Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 104 i VWt

Hello and welcome to issue 104 of VWt, as I write this, it’s the day after the first weekend of the year where it wasn’t chucking it down, freezing cold or even slightly miserable. No, it was sunshine all weekend and nearly dare I say it t-shirt weather. Okay, that may be a tad optimistic for March, but it sure felt good to feel the sun on my face, top up on some much-needed Vitamin D and escape the city to some nearby countryside. Usually it would take more than crap weather to stop me and the family hitting the road in the T6, after all we live in the South West where it seems to be wetter than a submarine’s number plate, so we’re kind of used to it.…

There’s an elephant in the room, and it’s shaped like a caravan! Did you think we’d just leave it out? Hell no - it has its own little bit! Bought on Facebook Marketplace for just £250, the now matt black wobble box was originally pink. It will eventually become the Lowdown Transporter shop at shows and double-up as a mobile podcast studio. As you might expect, it has been lowered. Not only that, it’s on air! Two massive custom A frames have been welded in with the axle raised up with an airbag and the original caravan shocks! The problem is, at the moment it only lifts 4” and the jockey wheel is the only thing stopping it from hitting the ground. The plan is for a 50s diner inspired…

OEM WHAT? Hi VWt, here’s some photos our 2007 T5, my wife Amanda and our dog Buddy in Seaton enjoying an issue of VWt. We have to ask though, what does OEM+ mean? Rob Hunt via email VWt: Hello Rob, Amanda and of course Buddy! We guess you must be referring to the feature on Colin Lee’s excellent OEM+ 1991 T4 from issue 102. So... first off OEM means ‘original equipment manufacturer’ so any parts from the vehicles manufacturer or parts that were fitted when the vehicle was new will be classed as OEM. The plus refers to OEM parts fitted from higher end or newer models. So for a VW that’s anything from the Volkswagen Audi Group. If you had a Mk5 Golf and then put RS 4 Wingacks…

There’s a lot of people out there who need a work vehicle to transport stuff around, so don’t really have the capability of owning a traditionally laid out camper; rear bed/seat rails help you to be able to carry more stuff, but it’s no good putting anything dirty in a slick and clean camper is a bit of a no-no – god forbid if you have Alcantara lining! For this kind of person, a kombi is an ok compromise, but what if you still want a leisure vehicle too? We think that Michael’s execution with this van is pretty slick; a removable bulkhead so you can still safely transport stuff and kids at the same time, but quickly remove it and you have an instant camper.…

You may remember we gave a sneak preview of the awesome Heat Air 3 GT from Whale a few issues back, well this month we’ve decided to have a look at this clever box of tricks in a bit more detail. What is it? The Heat Air 3 GT is the latest gas heater in the Whale heating range, specifically designed for VW T5 and T6. Designed and manufactured in the UK, it’s powerful, lightweight and compact, providing comfort and quiet operation, and is fits underneath your Transporter saving valuable space inside. Good eh? How does it work? The clever Heat Control Panel monitors the vehicle temperature and intelligently selects the optimal heat setting and fan speed to quickly and comfortably achieve the temperature you want. It’s super easy to…

The other feature I’ve written for VWt this month is all about the monotone paint colours and how de rigeur they’ve become. As an antithesis to that feature, here’s a Copper Bronze T6. Not copper, not bronze. Copper Bronze. Just in case you can’t choose from the two colours, here’s a colour on the Volkswagen colour charts that’s pretty fresh and, as you’ll see, Vanworx has improved it somewhat from the stock Kombi they started with. You probably should go and read the feature on Michael Warner’s sublime grey T5.1 (page 22), before you delve into this one. It’ll help to provide some context to what I’m about to ramble on about. In that feature, I basically went on a rant about some of the less choice colours in Volkswagen’s…

The leisure pod industry has really kicked off for the Transporter community over the last few years, but for the humble ol’ Caddy that trend has taken a while to grab a hold of our synapses. Now though, that’s all about to change. The rise of the Caddy Maxi as a viable camper that can also be used as a weekday run around, or even remain utilitarian for the handyman (or woman) about town, means that the ultimate in versatility now comes in a Maxi shaped package, which is probably quite handy considering how many ex-British Gas vans there are floating around. It’s something that the crew at VWt regulars, Dirty Weekender, have been switched onto for a while. For those who don’t know, Dirty Weekender has appeared in these…

Send us yours: Ever dreamed about seeing your van appear in the pages of VWt? Make that dream a reality! Simply e-mail a selection of good quality high-res images of your van to glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk along with a full spec list and add the subject title ‘Your Vans’. But please remember, if you didn’t take the photos, you MUST have permission from the photographer to use the images in the magazine, and all images should be free from watermarks (by submitting an image you assume responsibility for any copyright infringement). So, what are you waiting for? Let’s see those project builds! JACK HALLS’ 2002 T4 888 SPECIAL, Lincoln Hey VWt, just been flicking through the latest issue of VWt and noticed the ‘Your Vans’ page. I have a 2002 T4 2.5…

The demise of the air-cooled VW engine in 1983 was a major moment in the history of the Transporter, but the launch of the front engined Type 2 T4 just seven years later was even bigger. It heralded a brand-new era of Transporter design. Much like its older brothers, the workhorse of the Volkswagen family eventually managed to capture the free spirit and imagination of youth. Although initially designed to haul goods and tools around, the Transporter continues to offer way more than that. It wasn’t until the mid to late 2000s that T4s really found their way from one-man-band traders into the hands of car guys and girls looking to add their custom touch. Since then, the race to have the lowest around has been intense. Even as recently…

It’s funny how the colour makes such a huge difference on cars and vans; it can literally make the difference between “I want to own that” and “ergh no thanks”. I remember kindly being loaned a new T6 California by the Volkswagen UK Press Office back in 2019 to go to European Bug-In in Belgium, to say I was pretty stoked about being entrusted with £67k worth of new T6 California with a lot of options ticked on the order sheet was an understatement. In the week leading up to the van being delivered, the anticipation kept building, as did the excitement. As 9am on the morning we were leaving dawned, I heard the van pull up outside my house, right on time. When I looked out of the window,…

T5/T6 ULTRALOW COILOVERS Tuning house, Streetec, have just announced a new range of ultraLOW Bilstein inside coilovers, designed for properly slamming your Transporter. The kits are based around Bilstein shock absorbers, specifically designed to run super-low without compromise. They also feature a clever two-piece spring system, with preload and a main spring, which comes directly from the racetrack and guarantees a sufficient spring preload for maximum driving safety at all times. The new range is designed and manufactured in Germany and is available for the T5/T6. The package offers a choice of two rear springs - low, but without load reduction or extreme low with load reduction. Top kit at a great price! Priced from €1249 www.bilstein-performance.com T4 COMPLETE SAMCO HOSE KIT For T4 owners with the much-loved ABL 1.9…

Let’s face it, if you want to create anything as a benchmark, or get people’s tongues wagging about your wares, then you need to be brave – bold, some would say. There’s a bit of a neat correlation between this offering from Vanworx, with the bravery to carry out the electronic dash upgrade and the vision to build a cool van in this colour, and the boldness that embodies ABT Sportsline (@abt_sportsline on Insta). Even if you haven’t been around since the 80s, their high-end tuning upgrades will have no doubt popped up on your radar at some point. Brave their stuff may be, but it usually stands the test of time pretty well – buy cheap, buy twice.…

One look at this van and you’re thinking there’s a man who knows his Volkswagens. You can’t just sell a Honda Civic Type S and expect your first attempt at customising a vehicle, let alone a Transporter, could end up looking this good. Well, it can and it has. You see 37-year-old, ‘kooky’ bike builder, Michael Bainbridge is exhibit A right through to Z in this case. “I won’t lie,” says the Durham man. “I regretted buying it straight away.” Just imagine, a hot hatch Honda Type S capable of 0-60mph in just over 8 seconds compared to a 2013 T5.1 ex-Sky TV van with 80bhp and a speed limiter programmed in. “It felt heavy and seriously under-powered,” lamented Michael. The purpose of the switch was a practical one. As…

Extra space, it’s amazing how quick you fill it up. I remember moving to my current house, standing in the centre of kitchen and thinking what the hell am I going to do with all these cupboards? Honestly, there were more spare empty cupboards when I moved in than my last house had in its entirety. Guess what though? That’s right they’re all filled to the brim now, in fact there’s not just stuff in them there’s stuff on top of them. Which is much like our T6 Caravelle. When we went from our Audi RS4 B7 Avant to what was then a new shiney van, we literally could not believe how much space there was. However, we soon got used to it and what we once packed as occasional…

VW LAUNCH QUALIFICATION SCHEME FOR AFTERMARKET CONVERTERS Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched a Motorhome Qualification Scheme to give customers extra confidence when buying a converted campervan from the aftermarket. With more people opting for remote staycations due to COVID-19 travel rules, VW recorded a 36% year-on-year increase on its campervan web pages in 2020, and more than 200,000 customers started configuring their dream California and Grand California vans. Similarly, Google search terms for campervans and motorhomes in 2020 were up 53% and 41%, respectively. VW, the only OEM to offer a true factory-built camper with the California and Grand California, has now created the Motorhome Qualification Scheme to ensure high standards are followed by aftermarket converters. The scheme represents the highest standards in the industry, with criteria for inclusion requiring…

“It’s a long standing joke how many sets of wheels have been on the van” It’s funny how times change when it comes to bumpers vehicles. I and remember metallic a paint time when was a cars desirable had chrome extra xx cost option, but most didn’t see it as a worthwhile expense. In the last 20 years though, metallics have ended up being the norm, as did first ABS bumpers and then body-coloured bumpers. Whereas metallic paint was once an unusual addition to a vehicle, now that they’re everywhere it’s the non-metallics that are a bit more exciting; dark grey has never really been a common colour choice and is therefore pretty unusual, but the fact that it’s uncommon definitely adds to the cool factor.…

Guess who’s back, back again, the LV wheel is back, tell a friend. But this time it’s badder, reimagined and better than ever. That’s right Leighton Vans, the Transporter customisation specialists are turning the wheel game up to 11 once more with the launch of their all-new LV-2 – created specifically for the VW Transporter. The awesome LV-2 offers a fresh alternative to the much-loved LV-1 launched a few years ago (also still available btw), boasting a beautifully intricate ten double-spoke design – expertly designed over the course of several months to perfectly complement the VW Transporter whilst offering up more premium, sporty aesthetics to each corner. LV-2 wheels are available in a range of sleek colourways, including gloss black, matt black, matt champagne gold and gunmetal/polished face finishes. With…

To be honest, I’d say that the top mod on this van is the whole package; even my girlfriend likes it and that’s a pretty high accolade. As a package I love what they’ve done with it, but to see just how much they’ve done with it check out these build shots, which show that it really is possible to make a silk purse from a sow’s ear; Vanworx has taken an ‘adventure before dementia’ looking 6.1 and made it look not only cool, but pretty ill and that deserves much praise in my book.…

This month we’ve had some good news from the Government, things are looking promising for the summer and then the sun even came out for a few days! With all this positive energy floating around I decided to tackle something that has been taunting me from day one of getting the van. The paintwork. First things first, let’s have a quick reality check. I’m not a detailer and the T5 is 100% an old builder’s van, it’s got over 200,000 miles on it and has multiple scrapes down the passenger side! For me, the scrapes and dents on the passenger side are what they are, right now it’s not a priority for me to fix those and it’s not something that I can fix myself. However, the paintwork that looks…

Own an awesome Transporter, Crafter or Caddy and want it featured in these very pages? We would love to see what you’re driving! Please e-mail a selection of good quality images that show the exterior and interior of your van to glenn.rowswell@kelsey.co.uk along with a full spec list and add the subject title ‘Feature me VWt’. If we like what we see, we’ll get back to you and talk about the possibility of a VWt magazine feature shoot. So, what are you waiting for? Get snapping and show us what you’ve got!…