Being as I got fed up with being the
outcast by the air cooled side of the VW scene, I decided to create my own T4 Community.
What started off as staying in touch
with half dozen mates around a BBQ at VanFest 2005 ...
In a very short space of time has grown to over 5000 Members (inc most of Europe, USA, Oz and even Russia ! )
So if you have a T4 and your looking to
make the new age Surf Bus or Low Ride Custom etc. Do pay us a visit
Here are some of the links to
my additional Forum areas which I am pleased to say, is really helping
put the T4 on the Scene !!!
Why a VAN ?
In my quest to
find the ultimate vehicle to cope with my hobbies it had to do the following:
Tow and launching the jet ski - and also double as
a changing room
Comfortably haul a ton of scuba diving gear and up
to four divers in comfort - & be a secure storage area to leave
kit in
Be able to carry Two full size Motorbikes, spares
and tools securely and out of sight (race days)
When going on holiday be able to be converted to a
sleeper and carry pushbikes with comfort.
As an everyday vehicle to work etc, be just slightly
different that it will stand out in a crowd, but not too "come
nik me"
Be powerful enough to sit happily at a "Ton"
(on the autobarn of course) & be capable of giving 40+ mpg when
cruising/towing etc
To cut a lengthy search very short
It came down one of Two vehicles: Toyota Crew Cab TDi or a VW Transporter
2.5TDi Although the image of the whole 4x4 pickup thing is appealing,
the shear usability & mpg of the van easily wins the day.
The van I have is a
VW T4 2.5TDi (5 cylinder) with intercooler giving just over 100bhp. There
are various power chips and conversions to take it up to the 150bph mark
but all at the expense of mpg, so will leave as is for now.
Leaving the Vanfest 2003
Off to the I.O.M. TT Races. Van fully loaded
inside and out
Arriving for the Bowlease Cove Weekender "May 2003"Arriving
for the Bowlease Cove Weekender "May 2003"
Van becomes Workshop & Lockup
for the weekend....
My first T4 was a 1996 1.9 tdi
Loaded and off to the 2000 IOM TT Races
Being as this page was getting very long - I have decided to split this into seperate years ....
To see the history of how YBY 508 has gone from this:
----- 2003 -----
First Day Home ...
Basic Boards ...
Not long before Mods are under way !
Just to prove this is an every day drive !
ISLE OF MAN TT RACES
Arriving at the Isle of Man for TT 2003
No sooner unloaded, a group of Scotts appeared in the back, wanting
a lift to the Pub ... How strange
One of them even offering to read a map !
Would you believe all this, 3 motorbikes, camping gear, tools, spares,
and provisions for the week...
Fittted into here !!!
Admittedly, I was within a couple kilo's of the weight limit allowed
for the Seacat Aluminum decking...
----- 2004 -----
2nd July 2004
Having owned the van for a couple of years now,
it has almost become a part of the family !
So
rather than use some boring old Roller for the wedding car, pressed the
van into action....
Interior
Part 1
The Bracing for the left side
Pre padding and trim
Fiber board then carpet
Just one half in here
Left is the finished interior which splits 50/50 lengthwise to allow
a Motorbike one side and storage the other. When down is equal to a
double bed (and nearly as comfy)
Goes well with one of Tony's new Styleline Interior Panels
Just after getting a window cut in the sliding door. Care of Tony at
Styleline 01626 865568
Next job will be to tint the window to privacy spec (See out only)
Tony is also making me a set of panel's (Better than Caravelle) for the
rear of my van....
If
your interested in seeing what Styleline T4 interiors look like
& details of what is involved in fitting one click below:
Having completely stripped
the Van, first job is to insulate from top to bottom
Panels go in one by one...
A lot of time spent laying
in wires which will alow connecting a second battery to power all the
rear electrics
Final thing to finish will
be the floor...
This is a pic of our new
tent, free standing or attached to the side of the van, this allows sleeping
in a warm van (off the floor) but having a large attached awning to store
all the gear in. This then unclips from the van, zips up and drive the
van away !
This should be ideal at the TT next year
and camping weekends away with the Ski !
Arriving at camp site for
the
2004 Bowleaze Cove Jetski
Meet
On the Show and Show at the
Van Fest 2004
----- 2005 -----
Seats from a Lexus, electric
& heated !
(Luxury and Style)
...and before you ask,
no, it was not an easy job, especially wiring and matching to a captain
seat base...
Got my wheels back from
theWheel Referbishers
(Cheers Andrew) & Re-pollished the rims, these have been specifically
made for my T4 & I have had the spokes painted from grey to Black
Can't wait to see how it
looks....
Just finished fitting Caravelle
Door panels, with some decent speakers of course ...
A one off A-Frame Nudge
Bar and the first outing on the new wheels
... Next is a lowering
kit !
Yes I know, another new
toy, Tom Tom Sat Nav ... How did I survive without this, even matches
the dash in Night Mode
Hooked up to the Awning on May Bank Holiday ...
... in "Poole" for the SSA Jetski meet.
Awarded First Place in the Show and Shine VW Club -
ahead of some rather put out T25 owners >8 )
The
Vanfest 2005
Show and Shine
Pics c.o. Brent
----- 2006 -----
With the Success of the T4 Forum, I think this is going to be
quite a year for the T4 !
Arrival of the T4 Mafia on the folks drive over Christmas ...
Interior
Part 2
With the addition of Max to the family the Van is evolving into
something more substantial care of a T5 interior !
My new helper ...
4x Chassis rails for T5 R&R bed/chairs/table
Sound Proofing the floor over bracing
Quick mock up, to check it all fits >8 )
Bringing the floor up to level
The Parcel Shelf folds to make headrest
and the tripple seater folds to complete a full length
bed
Minus the two single T5 seats
The T5 Caravelle Table, was worth it for this alone
!
Now Max has outgrown the buggy, has his new sleeping
bag area when the R&R down
When not camping, Van converts to Limo - Nb additional
light from rear Sunroof
Servicing, ready for the Summer
Full Service inc the dreaded Cambelt
Replacement of broken Coil Spring
New -60 lowering springs
Looks great, but mudguards and towbar nearly on the
floor ...
Mine and Bruvs Vans
At Cromer Sea Font
Picnic in the Woods
Camping at VanWest
Van used to transport Mountain Bike
... and motorbikes
Cruise Control
Addition of the K&N
Rear View mirror 7'' Wide Screen LCD
Additional Sunroof
Fitting of the Spoiler, from Holland
Adam's old Projekt Zwo 15'' wheels - I have had these blasted and powder coated, then fitted with my old steelie tyres - don't look bad for a set of "Winter" wheels & add to the stealthy look :o)
The Vanfest 2006
The first outing of the new Club Banner and "Reserved" T4 Forum area
The T4 Forum Camping Area was "40" strong in 2006
Awarding the best T4 Forum Van (as vited for by the Owners) this went to Steve Ratboy.
Line up at the Show and Shine 2006
All be it a very old pic of my Van at Vanfest (2004) the Herts
VW club printed a six pager article on my Van
.... not bad for a Predominantly air cooled club :o)
Above is a pic of a meet, me and Dave went down to - spur of
the moment trip (300 mile round trip for the evening)
Just one of my regional meets set up through the Forum - This
is the Dorset Branch (November 2006)
----- 2007 -----
The start of 2007 was a feature on my T4 in Camper and Commercial Magazine ... Below is "The" shot of my Van going through the Hatfield Tunnel
This absolutely top pic is care of Graig Sheer who is also a member of my Forum called Kernewek
Another three pics from Craig Sheer
PLANS FOR 2007
NEW TYRES - BIG :o)
STAINLESS EXHAUST
ENGINE MODS
Good Start to the year - a full feature and a technical article in two VW Mags !!!
Dec/Jan edition - Four Page feature write up and pics care of Craig Sheer
Feb edition - Half page write up in the first T4 article to hit the mag
A quick mock up to see how a side exit exhaust might look ....
.... and to go with the whole Old Skool look, some RWL tyres
The tripple seat removed and testing to see if its poss to get 1 bike and 2 kids in for TT07
Especially "Mark" for the attention to detail and transfering my ideas into reality, if your looking for something like this give him a bell on 01707 334090
View from inside my T4 through the awning at BMF Rally 2007
Many people have asked me why the hell have you put a T5 interior into a T4, well its simple, I want the functionality and flexibility of a T5 in the shape of a T4.
So, what was needed in the van for a weekend at the BMF motorcycle show rally a couple of weekends ago:
A full size Motorcycle.
Two kids and their seats.
All the camping gear ie Tent/Gas Cooker/cylinders seats lights etc
Enough Food/drink for the entire weekend
Duvet's and sleeping stuff
Tools and spares
Two full size Push Chairs
Waterproofs/clothes/boots
The list goes on and on – anyway, this was the first time I tried this seating arrangement and have to say it worked well.
Just goes to show, you don't have to give anything up for a weekend away – even if like me you have a SWB !
Latest accessory forthe T4 is a 1996 Eriba Puck - This is ideal for the Kids and leaves me the Van interior again !
The Vanfest 2007
This year was great - Vanfest gave us an entire field to ourselves
Great to see Henk and his Dutch Buddies make it over again and a
HUGE thanks to everyone who donated prizes for the Raffle and especially to Rod for organising it.
The T4 Forum Camping Area was "100" strong in 2007
Back in the Show and Shine for 2007
See a Video one of the members put together VANFEST
2008 aiming for 200 T4's !!!!
Admitted into Intensive Care ... on the windscreen
Repaired as good as new !
and set up at the Stafford Classic Bike Show
WInner fo the Herts VW Show and Shine ... 3rd year running !
New Bike Carrier due to Spoiler on Roof - and Max helping wash the old mans Van
Best parts of my T4 travels in 2007
Essex Banch meet just along from Southend
The Holton Classic Show
Show and Shine at Vanfest
Dubs at the Beach
Cromer Branch Meet
Highlands of Scotland Branch Meet
Secret Santa at the Ace Cafe
T4 Line up at the Christmas Bristol Meet
PLANS FOR 2008
Trip to see Henk and the Dutch Forum
Make the T4 Forum into Full on Club !
200 T4's for VanFest 2008
This is a pic from the Ace Cafe London - I now have a poster up there to advertise the T4/5 meet
This will be followed by a mystery cruise round London
