California Review - old or new?

Just a quick post to point you in the direction of a Newspaper review of the new T5 California - link here.


Not a bad review, not sure about the Clarkson-esque style of writing, just a shame they didn't seem to have a picture to hand!

Lowering: Pros and Cons

There's been quite a lot of discussion recently about whether to lower a T5 or not. Earlier in the year I went for a 40mm drop using H&R springs - in the no-too-distant future I intend to fit larger wheels and tyres and (in my own opinion) feel the T5 looks better lowered with larger rims than when left at stock height. Also note that I have never have, nor want to, read Max Power magazine or go to a car-meet at Tescos on a Friday night...

Previous vehicles in my garage have included a 1966 Beetle (lowered), a Mk1 Golf (lowered), a Lupo GTi (lowered from factory) and a T3 panel van (lowered). Like many other T5 owners I need to be able to get up farm-tracks into campsites, up forest roads with mountain bikes, over speedbumps at B&Q, etc, etc...



The Beetle could barely get over cats-eyes (cool at the time), the Golf was returned to stock (part of the resto), the Lupo was about as much fun as you can have in public with your clothes on, and the T3 was lowered twice; once with cut-springs - trawler-like handling (I know - we were skint), and then again with proper AVO springs and shocks. The T3 was the only vehicle to 'scrape' regularly due to the front-end overhang.

To-date we haven't caught the T5 on anything. Handling is much improved; the van doesn't wallow into roundabouts and isn't unsettled by mid-corner bumps. The overall ride isn't compromised and feels as good as stock-height. Granted, there's usually only ever going to be two of us in the van, your own situation might be different.

Other plus points include; being able to fit the drive-away awning slightly easier, not worrying about car-park height restrictions, the Mother-in-law can get in without complaining!

Brickwerks now stock a range of options for lowering your T5 from KW, H&R, Eibach and Bilstein - to suit differing sizes of wallet too.

One last option if you want to go really low is air-ride:


...if that's what floats your boat.

Show report: Busfreeze

They say the weather can often make or break a show. Visitors to these 'beginning' and 'end-of-year' trade shows are often prepared to venture out in some pretty inclement conditions.
Unfortunately for the organisers of Busfreeze they were met with a Saturday night of torrential rain and high winds. Combine this with end-of-term motorway traffic and a £10 per person entry fee, as you can imagine, the car park and the show on a whole were relatively quiet.

It did give us a good opportunity look around and chat with a few people about our T5's interior; plans, timescales, fit and finish. In particular we are being drawn to the interior options provided by Campershak. They build a good-looking set of interior furniture and offer a bespoke service, tailoring the end results to each individual's requirements.

When they rain held off we took the opportunity to have a wander round to the camping area to see what the facilities were like with a view to camping next year - on the whole they seemed adequate; water points, a toilet block, and a relatively flat field away from the noise of the main road seemed okay to us.

Maybe one to try again next year - never write off a new show in it's first year.

Meeting a stablemate...

Click for bigger pic

Okay I agree it's a bit nerdy, but when you chance upon a van in a service-station car park with almost the same registration as yours, you have to take a photo!

AF06JZN seems to be having a harder paper-round than AF06JZX and was looking a little tired at three and half years old.

Carpet questions...

I've noticed a couple of people on the Brickyard forum have been using this blog as a guide to insulating and carpeting their vans. Whilst feeling flattered this is also freaking me out a bit as any day now I'm expecting someone to track me down and show me their badly followed attempts!!!

Remember kids; Stone174 accepts no responsibility for your DIY ability, Stone174 also has very few DIY skills too!

Here's a few of the questions (and hopefully correct answers) I've had:

1. Did you stick multiple layers of flashing tape on the metal parts of the van? You said you used four rolls (no idea what sized rolls mind you!) which seems loads unless you used lots of layers to build up the weight?

Yep, flashing tape went on floor, side panels and roof. When you remove the grey VW interior panels you should see their stingy amount of sound-deadening that VW provided (probably over-sprayed in your van's colour). It's just a case of adding more. I went for double thickness in the 'dips' in the roof ridges. The rolls come in various widths and lengths (and prices), have a look here: Flashing strip from Wickes
If you're really serious about sound I would then suggest a layer of Dynamat sound proofing, but it was out of my price range at the time.

2. How easy is Celotex to cut? I've not seen any in the flesh yet and it looks like a great option, but I want to make sure I have the skills and tools to cut it. I'm not great at this DIY stuff!

Celotex will cut with a breadknife! I too am no DIY expert!!!

3. I have a Kombi which means I don't have the nice large wooden panels covering all the bits that you have. I have the grey panels and lots of bits of metal work. How easy do you think it will be to carpet it given this fact? Do you think I should buy some plywood to add in to the van, or should I just carpet straight over the top of everything when I'm done insulating?

If possible I would go the ply-panel route. There's loads of people up and down the country that should be able to supply pre-cut ply for you such as: PlylineUK
I think the grey VW panels are too flimsy to hold the weight of carpet - don't bin them though, they do a nice job of holding all the insulation in.
Choosing the right carpet is a big factor. Vansport in Penzance do a great range of automotive lining carpet; this stuff has elastic woven in it to make it workable around corners and uneven surfaces - I would highly recommend it.
Carpeting straight over the top of everything sounds a little drastic. The ply-panel route means I can easily remove a panel, check the insulation (and replace if necessary) run any addition wiring for switches, lights, sockets etc at a later date.

I'm quite happy for anyone to 'steal' my ideas; It's only a collection of techniques I've seen on other vans over time anyway!!!!

October update

Just a quick post to say there's not much happening on the van at the moment, although it is being used for it's intended purposes; weekends away, mountainbike trips, vw shows etc.

I'm in the process of initial sketches for the interior layout, also hoping to swap the front twin seat for a single (with swivel base), alloys wheels are being mulled-over for fitment next Spring and money is being saved for all the above! As mentioned before; this is no 'open-chequebook' conversion.

Having said that, there is a potential wallet-emptying weekend just around the corner: November 1st sees a first for the Volkswagen show scene, Busfreeze. Busfreeze is the sister-show to Dubfreeze which takes place in February and is often seen as the opening show of the season, a time to meet up with old friends and buy much-needed parts. Busfreeze will be just the opposite; a closer for the season, time to hibernate for the Winter.