Hi Everyone
Thought I’d start a thread for this to keep a track of ownership as much as anything.
I’ll unlikely be doing anything too much to the van in the near future, just some basic bits - some of which have already come to fruition, but plans are focused around a usuable daily for me, that carry’s my bike on a weekend with the option to crash in the back when needed, and the ability to use with an awning for a holidays with the kids next year.
I’ve previously owned a 2001 1.9td T4 that I fully converted from a tired, bare and unloved decorators van into something that gave me and my wife a shed load of trips, experiences and memories. Two of the best were Switzerland and Skye.
We owned that for 6 years, but when we had our first child, the set up wasn’t practical at the time so it wasn’t being used and didn’t want the van to sit outside and rot until we could afford to put a pop top in so we sold it, with the intention to revisit the van ownership in a few years time.
6 years later, I’m finally back….
So this is it. It’s. 2021 T32 150, indium grey tailgate w/single slider, manual, twin captains and 2+1 rear seats with a few extras that were added by GTE customs, before being sold on by dealer (bilstein b14, 20” wheels, side bars, blacked out front end and then alcantara and leather retrim inside)
So spec wise it’s almost perfect (only h4 lights and was on the fence about manual / auto) for me but looks wise, I love it and basically exactly what I wanted.
It was delivery mileage when I collected it, and covered 600 miles since which have been faultless. The drives fantastic, plenty of power, handling is suprisingly good for something this size, albeit the rides a little bumpy on a B road - which I fully expected being as low as it is, brakes are ok but initial bite isn’t as confidence inspiring as id like.
Interior wise, lovely place to be, we never had the captains seats in the t4, so sitting in this with arms down on a motorway is eye opening!! Basically like driving a desk chair. I love it.
I’ve already started messing with a few things, so first things added were
So, I’ve been using dodo products and working my way from the back forwards Going through the process of removing the alcantara panels in the back, sound deadening with dodo extreme and then covering that with dodo thermo liner. Super easy to use and making a good difference so will continue to do so. Will also be doing the wheel arches externally and the cab area once I’ve finished in the back. I’ve not got any pictures of this to date but will add some shortly.
The only other thing I’ve done so far is a good wash, coating in megs hybrid ceramic for a bit of initial protection and then applied some Gyeon q2 Glass to the windows. This was fantastic on my last car and once up to speed avoided the need for wipers in the rain, completely different league to rain x I’ve used in the past.
I’ll keep this updated over the next few years anyway, but just wanted to get this started now so I can keep on top of the few bits I’m planning.
Thought I’d start a thread for this to keep a track of ownership as much as anything.
I’ll unlikely be doing anything too much to the van in the near future, just some basic bits - some of which have already come to fruition, but plans are focused around a usuable daily for me, that carry’s my bike on a weekend with the option to crash in the back when needed, and the ability to use with an awning for a holidays with the kids next year.
I’ve previously owned a 2001 1.9td T4 that I fully converted from a tired, bare and unloved decorators van into something that gave me and my wife a shed load of trips, experiences and memories. Two of the best were Switzerland and Skye.
We owned that for 6 years, but when we had our first child, the set up wasn’t practical at the time so it wasn’t being used and didn’t want the van to sit outside and rot until we could afford to put a pop top in so we sold it, with the intention to revisit the van ownership in a few years time.
6 years later, I’m finally back….
So this is it. It’s. 2021 T32 150, indium grey tailgate w/single slider, manual, twin captains and 2+1 rear seats with a few extras that were added by GTE customs, before being sold on by dealer (bilstein b14, 20” wheels, side bars, blacked out front end and then alcantara and leather retrim inside)
So spec wise it’s almost perfect (only h4 lights and was on the fence about manual / auto) for me but looks wise, I love it and basically exactly what I wanted.
It was delivery mileage when I collected it, and covered 600 miles since which have been faultless. The drives fantastic, plenty of power, handling is suprisingly good for something this size, albeit the rides a little bumpy on a B road - which I fully expected being as low as it is, brakes are ok but initial bite isn’t as confidence inspiring as id like.
Interior wise, lovely place to be, we never had the captains seats in the t4, so sitting in this with arms down on a motorway is eye opening!! Basically like driving a desk chair. I love it.
I’ve already started messing with a few things, so first things added were
- Additional door seals to front doors - worthwhile doing made the door closing sound a lot better with less rattle and a slight improvement in road or wind noise on the move
- Dash top seal
- Seat cover to try and stop the kids destroying the back seat
So, I’ve been using dodo products and working my way from the back forwards Going through the process of removing the alcantara panels in the back, sound deadening with dodo extreme and then covering that with dodo thermo liner. Super easy to use and making a good difference so will continue to do so. Will also be doing the wheel arches externally and the cab area once I’ve finished in the back. I’ve not got any pictures of this to date but will add some shortly.
The only other thing I’ve done so far is a good wash, coating in megs hybrid ceramic for a bit of initial protection and then applied some Gyeon q2 Glass to the windows. This was fantastic on my last car and once up to speed avoided the need for wipers in the rain, completely different league to rain x I’ve used in the past.
I’ll keep this updated over the next few years anyway, but just wanted to get this started now so I can keep on top of the few bits I’m planning.
Seriously though, I’m now a long way past my peer pressure days which were followed, when married by the keeping up with the Jones’s days. Now, having endured 75 years as lifes football I’m using all that experience to make the last few years as active but easy going as possible. Practicality is now my design criteria but I confess to still feeling some pride and ego twitch when showing off not only the solid oak Rolling Homes conversion but all the extras I’ve added to make van life easier. eg. A collapsable toilet compartment with cushioned seat which means I can sit at the back drinking my coffee in the morning or cooking in the galley behind the tinted windows as if I’m in a conservatory watching the world go by. The rear galley has virtually no work space in a SWB so I’ve made a detachable 14”x11” top from some matching Corian offcut which I fixed to a redundant TV swivel arm. It can move in all directions when the tailgate is open but will fit nice and tight inside when I’m just winter or wild camping. As it happens it struck me that it’s dangerous to not be able to open the tailgate from inside. I was told it could be done but would cost at least £180 so bought a push button on/off button for about a fiver, wired and connected it to the tailgate actuator and fitted it on the tailgate card. Simples. 
A few other mods like louvre vents on cupboard doors because of the heat build up from the exchanger under the galley and a modified computer case that fits to the back of drivers seat so my grand daughter has a fold down in flight type of table when travelling. I’ve installed a 1000w inverter but don’t use it much, it's a huge drain. Charging the leisure battery has always been a problem because I can’t simply plug into the domestic supply when I get home. After absorbing as much of Dellmassives and other experts solar installation advice on this forum my next big project is solar on the roof. I now know exactly what I’m going to buy and I’ve been up there on the pop top and it easily takes my weight so I'm confident with my installation plans. I might have to dust off my balaclava and sawn-off to get the money together but when I’m ready I’ll start taking progress photos.
