I decided a while ago that I wanted a van, primarily for track days but also to turn into a camper/day-van. It's a VW Transporter T5 Kombi 2.5 130PD with full electrics and aircon. Here it is on the day I collected it: And after I've started ripping it out for conversion: More to come as I progress through my build with getting the bike in the back with track day kit and comfortably sleeping in it the main aim. Followed by being able to get two adults sleeping and cooking in it without the bike. I'm open to any suggestions and ideas as I've got to insulate, soundproof and re-carpet before the main build commences.
Great idea, ill b watching your thread with interest, always fancied doing this as i'd take the bike to europe in the back n have sumwhere to sleep n cook in Good luck with the build dude
Do your front seats rotate 90' in that van? Some Bongo vans have a modular cooking unit which goes at back designed to be used from outside back of van with the door up if that makes sense. Does look a good base van to start with - and not being pop top will allow you to get into most car parks
Initial plans in the pipeline are: coil overs to lower it bike ramp Front wheel bike chock rear spoiler. Build a removable gas 'cooking pod'
Not at the moment but am looking at getting a swivel base for either both the front seat or just the passengers.
Awesome ride mate, would live to get one of these at some point. Add personally add a map to the "must do" list, more power/torque with better mpg.
It's a 130 so it's not lacking in power/torque so it's not on my 'initial to do' list but it is defiantly to be done as a remap on this will go to about 170-175bhp and an increase of +40bhp is not to be sniffed at, put in better fuel economy and it's a win. Other jobs to be done as and when I can afford it and have time: Bodywork/repaint & New alloy wheels (possibly 19" from a Range rover) reupholster/replace seats Front spoiler & side skirts Interior mods. I plan to do everything myself but there will be exceptions such as the remap & seat upholstery. I'm tempted to have a crack at respraying myself but I have seen some really good examples of guys 'roller painting' there vans and quite fancy the matt look.
Nice Andy looks a great van for what you need. Must meet up at some point just been manic in work and home at the moment
Slightly off topic, but does anyone know of a cheap way to insure a van, possibly even just for occasional use? The reason I ask is that I already use my NCB for my car and don't think that I could add a van to it.
I transferred my car NCB to the Van and the insurance works out less that I was paying for a 2ltr mondeo. It's my daily drive.
Nice van, I currently drive a 280 Transit as my "alternative daily transport", the main one being the Blade. I use it for almost exclusively for carrying my 5 dogs, (Akitas), about for going walkies in various locations, but as it's a Transit...it's a rotting, rusty shed.... I am looking at getting one of these VW's in the new year to replace the Ford so will be looking in with interest on how your conversion work goes. On the Re-Map side of things, depending on what year your van is, the ECU may have socketed EEPROMS, (the chips that have the map). If it has, there is a company in the US called KermaTDI who do all the tuning kit for the VAG, I had an Audi A3 110 that ended up with 180 bhp at the wheels. They do a box of tricks that you can re-map the vehicle yourself using the diagnostics port or write you a map onto new chips and send you those chips at a very good price, certainly £££'s cheaper that getting it mapped over here...certainly worth a Google
Nice one ! Can't wait to see what how it gonna trun up.. That's one of my long term plans to get VW Transporter and make it to nice campervan...some day xd
My bro in law has just bought one of these too, he plans to convert it to a camper so will be interested to see how this goes
The Vauxhall vivaro type vans are a bit wider than vw at the base but also squarer - result is a fair bit more room inside by all accounts, also cheaper and told drive better. Worth looking at for others, lots about too in lwb too.
The Vivaro is the most Car Like Van to drive available. Even though I drive one they aint got the most powerful engine going since they stopped offering the 2.5 litre option
This is my new work stroke track day van Would have loved a VW but could nt stretch to the extra pennies
Rob - how is the Turkey Transit ? (not a dig, that is where the new ones are made) - you are first person I know to have one Spotted this on evil bay - looks a perfect base vehicle for a really good day van / compact camper / care replacement type vehicle. Pal looking into these and found swivel seat bases are available etc. just needs alloys and some major graphics to prevent folk thinking you are in an ANPR / Camera van VAUXHALL VIVARO SWB 1.9 TD MINIBUS CREW CAMPER DAY EX SPEED CAMERA AMPR CCTV VAN | eBay
