Front seat frustration

Why is it so hard to find a good quality single passenger seat to replace the twin currently in the van?

If you've got a single and really need a twin (ideally in the INCA fabric) let me know and we'll do a swap...

Are there any breaker's yards out there with rear-ended T5s in them???

Bed Time...

So here it is in all it's flat-pack, self-assembly glory. One three-quarter width rock'n'roll bed frame from Bluebird Customs.

After a show-season of mulling-over different bed setups we have chosen the old style, straight forward rock'n'roll mechanism; it works well and gives a good quality seat in the upright position. We weren't keen on the look of some of the other 'sliding' seats that have two support legs at the front, limiting front access for under-bed storage.

The rock'n'roll bed has come along way since our old T3 version; which was little more than two hinges and some plyboard, this is a fully powder-coated frame made from 3/4" square tubing, laser-cut brackets, it's all MOT compliant.

One other great feature over the old system is the EZBACK mechanism for easy bed-to-seat return in one operation; no springs to ping and flimsy pins to pop - we've had a demonstration and are more than convinced this works!

Within the next few weeks you should hopefully follow the fitting of the bed frame, it might be a while yet before a full test-sleep!

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.