Camping items

As a little digression from the van conversion, here's a few items to help your camping trip feel that little bit less stressful:


Click the image for a bigger version.

1. Roberts Solar-Powered DAB Digital Radio
This stylish and compact portable radio has a solar panel integrated into the top of the unit which absorbs direct sunlight in order to power the radio. There is a level indicator on the display screen that shows the power level generated by the solar panel. Under good conditions, there is sufficient power generated to charge the batteries and power the radio. For more info click here.

2. Gas hob
These can be picked up for as little as a fiver. They take easy-to-change gas cans (also really cheap) and save faffing around with Camping Gaz refills etc.

3. Cooler Box
Although this has the ability to run from 12v DC, we tend to use ice packs. It keeps milk (and, more importantly, beer) ice cold for up to 24 hours before changing ice packs/plugging in. Covering yours in stickers is optional!

4. Eurohike wind-up lanterns
Again, as with the radio, the days of being a slave to batteries are over! These lanterns are bright enough after just a few minutes winding, or top them up via 12v DC whilst on the move. Available here.

5. Gas heater
Okay, so I don't like being cold! Warm summer days often mean cold nights. What better item to take off the chill than a gas heater. Running off the same cheap gas cans as the hob mentioned earlier, this heater only needs to be on for a few minutes to warm up a decent sized tent.

6. Easycamp folding kitchen table
When living away from home it's often the little items that easily start to bug, like not having enough places to put things! A welcome addition is this fold-up kitchen unit, available here.

7. Roll-up table
Same as above really, except this version rolls-up into a tiny bag. They can be picked up for next to nothing at most outdoor suppliers.

8. Mini camping table
These little beauties are indispensable! We've got a few. Use the to put a light on, a beer, a book, sit on it, stand on it (carefully), and they fold away to nothing.

I'll try and do a few more of these posts as time goes on.

Khyam first impressions

I am pretty impressed with the Khyam Motordome awning. The Rapidex pole system means the awning is up in less than 10 minutes - in fact it took longer to put all the pegs in than it did to get the thing up!

With three square metres of living space and the double bedroom setup left as one big bedroom, the two of us had more than enough space.

The only down-side is that there are no internal poles and hence nothing to 'hang' anything on inside, just one small hooking point for a lantern.

As an extra luxury, we also treated ourselves to a Khyam tent carpet; a thermal-lined and fleecy groundsheet, much better than those old plastic groundsheets!

Multirail (part three)

So here's the Multirail in use...


To attach to the awning; position the van, slide on the double-edged beading strip, then holding the awning bead and beaded strip, feed the figure of eight strip between the two.

To detach the awning simply pull the double-edged beading strip out of the Multirail end and you're done.

No unsightly ropes slung over the van, quick and easy. If you've got a T5 and want a drive-away awning this option, although more expensive, is well worth it!

Multirail (part two)

Front and rear sections are now fitted. Next camping trip will see the Multirail in action!

Multirail (part one)

Vehicle design is a wonderful thing. Every generation of a certain model becomes increasingly more refined, lines get smoothed, tidied and updated. Unfortunately trends change - in the case of the Volkswagen Transporter, the gutters have disappeared. They left us after the third generation van.


Our old T3 camper was often extended with a canopy or drive-away awning hanging from the gutter, something we're keen to retain on the new van, but how?

We had a long chat with Mark from Fishbrain; the company we have just bought the Khyam awning from, his recommendation was a Reimo Multirail:


A myriad of awning and canopy attachments are possible using the standard 'figure of eight' strip as used by most awning manufacturers. This seemed the most sensible (but not cheapest) option to go for. Other options include ropes going over the top of the van's paintwork. Simply not an option for us.

So off we go. First step is to mask the length of the van and offer the Multirail up and mark the drill holes. Check, check and check again.


Notice any small gaps above and below windows have been covered with masking tape, this stops the small shards of metal from drilling getting anywhere near the rubbers.


Don't be put-off by the Multirail being 'dead-straight', it will curve to the contour of the van when screwed and bonded into place.


Deep breath... and drill! There's no going back at this stage. Roughen the paintwork between the holes to help the bonding process.


Add the bonding (sikaflex style bonding material) to the Multirail. Clean the van surface with an acetone-based 'panel-wipe' and offer-up the Multirail.

Starting at the front, first two screws in, then work your way down the length of the van.

Just as we got to this point the heavens opened. Rain-stopped play - hence the part one in the title of this post!

Check back soon (if the rain ever stops!) to see the final result.

UPDATE: Here's all the other blog posts about the Multirail.

Are you looking at my bra?

Another item picked up at Bustypes was a bonnet bra from CMC.

As any Transporter owner will tell you, the front of the van is prime-target for stonechips, no matter how far back you stay from the vehicle in front.

First fitting is tight, taking care to warm the bra first in the early May sunshine, we then hooked the back of the bra over the two rear corners and worked our way around the edge, taking extra care at any of the corner points around the bonnet.


Then it is just a matter of tightening the string underneath, shoe-lace style, to pull the bra tight across the bonnet, lining-up the seams as you go.

I can see me referring to this post several times to remember how we laced it up originally!