My VW Transporter T5 camper build

My VW Transporter T5 camper build

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spats

838 posts

154 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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Had to log in to comment smile

I used to sell campers, everything from old S reg campers to over 100k A class units, and I have to say this is a total credit to you!

The quality of work would put a lot of the big brands to shame. Really looks top dog. I always liked the Autosleeper conversions based on the T5, but honestly I'd be pissed if I bought one and saw yours.

Its been a few years since I left the business but I have never seen the double chair made to swivel, that really does make a difference.

I hope the first beer from the fridge was a good one smile

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,360 posts

187 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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Wow, thanks very much fellas! The van was obviously grateful too, it chewed a driveshaft last week which cost me £530 - wonderful.
The first beer will hopefully be this weekend, we're off on its maiden voyage to the Highlands, and I can't wait. biggrin

spats

838 posts

154 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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LeighW said:
Wow, thanks very much fellas! The van was obviously grateful too, it chewed a driveshaft last week which cost me £530 - wonderful.
The first beer will hopefully be this weekend, we're off on its maiden voyage to the Highlands, and I can't wait. biggrin
At least it did that BEFORE the trip away smile

I went onto sell VW vans for a few years after the campers and I have seen these vans hit over 300,000 miles and STILL go for good money.

The 1.9tdi is a great engine and the T5 an awesome van. I had a LWB 2.5tdi Kombi with 130,000 on the clock for a long trip to York, swallowed up all our camping gear and had tonnes of room.It made the wifes mind up to have another one, if I show her this I will have to up my game when it comes to fitting it out by about 100 fold!

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,360 posts

187 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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spats said:
It made the wifes mind up to have another one, if I show her this I will have to up my game when it comes to fitting it out by about 100 fold!
laugh It wasn't that hard to do to be honest, it just took a long time, I'm guessing something approaching 300 hours. Cost wise, I think I'm at around £11.5k including the van purchase, maybe a bit less. A conversion company would have charged me at least that just to fit it out from what I've seen, so it's been well worth it. smile

Mikeyplum

1,646 posts

168 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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That really is excellently executed, my friend! I go to a lot of VW shows and the campers shown off by conversion companies charging 1000's are no different (some a little ropey, actually) to your DIY job!

Do you mind me asking the breakdown of cost between Van Purchase and conversion?

Enjoy! biggrin

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,360 posts

187 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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Mikeyplum said:
That really is excellently executed, my friend! I go to a lot of VW shows and the campers shown off by conversion companies charging 1000's are no different (some a little ropey, actually) to your DIY job!

Do you mind me asking the breakdown of cost between Van Purchase and conversion?

Enjoy! biggrin
Thanks! The van (57 reg 1.9 lwb, 97k miles) was £7250, the rest is the conversion cost. Actually, I just (regrettably) did a quick add up, and in fact the total cost was just over £12k.

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
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Leigh, top work! We've thoroughly tested ours with 3 trips including a week in the lakes this week. You will see what works when you use it. I've a couple of adjustments to make to mine

StoatInACoat

1,352 posts

184 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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Love it. Want it!

texasjohn

3,687 posts

230 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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Well done, an excellent result!

I'd be over the moon with that, kudos to you.

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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Top work fella, very impressive.

I'm pretty sure that's the same kit my mate used in his conversion although different colour scheme.

His has just dropped a drive shaft too, which according to the mechanic is a common issue on the T5.

dirty_dog

676 posts

175 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
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TIDY!

2 5HAN

696 posts

230 months

Thursday 26th June 2014
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Well done you should be very proud as that looks great

You need to set up a sideline in conversions!

wildcat45

8,056 posts

188 months

Sunday 29th June 2014
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A pal of mine recently sold his home conversion. It was good, very good infact. Yours is brilliant. Looks like it came out of the factory like that.

You should go into business!

As a matter of interest, what did it all cost, buying the van, and the conversion? How much cheaper was it than buying from a company that makes campers? And what do you reckon it's worth now?

Oh and the Land Rover wheels really suit it.

Wel done mate!

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,360 posts

187 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
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Chicken Chaser said:
Leigh, top work! We've thoroughly tested ours with 3 trips including a week in the lakes this week. You will see what works when you use it. I've a couple of adjustments to make to mine
Thanks mate, we've just got back from 10 days and 1400 miles(!) touring the scottish highlands, so that's a pretty good test I reckon. The verdict? Absolutely loved it. The only slight niggle is that to access the area underneath the bed which we used for storing the bedding and portaloo, you have to go round the back, so I might make some sort of hinge arrangement for the front bed board which is currently fixed. Other than that, it was spot on. We averaged 37mpg as well, which considering some of the hills we climbed up, and my not so light foot on the motorway, makes me more than happy. I always wanted it to be self contained, so that we could just pull up on site, plug the electric hook up in, and relax. No messing aroung putting up an awning in the rain, shouting at the missus, which we'd had when we camped with my old GMC van... laugh

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,360 posts

187 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
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Thanks for all the positive comments everyone. As I wrote earlier, the total cost came to just over £12k including the £7250 I paid for the van. I guess it's worth around £15k now, although I've no plans to sell it. I must have put 300 hours into it, so if you say it's worth £3k more than it cost, to do it as a business I would be making £10 per hour. Think I'll stick to the day job in that case, hehe. biggrin

LeighW

Original Poster:

4,360 posts

187 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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Getting to places like this makes all the hard work worth it. You can just about see the van in the layby... hehe

Clachan Duich Bridge by Leigh_ W, on Flickr

*Kosta*

911 posts

202 months

Wednesday 9th July 2014
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Nice conversion you have there. I'm useless and anything practical like that, so paid someone to do mine.

You'll soon be gallivanting all over Europe smile

s3fella

10,524 posts

186 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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This looks fab, but you know that.
What I'm scratching my head about, I really don't get it, is how the swivel double seat works? How is there room to swivel?

Does it pull back first into the rear, then swivel, and return to position? I'm confused!

thestew

55 posts

186 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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s3fella said:
This looks fab, but you know that.
What I'm scratching my head about, I really don't get it, is how the swivel double seat works? How is there room to swivel?

Does it pull back first into the rear, then swivel, and return to position? I'm confused!
this has me scratching my head as well. cracking van though.

kamilb1998

2,220 posts

176 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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That looks like a top conversion! Good job! thumbup