Ex RAC Can Camper Build Progress Thread - please help!!

[neilatkin]

Hi Everyone
I’ve bought a lwb ex rac t6 automatic 2018 with 61k on the clock . I have done a Crafter conversion before but want to do this one properly and will be hoping for some advice from you lovely people!
First job is to strip it out - is the staging and bulkhead any use to anyone- free to a good home but bear in mind I live in Pembrokeshire! !
First question (there will be many - I can’t afford to put a pop top in yet but don’t really want the expense of deadening and soundproofing the roof temporarily- any ideas on a cheaper bodge ? Also how much deadening and insulation to do the van without the roof and what recommendations are there - I didn’t use much deadening on the crafter and regret it !

 

[Albel]

Hi Everyone
I’ve bought a lwb ex rac t6 automatic 2018 with 61k on the clock . I have done a Crafter conversion before but want to do this one properly and will be hoping for some advice from you lovely people!
First job is to strip it out - is the staging and bulkhead any use to anyone- free to a good home but bear in mind I live in Pembrokeshire! !
First question (there will be many - I can’t afford to put a pop top in yet but don’t really want the expense of deadening and soundproofing the roof temporarily- any ideas on a cheaper bodge ? Also how much deadening and insulation to do the van without the roof and what recommendations are there - I didn’t use much deadening on the crafter and regret it !

Firstly welcome and secondly not sure you should start your first post with bodge in it
Get into the search bar ontop of the forum page and start a look around loads of useful stuff on sound install and what’s best
Then on the back of them threads start asking the simple question
Ps don’t think you will have much uptake on the bulkhead
Save for a pop top it’s a game changer plus if you are doing a fit out would always pay to do the cut and carve first in my opinion
Best of luck

 

[neilatkin]

Thanks for the advice ! Saving for a pop top - any suggestions which one ?

 

[Ads_Essex]

Thanks for the advice ! Saving for a pop top - any suggestions which one ?

As Albel says, you’ll probably find most questions have already been asked - it’s just a case of searching for them.
Popular threads are stickied within their relevant sub-forums, so for the moment yours will be

Camper/Day Van Conversions

For all types of vehicle conversions and change of use projects

www.t6forum.com

As for the best pop-top, see:

Which Pop-Top?

I wouldn’t mind hearing people's preferred choice of Roofs and Beds. I will probably be going for mine after Christmas so gonna start doing some research. I have been advised SCA is one of the best and we'll built. I like the look of HiLo roofs but don't like the way they head clearance is...

www.t6forum.com

To Pop Or Not....

Hallo, I'm currently planning a T6 panel van to camper conversion and haven't been able to work out if I 'need' a Pop Top or not. I'm a short guy and don't envisage standing up in the van other than to cook and to change. I don't need the extra sleeping space as there are only two of us using...

www.t6forum.com

Search function, top right corner will be your friend on this.

Asked many times before and you won't get a majority answer, everyone has their favourite and reason.

 

[Paynewright]

I found that carpet lining the interior removable panels (I switched to ply rather than OEM hardboard) really quietened the van down and stopped noise bouncing around.

Re sound deadening - I don’t believe you need to cover every square mm with butyl sheet - a few extra sheets here and there will improve resonance noise. Its the big flat panels that benefit most - the roof is ribbed so less of an issue.

You can maybe place a wanted advert for leftover materials to keep costs down at this stage.

 

[MikeWillmott]

I used some self adhesive sound proofing (7mm I think) that I’d used every where else (before the pop top)
Worked well for about two years then got an Aurora LWB from Skyline HQ now we hear nothing from outside with Van-X curtains and pop top down or even just the bed board down for warmth.
I’ve got deadening, sound insulation and PET thermal insulation wherever I could get it in.

 

[TeeCeeJay]

Also how much deadening and insulation to do the van without the roof and what recommendations are there - I didn’t use much deadening on the crafter and regret it !

"Sound" advice to be found in the thread below. Save money, weight and time and do not cover 100% in 2mm butyl. Learn/recognise the difference between sound deadening (panel boom) and closed cell thermal insulation , 6mm+ which will also have noise reducing properties

Thread 'How much dodo mat should I use?' How much dodo mat should I use?

 

[neilatkin]

Thanks for the advice - - im a physicist so damping vibrations is in my field ! Have used deadening panels and will cover with foam . Have a horrible whump whump noise which i think I've rracked down to a tyre that shows weird wear patterns - is this likely to be the cause ?

 

[Sasquatch]

Have a horrible whump whump noise which i think I've rracked down to a tyre that shows weird wear patterns - is this likely to be the cause ?

Potentially, especially if the tyre has stood in the same position for a long time or taken a whack.

 

[Paynewright]

I had a noise on a Skoda Superb that sounded like a wheel bearing on its way out. Turned out to be rear tyres with unusual wear called sawtoothing.