My VW Transporter T5 camper build
Discussion
RacerMDR said:
PS - noticed the way you avoided drilling the floor of the van for the interior (to avoid rust i'm guessing)
How was the bed , rear seats secured ? Through the floor?
Yep, it's bolted through in four places with spreader plates underneath. The bed manufacturer/supplier fiited it though.How was the bed , rear seats secured ? Through the floor?
Thread bump time!
The van is back from the trimmers, and I am a happy camper. Not everyone likes brown seats. I do. A lot. Many T5 owners seem to want to go with black seats, with red Bentley stitching, but that's not for me. So after far too long looking at various swatches, I settled on a shade which, if memory serves me correctly, was called latte. It looks more brown/tan to me, but anyway, this is what I went for.
I'd also recently fitted electric windows, in my quest to make it as 'un-builder's van like' as possible. This left holes in the doors where the winders had been, and the black caps that came with the window kit looked carp. So, I set about making some door panels which I could get wrapped in the same colour as my seats, something which I haven't seen done before.
I bought some driver's seat armrests as fitted to higher spec models and got these fitted and trimmed at the same time. I also had the seat base on the r&r bed made longer with a knee roll and some extra foam added to the back rest, so it is now far comfier to sit on.
I will take some better photos when I get chance, but here are some phone pics in the meantime. It looks more tan than brown under false light, hence the variation in the photos.
Enough waffle, more pictures:
The van is back from the trimmers, and I am a happy camper. Not everyone likes brown seats. I do. A lot. Many T5 owners seem to want to go with black seats, with red Bentley stitching, but that's not for me. So after far too long looking at various swatches, I settled on a shade which, if memory serves me correctly, was called latte. It looks more brown/tan to me, but anyway, this is what I went for.
I'd also recently fitted electric windows, in my quest to make it as 'un-builder's van like' as possible. This left holes in the doors where the winders had been, and the black caps that came with the window kit looked carp. So, I set about making some door panels which I could get wrapped in the same colour as my seats, something which I haven't seen done before.
I bought some driver's seat armrests as fitted to higher spec models and got these fitted and trimmed at the same time. I also had the seat base on the r&r bed made longer with a knee roll and some extra foam added to the back rest, so it is now far comfier to sit on.
I will take some better photos when I get chance, but here are some phone pics in the meantime. It looks more tan than brown under false light, hence the variation in the photos.
Enough waffle, more pictures:
geeks said:
Leigh, quick question (love the updated pics BTW, think I have the same TV as you) what depth is your mattress? Is it memory foam? Have done circa 20 odd nights in ours this year the one thing SWMBO and I agree on is that the bed isnt as comfortable as we would like, will we sleep ok for a night or two at a time, if we were to go away for a week or more it would not be a great deal of fun.
The foam is 4", and according to the website (Streamline Autobeds) it is 'reflex foam', whatever that is! We find it fine to sleep on to be honest, and we've done 10 nights in one go before, but it wasn't all that comfy to sit on, which is why we've had the knee roll added. We do have a brilliant sleeping bag though, which is like two duvets zipped together, so that definitely helps - this one:http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-aurora-double-sl...
Genuinely can't recommend it highly enough!
The TV is just from Argos, one of the few 12v TVs that aren't silly money. Not a great viewing angle though, I must admit.
It's probably the knee roll at the front edge of the seat making it look like that, probably 5" at that point. Also had some extra foam down the side edges.
mikeiow said:
May have missed it earlier....but does the stool contain a loo or something else? & is it movable?
Nice job - very tidy looking!
Hankering after something like this, although I do like the idea of a full-width bed & perhaps a pop-top.....probably mull it over until we'er too old to use one!!
Cheers
Thanks, and yes, there's a loo under it. It's moveable, just sits on a rubber mat to prevent it sliding around.Nice job - very tidy looking!
Hankering after something like this, although I do like the idea of a full-width bed & perhaps a pop-top.....probably mull it over until we'er too old to use one!!
Cheers
Do it, you can get slimline furniture that accommodates a full width bed, take a look at Evo Design's website.
Quick thread update. I wanted to upgrade the rear speakers, as the existing ones distorted pretty easily when asked for anything much in the way of bass. The replacements needed more depth, so I decided to build some pods and wrap them in the same material as the seats to make a bit of a feature of them. The result is pretty good I think, and the sound is much, much better. Pics of how they were done in case anyone is interested:
Each pod is two layers of 18mm mdf, with the corners smoothed off with a router. I must get a new jigsaw, my 25 year old Black & Decker wanders all over the place - not ideal if you're trying to cut decent circles!
Each pod is two layers of 18mm mdf, with the corners smoothed off with a router. I must get a new jigsaw, my 25 year old Black & Decker wanders all over the place - not ideal if you're trying to cut decent circles!
rigga said:
Stunning build, I'm seriously looking to have something as good as this for next year, though if I built it myself it wouldn't be anywhere as good as this.
I have a question regarding your TV, how do you receive signal, what type of arial do you use/need?
Honestly, if you're reasonable at DIY, it's not that hard really. The aerial is a Necvox, brilliant little thing.I have a question regarding your TV, how do you receive signal, what type of arial do you use/need?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Necvox-ANT-536-Digital-Ma...
Found some pics of the recently fitted Caravelle front bumper. I've also fitted Sportline rear spoilers, 'cos you need some downforce when you're packing 102bhp. 
Best of all, we've had some great holidays and trips away in it this year, which was the whole point of it afterall. The picture quality is a bit iffy, Imgur makes a real mess of compressing pictures for some reason.
Best of all, we've had some great holidays and trips away in it this year, which was the whole point of it afterall. The picture quality is a bit iffy, Imgur makes a real mess of compressing pictures for some reason.Coin Slot. said:
Looking great and shows off your skills nicely 
We've camped 4 times so far in my T6 (5 months old), hoping to squeeze another few nights in before it gets a bit too cold.
Thanks. We've camped 4 times so far in my T6 (5 months old), hoping to squeeze another few nights in before it gets a bit too cold.
I have a cracking little heater that we can use if we're on mains hookup, I'm tempted to fit a diesel heater such as an Eberspacher but I'm not sure it would get enough use to warrant the £££.familyguy1 said:
what kind of heater to you have as on hook ups you have to be careful you don't trip them.
It's a ceramic fan heater that we picked up from Aldi's 'Isle Of Dreams' earlier this year. I think on its highest setting it's 1800w, so as long as you're not daft enough to boil the kettle at same time it's fine. Hookups are usually either 16 or 10 amps so will cope with that. tomcopley9 said:
Leigh, that is one seriously awesome build! massive kudos to you. You've tipped me over the edge, I am buying a T5! I've been umming and arring a lot!
Couple of questions if you wouldn't mind... how do you find the height? a lot of people seem to think the transporter isn't tall enough as standard.
Do you think the same enjoyment could be had from a SWB? ie do you think LWB is essential?
and do the vans come with a headliner or did you make one? if you made one, was it part of the pre-cut plywood lining kit?
Oh and last question, hows the mpg and reliability/running costs?
Many thanks! and once again, wow!
Thanks! Couple of questions if you wouldn't mind... how do you find the height? a lot of people seem to think the transporter isn't tall enough as standard.
Do you think the same enjoyment could be had from a SWB? ie do you think LWB is essential?
and do the vans come with a headliner or did you make one? if you made one, was it part of the pre-cut plywood lining kit?
Oh and last question, hows the mpg and reliability/running costs?
Many thanks! and once again, wow!
As far as the height is concerned, it doesn't bother me, I'm generally sat down when I'm in there. Put it this way, I've had it for well over four years now, and I haven't had the urge to add a pop top, although it would be worth more with one. A couple of my friends have Skyline pop tops on theirs, and that's what what I would choose if I did add one. Cost is around £3k fitted.
For me, the lwb is essential with a full conversion, the extra 400mm makes all the difference. With the bed down, there is still some floor space (enough to use the portaloo!), you definitely wouldn't have this with a swb.
The headlining (in the cab & the rear) is factory, just covered with the megastretch carpet.
MPG is mid to high thirties. Reliability? Well, mine has over 100k on the clock, and was previously a tradesman's van, so some items have needed replacing, but nothing really unexpected - it's had a new clutch/DMF, driveshaft, rear brake caliper, ball joints, rear shocks, all the usual things that fail at that mileage. I do have it serviced properly every year even though annual mileage is low, but I need it to be dependable - it's no good being in the Scottish Highlands and letting me down!
I don't regret buying and converting it one bit, I'd sell my other cars before I parted with this if I had to!
RESTELL said:
Love your van, great style and the quality looks top notice.
You have a great solution for table storage, hanging it on the back door. Mines always in the way and drives me mad!
Where did you get your brackets and locators for the table? I think youve inspired me to do the same!
Thanks
Thanks very much!You have a great solution for table storage, hanging it on the back door. Mines always in the way and drives me mad!
Where did you get your brackets and locators for the table? I think youve inspired me to do the same!
Thanks
Ebay, HERE
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