My VW Transporter T5 camper build

[LeighW]

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...

[LeighW]

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

[LeighW]

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!

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.

[LeighW]

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.

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.

[LeighW]

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

[LeighW]

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.

[LeighW]

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.

[LeighW]

AyBee said:

Leigh - how much space does the bed take up when down please? If you've got any pics, that would be awesome

The only picture I can find with the bed down is this old one from when I first built it.



Comparing to this picture you can see that it takes about half the floor space. This is a lwb, you'd have just over a foot less floor space in a swb.

[LeighW]

AyBee said:

That's perfect, thanks. Looking at one of these as a project but I'd eventually use it to travel around cycling and would need to keep the bikes in the van with me overnight, hence the request. Looks like if I had shorter cupboards, they'd fit across the van (front wheel off) with the bed down

You could buy a lwb van, fit a swb furniture set, and that would give you the gap behind the driver's seat you need.

[LeighW]

AyBee said:

Now just need to determine if it's possible to fit the bed slightly further forward... Oh, and sell the Lotus

A bed on rails is what you need then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EREt-FBt3_0

[LeighW]

geeks said:

Hi Leigh, got a link to the fixings you used on the floor?

Do you mean the fixings to secure the units to the floor?

[LeighW]

geeks said:

LeighW said:

geeks said:

Hi Leigh, got a link to the fixings you used on the floor?

Do you mean the fixings to secure the units to the floor?

These are the blocks that come with the furniture kit fix it to the floor. I may have gone slightly overboard with these - I used a lot!

http://www.evomotiondesign.co.uk/product/10-x-conn...

I then used metal 'L' brackets from Wickes to secure it to the wall of the van. It's very solid.

[LeighW]

SimboRS said:

Where have all the photos gone?
I was telling a guy at work about this and went to show him it but all the pics are just wee boxes now

Oh, that's a shame to see my thread ruined. They're all still there in my photobucket account, do the [img] tags not work on the royally cocked up new and improved forum?

Edit: PH are aware of the problem, so no doubt it will be fixed soon. Maybe.

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

Edited by LeighW on Thursday 13th April 13:40

[LeighW]

SimboRS said:

Sorted now, top quality conversion mate. You should be well proud of that????

Thanks very much, plenty of things I want to do to it still. Hoping to actually use it more this year too!

[LeighW]

Register1 said:

Utterly Brilliant

r1

Thanks.

[LeighW]

SimboRS said:

See that back seat/bed, aren't passengers allowed to,sit in that while the van is driving?
If not why does it have seat Belts?
Iv been looking for a double rear seat for a sprinter van that can legally carry passengers, it doesn't need to fold into a bed though.

As far as I know (and I am happy to be corrected), as long as the seat is fitted with seat belts, you can legally carry passengers on it. My bed is not pull tested, so personally, while I believe it would be legal for me to carry passengers on it, I wouldn't do.

[LeighW]

Aaaand Photobucket have killed my thread (and thousands of other build threads no doubt).

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

[LeighW]

STO said:

I was going to look back though the thread but that seems a bit pointless, a picture speaks a thousand words and all that.

But can I ask what gas are you using? And do you have a metal locker for the bottle? I did look at the thread before, when the pictures were still present, and I`ve got to say you`ve done a fantastic job, much better than I can hope to achieve with my mk 6 Transit.

Sorry for not replying before now - I've been away in the camper.

I use a Campingaz 907, no locker, but drop out vents.

Look here on Evo Design's website, the actual photos are of my van (including the gas).

http://www.evomotiondesign.co.uk/product/type-3-lo...

[LeighW]

Re-hosted the pics with IMGUR, so I think that's my build thread rescued.

Nothing exciting done of late to the van, some facelift mirrors (old ones whistled at 40mph and above, which drove me nuts!), 'B' pillar blacked out, bit of interior trimming in alcantara, awning rail added.

But... I'm off to see a client of mine who does custom vehicle interiors and upholstery on Thursday to book in to have all the seats and bed retrimmed - bye bye VW 'Plaice' trim. It will be a while until he can fit me in, but I'm looking forward to it!

[LeighW]

familyguy1 said:

sorry for a thread bump, but do you have a link to the wiring details for the leisure battery, 240V hook up, interior lights, usb etc ?

Awesome build BTW very inspiring...

Thanks.

I don't have a wiring diagram anymore, but my kit was from Xtreme Van, the pic in this link shows the basic layout. Quite straight forward really.

http://www.xtremevan.co.uk/product_info.php?produc...