Can you name a job you've done on your van that was actually easier than you expected?

[Cuiken]

5 months into van ownership and I've done a few things now:

1. Wheels
2. Roof rails
3. Carpet lined and insulated
4. Upgraded speakers/amp/sub
5. wrapped a few bits of exterior trim
6. Wind deflectors

All very different jobs but only one of them stands out as having been easer than I'd expected (climair wind deflectors, so good they moved me to poetry: Ode to Climair wind deflectors).

Literally every other job or sub-task in each job has proved to take 3-4 times longer than I'd planned and included more hurdles/issues than I'd anticipated.

Can anyone name a task that actually went better/easier/quicker than you'd expected?

 

[Ozi]

Putting the key in the ignition…..and spending more money on it!

 

[drinfinity]

Seatcovers from VeeDubTransporters. Went on fine, and look great. I was concerned they might look a bit 1970’s, but they have an OEM feel.

However, this was on my T5. If it was the 6.1 (yet to arrive) they would have to be individually coded before the van would start again.

 

[Morris67]

fitting my smoke black led indicators to my 6.1 only took five minutes a side thanks to plastic trim tool

 

[Qnapper]

Spending money is by far the easy bit, money pit..... nonetheless wish I had bought years ago. Great fun.

 

[GONA66]

TBH , Changing my front grilles to Gloss Black from standard , Yes not an easy job, but really not as bad as anticipated. Have done this to a T6 and T6.1 .

Defo easier than expected !

 

[Pedro20001]

fitting side bars, been putting it off for a while and was dead simple and quick

 

[Cuiken]

fitting side bars, been putting it off for a while and was dead simple and quick

Interesting. I mean no van is really complete without them

I've been putting it off too. Which bars did you go for?

 

[Pedro20001]

Interesting. I mean no van is really complete without them

I've been putting it off too. Which bars did you go for?

vanstyle polished stainless, really good fit and quality. Cheaper on their ebay site too

 

[DXX]

Rear bumper removal, less than a second, 10 minutes of fury but didn’t let it ruin the day.

 

[Cuiken]

Rear bumper removal, less tan a second, 10 minutes of fury but didn’t let it ruin the day.

View attachment 141049
View attachment 141050

That's a thorough job

 

[La Dodgy Vita]

I've carried out a few maintenance / improvement jobs but I recall two that were easier than I expected;
Changing headlight bulbs (H4 upgrade to Nightbreakers)
Updating maps in the Discovery sat-nav

Oh and breaking a side indicator lens while prising it off!

 

[DXX]

That's a thorough job

Pretty quick with a Flintstones trim tool.

 

[Mixersmate]

I don't mind topping up the screen wash but anything more involved than that it gets booked in somewhere

 

[paulfr]

Putting in new front light's...Ok it took me a couple of times,but once you know where thing's are and have the right tools it's ok!Going to fit side bars as soon as the weather gets better....can see them coming off on the M1!

 

[GONA66]

Putting in new front light's...Ok it took me a couple of times,but once you know where thing's are and have the right tools it's ok!Going to fit side bars as soon as the weather gets better....can see them coming off on the M1!

The side bars are not too bad for a first timer, you might need a hand for a minute or two once you have the brackets on just so you can locate the last few bolts easily .

 

[dubber36]

Given all the tales of doom I'd read on the internet, topping up the AdBlue is no more of a task than filling the washer bottle.

 

[Cuiken]

Given all the tales of doom I'd read on the internet, topping up the AdBlue is no more of a task than filling the washer bottle.

It does stink if you accidentally pour it down your arm though

 

[Molldog]

After advice given by @JOG on another thread, I got my Climair wind deflectors fitted today.
Absolute doddle!!!
Had a 1mm drill bit to bore the minuscule hole required to accommodate the securing screw. Too small to fit my chuck!
Overcame this by wrapping the drill with tape to enable the chuck to drill the shank. Virtually rested the drill tip on the plastic and let the drill bore itself in.
Pushed in the fitting so it central on the pillar, fastened the screw and Bobs yer uncle!

 

[JOG]

After advice given by @JOG on another thread, I got my Climair wind deflectors fitted today.
Absolute doddle!!!
Had a 1mm drill bit to bore the minuscule hole required to accommodate the securing screw. Too small to fit my chuck!
Overcame this by wrapping the drill with tape to enable the chuck to drill the shank. Virtually rested the drill tip on the plastic and let the drill bore itself in.
Pushed in the fitting so it central on the pillar, fastened the screw and Bobs yer uncle!

Hardly my advice - I put a shout out to @Skyliner33 and @Texxaco before I did it as I was having a wobble about drilling my baby!

(I’ll leave that one hanging for @CAB and @DaveD in return for all the lines they gift me!!!)