My VW Transporter T5 camper build

My VW Transporter T5 camper build

Author
Discussion

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,362 posts

187 months

Monday 11th July 2016
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AyBee said:
Leigh, did you ever consider the Mercedes Vito for your conversion? For comparable mileages, they appear to be much cheaper than the T5...
I did, but discounted them for a few reasons.

1 - They rust. A lot. T5s are galvanised, so if you see a rusty one it's probably been damaged, or stonechips have been left to rust.
2 - Availability of conversion kit. Because VWs are so popular you can get everything you need off the shelf very easily, conversion suppliers are everywhere.
3 - Depreciation. Again, because of their popularity, VWs hold their value unbelievably well. So, when buying used, yes, you'll pay more than for a similar age/mileage Vito, Transit, Movano etc, but you'll get it back and more when it's time to sell. I have no plans at all to sell mine, but after more than two years of ownership, it's still worth a couple of thousand more than it cost me to buy and convert. Spot the accountant... hehe

glennbtn

4 posts

98 months

Saturday 13th August 2016
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A bit late to the show here, but your van looks fantastic.

Still looking to do my own.

How did you work out the right cabling and fuses to use for the 12v system.

Fantastic job. Hope mine looks as good when I get it done

Glenn

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,362 posts

187 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
glennbtn said:
A bit late to the show here, but your van looks fantastic.

Still looking to do my own.

How did you work out the right cabling and fuses to use for the 12v system.

Fantastic job. Hope mine looks as good when I get it done

Glenn
Thanks Glenn. My cable and fuse info came mainly from doing a lot of reading on the T5 forum! My split charge system was from Xtreme Vans, they sell all you'll need, and are good for advice as well. Link here: http://www.xtremevan.co.uk/index.php?cPath=721
smile

GravyT5

1 posts

90 months

Saturday 10th September 2016
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Hi Leigh. What a fantastic job you have done on your van. It has really inspired me to crack on with my conversion. Just a quick question. Where did you get your pre-cut ply panels from? Regards Dave

reggaj

95 posts

137 months

Sunday 11th September 2016
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Gravy get yourself onto the T5 forum and have a trawl around, there's loads of great info on there if your considering a conversion.

AshL86

1 posts

90 months

Thursday 15th September 2016
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Hi Leigh,

Great job on your van, you've become my inspiration for my new van build.

I bought the same electrics kit as you, do you have any photos of the external hook up under the bonnet? Also, where did you route the cables from this? I've just been looking at the instructions and it says that the maximum permitted length from the outlet to the consumer unit is 2 metres?

Cheers

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,362 posts

187 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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AshL86 said:
Hi Leigh,

Great job on your van, you've become my inspiration for my new van build.

I bought the same electrics kit as you, do you have any photos of the external hook up under the bonnet? Also, where did you route the cables from this? I've just been looking at the instructions and it says that the maximum permitted length from the outlet to the consumer unit is 2 metres?

Cheers
Oops, sorry I didn't reply here! redface

A bit late now I guess, but it's mounted on the side of the battery compartment like in the following pic (not mine), then through a grommet behind the dash, down under the cab rubber mat following existing cable channels to beneath the drivers seat where the consumer unit and leisure battery is.



mikeb88

2 posts

85 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
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Hello Leigh,

I know its a while ago now but great conversion! I've just bought a standard T5 van and planning on doing the same. Quick question if you don't mind - where did you get your flooring from? Its exactly the type of design/pattern that I am after. How is it holding up to the wear and tear?

Many thanks

Mike

geeks

9,121 posts

138 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
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Its hard wearing Lino. I was looking for something similar on ours, B+M )if you can stomach going in there) do a very similar pattern and hard wearing stuff. Its what we will be using smile

mikeb88

2 posts

85 months

Thursday 9th February 2017
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Geeks, that's great, thanks for the information. We have a B&M fairly local to us so I'll have to pop in and have a look.

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,362 posts

187 months

Friday 10th February 2017
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mikeb88 said:
Hello Leigh,

I know its a while ago now but great conversion! I've just bought a standard T5 van and planning on doing the same. Quick question if you don't mind - where did you get your flooring from? Its exactly the type of design/pattern that I am after. How is it holding up to the wear and tear?

Many thanks

Mike
Thanks Mike. It was from a very high end flooring supplier called Carpetright. hehe

https://www.carpetright.co.uk/vinyl/platinum-slim-...

It's wearing fine so far, no problems at all. I do have a rug in there though.


ChocolateFrog

24,866 posts

172 months

Saturday 11th February 2017
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Is the carpet on the sides/wheelarches of the camper one continuous piece? If so how do you do that?

ChocolateFrog

24,866 posts

172 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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This thread may have just influenced the purchase of my own T5.1, if it looks half as good as yours when I've finished I'll be happy.

LemonParty

590 posts

235 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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ChocolateFrog said:
This thread may have just influenced the purchase of my own T5.1, if it looks half as good as yours when I've finished I'll be happy.
If it helps, it was the deciding factor for me in "doing it myself" rather than buying one already converted smile

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,362 posts

187 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
ChocolateFrog said:
This thread may have just influenced the purchase of my own T5.1, if it looks half as good as yours when I've finished I'll be happy.
Excellent, please put a build thread up.

Yes, the sides and wheel arches were all one piece, obviously the panels were trimmed seperately. Basically start at the top and work down, then stretch it around the wheel arches. If you use the 'megastretch' carpet you'll be amazed how much it will give, but you'll need:

1) A helper
2) A heat gun
3) Patience
4) A swear box

biggrin

ChocolateFrog

24,866 posts

172 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
LeighW said:
ChocolateFrog said:
This thread may have just influenced the purchase of my own T5.1, if it looks half as good as yours when I've finished I'll be happy.
Excellent, please put a build thread up.

Yes, the sides and wheel arches were all one piece, obviously the panels were trimmed seperately. Basically start at the top and work down, then stretch it around the wheel arches. If you use the 'megastretch' carpet you'll be amazed how much it will give, but you'll need:

1) A helper
2) A heat gun
3) Patience
4) A swear box

biggrin
Got you. I was assuming that the cut bits would be too small to trim the panels and therefore you would have loads of waste but didn't consider how much it stretched.

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,362 posts

187 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
ChocolateFrog said:
Got you. I was assuming that the cut bits would be too small to trim the panels and therefore you would have loads of waste but didn't consider how much it stretched.
You can use the 'cut outs' for trimming some of the smaller panels, but you will have some waste.

SimonTheSailor

12,543 posts

227 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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You say your GMC day van drank lits of fuel - is that the same as the Chevrolet Astro van ?

If so what did it do to the gallon ?

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,362 posts

187 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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SimonTheSailor said:
You say your GMC day van drank lits of fuel - is that the same as the Chevrolet Astro van ?

If so what did it do to the gallon ?
Astros/Safaris are the same thing underneath, apart from trim/badges, all have the 4.3 V6. On a long motorway run, maybe 21mpg. Short journeys in cold weather, I saw 10mpg or even less.

SimonTheSailor

12,543 posts

227 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Holy st - I thought I got it from somewhere that they were reasonably economical !!