermarket camera on teh standard VW sat nav headunit. You can retrofit a lot of stuff too (cruise, MFSW, etc.) both of which are next on my list.

[familyguy1]

update from the converters, they've made an start early..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/kfCljAgP...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/bKmpDSSq...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/rtD7Zluz...

Edited by familyguy1 on Tuesday 17th October 21:24

Edited by familyguy1 on Wednesday 18th October 09:49

[BOBTEE]

We have a Wellhouse Terrier, it's a pop top Transit. I only realised after reading you OP and then happening on a label that ours is fitted with an SCA roof. I know nowt about roof but it looks top notch to me! It fits nicely, no unsightly bolts and with the bonded on spoiler at the front, no wind noise. I think you'll like it.

Are you getting the bed up there too? Looking at it on the options list we weren't going to get it but we ended up buying the demo van so it had already been fitted. We love it! It's better than the rock n roll bed, I'd deffo recommend it!

Good luck with your conversion

Not ours, but basically the same... would bloody love an M-Sport one!

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Vans are ace. Dead good to drive as well long distances - we can do Yorkshire to Devon and there'll be no back ache etc at the other end like I've had in cars before - driving around in an armchair is great!

We bought ours as an ex-demo from a conversion company too so was fully loaded in terms of the interior, roof, bed etc. Had it 3 years now which is a record for us and a vehicle and in that time we've done loads more to it - replaced the ABT front end with a Sportline kit, got rid of the massive wheels and fitted 17" banded steels, gone through 3 complete sets of suspension to where we are now with an HP Drivetech/Airlift setup (its now sitting about an inch lower than in the pic when aired out), upgraded headunit and speakers etc. Gets used by the 4 of us regularly whether its for a trip to the coast (sitting on the sea front at Sandsend etc with a cup of tea brewing and some hot food sat around a table in the warm beats cold sarnies sat in the car!) or a week camping, fishing/biking/surf trips... Love it.

Fishing wagon by DaveyBoyWonder, on Flickr

[familyguy1]

for those that are interested a few more pictures coming in now

grey units but with a dash of colour

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/C9UH87TN...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/DDURHFjG...

no eta yet, but I'm itching to buy lots of things for it and get out and enjoy it !

[V40TC]

Keen to see all Pictures of Progress
looks very nice so far

[LeighW]

familyguy1 said:

for those that are interested a few more pictures coming in now

grey units but with a dash of colour

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/C9UH87TN...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/DDURHFjG...

no eta yet, but I'm itching to buy lots of things for it and get out and enjoy it !

Looking really good, more pictures please!

For anyone that doesn't visit the Tents Caravans & Motorhomes section, my build thread is in there. I

[Smitters]

Nice - wish my guys would send pics. We're waiting on a RIB bed. Six weeks, from the first of Sept. Riiiiight.