T6.1 LWB 4Motion silver high top. The build commences!

[ORION]

Hello forum folk.

Been on the "other" forum for a while since I had my first T4 in 2019. Then a T5.1 Caravelle ( 180 BiTDI - oh dear....dumped asap ).

Then a yellow ex AA T5.1 camper for the last 4 years. Converted it to a lovely Swamper, was sad to see it go.

We decided we would prefer a high top rather than pop top and go back to a LWB like the Caravelle.

So I sold the Swamper in September and now the new owner of a 2020 T6.1 silver LWB 4Motion high top ( Startline with Business pack.)

106K miles, full service history, ex VW Finance. Paid £16.7K. Bought as bare van so I can convert to my taste. Build budget £10 to 12K.

Couple of little dinks and a dodgy battery but it was cheap!

I know high tops are a bit "marmite" but the instant internal height and less faff than a pop top is our main reason.

Anyway I'm on with the build now:

Bulkhead removed and grinded out.

Bench removed and replaced with single Captains with lowered swivel base inc safe

All interior panels removed and existing floor rivets drilled out and sorted

All panels cleaned and insulation 70% now done inc usual Dodo mats, fleece etc

Windows ordered from Camper Glass, being fitted 1st week January plus Maxxair roof light / fan.

Battery replaced and coded. There is still a light parasitic draw to investigate.

Wind deflectors and silver wing mirror covers fitted.

Next job is floor battens and insulation.

I'm taking photos as I go along so will do a full build thread when finished.

It's has to be finished late Spring or I'm a dead man! We have festivals booked lol

 

[Sasquatch]

I love a good hi top. Watching with interest.

 

[JumpShip]

Woooo.....thats a brick of a thing .

 

[ORION]

Woooo.....thats a brick of a thing .

Ha ha, feels cavernous inside after a SWB with pop top. No going under car park barriers!

 

[Sackmycook]

Congrats on the Hightop. A sensible choice, over looked by the roof tent dwellers (hides behind sofa before pressing 'send').....

 

[ORION]

Here's the new van next to our beloved Swamper. ( The buyer of my old T5.1 returned a few weeks later to buy my resprayed AA yellow Thule Back Box and Easy Base.)

Hope I've done the right thing! Some on here might have seen that yellow van elsewhere.....

 

[JumpShip]

I always find that putting a little window in the side of a hightop makes it much more pleasing to the eye .

 

[ORION]

Xmas present for the van. New windows from Camper Glass! Being fitted w/c 5th Jan.

1 x Safari window offside drivers

1x Sliding door fixed window

2 x LWB rear quarter fakes

2 x extra high barn door windows ( for high top only )

Looking forward to getting these fitted!




Considering a Maxxair fan in the roof so need to discuss that with the installer.

Once that is sorted I can timber frame and insulate the high top section and fit panels

Then it's carpet time! Dreading that....

 

[Green Giant]

That seems like a lot of van for the price, like a mini crafter, looking forward to seeing the build out

 

[ORION]

That seems like a lot of van for the price, like a mini crafter, looking forward to seeing the build out

Yes, we would have liked a Crafter with the built in shower, WC and fixed bed etc but the drive will only take a LWB Transporter max without spending thousands more digging out the front garden. My mate has a LWB Crafter conversion and it's awesome but huge!!

So the idea is we do a "mini" Crafter with a raised fixed bed ( very clever Ply Guy's Argyll bed system ), big garage under with pull out drawer, kitchen pod, extra bench seat with slide out toilet under, LOK table in sliding door, Vangear pod with induction hob and other stuff! Everything but a shower basically ( we have a hot camping shower in the awning anyway ). I have it all drawn out in AutoCAD, so fingers crossed!!

 

[Taffy vdub]

Xmas present for the van. New windows from Camper Glass! Being fitted w/c 5th Jan.

1 x Safari window offside drivers

1x Sliding door fixed window

2 x LWB rear quarter fakes

2 x extra high barn door windows ( for high top only )

Looking forward to getting these fitted!

View attachment 312351View attachment 312351


Considering a Maxxair fan in the roof so need to discuss that with the installer.

Once that is sorted I can timber frame and insulate the high top section and fit panels

Then it's carpet time! Dreading that....

Hi just bought t6.1 lwb high roof so I am looking forward to see what you do with the van one problem I am trying to solve is how to fix a awning to the van anyway all the best with it regards Taff

 

[airhoguk]

Hi just bought t6.1 lwb high roof so I am looking forward to see what you do with the van one problem I am trying to solve is how to fix a awning to the van anyway all the best with it regards Taff

If you talking a wind out awning then from memory Thule do brackets if it’s a genuine vw high top. I did buy a set when we had a high top bilbos conversion but bilbos said we couldn’t fit them as their roof wasn’t compatible (their roof kept the standard doors not the high doors that a genuine vw high top has

 

[ORION]

Hi just bought t6.1 lwb high roof so I am looking forward to see what you do with the van one problem I am trying to solve is how to fix a awning to the van anyway all the best with it regards Taff

Hi Taff

Nice buy! I don't regret getting this after selling the previous T5.1. I think the high roof and the custom layout I have in mind will suit us a lot better.

I intend to fit a full wind out 45S Fiamma awning rather than a basic awning rail this time. We have previously used a Vamoose rail. ( which are superb )

These are the brackets for a high top according to Fiamma. You need 2 x sets for a LWB apparently.

Fiamma F45 awning bracket – High Top (Transit, Sprinter, Crafter, Iveco) - Everything Fiamma

Fiamma F45 awning brackets Kit High Top Will allow the fixing of a F45 awning to the high top of various vans These brackets are wider at the top than at the bottom and will help bring the awning into an upright position Will fit the following : Mercedes Sprinter Iveco Daily H3 Ford Transit

everythingfiamma.co.uk

I have a registered Fiamma installer very close to where I live so will use them to fit it. Total cost supply and fitted is around £1K ish

Some have said that the new 45S Van awning might be an option rather than the 45S titanium I have in mind but it's only in black and I think titanium on a silver van might be a nicer, less obtrusive look.

Plan is to glue 20mm x 200mm timber between the metal high roof supports internally which will then be braced with an additional long 15mm timber length fastened to the vertical supports ( this also being part of the high roof timber battens that the ply lining will eventually attach to after insulation. ).

This should give bracing support for the rail along the length of the fibre glass and additonal fixing points as well as into the metal vertical supports if required.

Rough image showing position of timber supports etc. Timber battening the roof section is the next big job after the windows and roof fan are fitted next week.

( Please ignore the floor battens, I was just dry fitting and customising a SWB set. Need a bit of extra ply to finish before sticking down.)

 

[ORION]

Last snowy shot of the van with plain old panels. Now at the convertors having all the windows fitted.

Looking forward to having some more light inside and rear windows!

( The 4Motion was useful on the slippery side roads )

 

[Taffy vdub]

Hi well it’s a bit warmer here .looking forward to you doing the inside of your van I will be buying a awning and swivel for driver seat when I make my mind up what to get it’s a bit confusing when you research swivel bases some say you have to use a hand brake kit .or buy the taller base and no brake kit anyway when are you going to fit your awning ?… Ray

 

[ORION]

Hi well it’s a bit warmer here .looking forward to you doing the inside of your van I will be buying a awning and swivel for driver seat when I make my mind up what to get it’s a bit confusing when you research swivel bases some say you have to use a hand brake kit .or buy the taller base and no brake kit anyway when are you going to fit your awning ?… Ray

Hi Ray

I will probably arrange to fit the awning in the next month or so.

No idea on the driver swivel as I have only fitted a passenger one but it was reduced height which was nice as it matched the driver seat.

Your van looks awesome BTW, love to see more pics

 

[ORION]

Picked it up from the convertors who fitted the windows for me in the last few days.

Looks a lot better than plain panels IMHO. Also nice to have some light inside and rear doors with a view.

1 x sliding door fixed / 2 x rear quarter fakes plus 1 x joint strip / 2 x extra high barn doors / 1 x offside safari opener

Love the safari window. Swamper wheels and tyres next.

 

[ORION]

Fitted THQ rear and front indicator LED smoked lights

Before



After



Front indicators



Much prefer the silver / black mix. Can't wait for the Rogue Swamper wheels to go next!

 

[Taffy vdub]

Fitted THQ rear and front indicator LED smoked lights

Before

View attachment 315554

After

View attachment 315555

Front indicators

View attachment 315556

Much prefer the silver / black mix. Can't wait for the Rogue Swamper wheels to go next!

Very nice

 

[ORION]

New wheels fitted today.

Swapped the stock 16" steels for 17" Rogue Robust 2 silver / black alloys clad with 235 /65 /17 Falken WildPeak AT2WA all terrains

One direct TPMS broke during swap over so new one on order from Autodoc.

Did a little 4Motion "dirt" testing on the way home...