What’s up everyone. Im Johnny from Lancaster, I’ve had my T6 for just over a year, here’s the journey.
2016 SWB T28 Startline, 102bhp, candy white, 110,000 miles
Found the van on eBay in Feb 2023 over in the North East, about 2 hours away from where I live
Went to visit & test drive, no red flags. Very clean. The styling was a little janky and not to my taste but wasn’t too bothered at this stage - the van was priced well.
Did the deal and brought the van home obligatory stop at Tebay farm services for celebratory lunch on the way home.
On the drive home I was shocked how rubbish the factory speakers are.
Front brakes were shot, suspension was sitting too high and the speakers needed upgrading so I ordered everything when possible. Alpine door speakers and pillar tweeters, front discs and pads, vogtland lowering springs as well as a front bumper & roof bars from Leighton and a pair of sequential LED indicators I found cheap somewhere, I think it was VeeDub or HQ.
Waiting for these to arrive I kept myself busy with a small paint job on the grill trims. The colour is Audi Mars red, from the 80’s Quattro.
Everything else came a few days later, so on the weekend it was off with the old and on with the new. I gave all the suspension bolts a soaking with rust release a few days before doing the job, made for a little less aggro.
New brakes on, springs fitted, speakers in, roof bars and new bumper & side repeaters on. What a difference.
The van stayed like this for a good few months now whilst we spent time enjoying it and using it. During this time I had the timing belt & water pump changed.
Next up was changing the floor to camper spec ready for a rock and roll bed to be fitted. Couldn’t afford both the bed and the kitchen units at the same time, decided on bed first so we could overnight, and the kitchen can be done further down the line.
Final floor is Herringbone vinyl from B&Q. The gank over the back step when the trim is off I can only think is old spilled trade paint.
Rock & Roll bed from Lusso Campers in Bradford the following week.
Once this was in, made a temporary utility wall using leftover ply from the floor and some Ikea pegboards with elasticated straps to secure things.
The van stayed like this for a few months whilst we continued to use it. Enjoyed a trip to Cornwall in August.
Next up was Kitchen time. Went for the middle ground and ordered a reasonably priced kitchen from CustomShopDesigns. Dubious as I couldn’t find much about them online but I have to say everything was spot on. Whilst I was waiting for this to be delivered I fitted a leisure battery underneath the drivers seat, with a fuse board, and wired it all up.
Kitchen in, ready for appliances
SMEV hob and sink fitted. I decided not to go for a fridge due to the cooldown times required for it to be useful, instead opted for a Yeti cool box which doubles up as a very handy seat when sitting at the hob/sink. Have to say, I’m blown away with the Yeti. It kept ice frozen for 3 days, fits nicely into the fridge recess and even managed to get it in the colour that matches the kitchen. It was a display model with a few scratches so a little was knocked of the price.
What do people do for storing the folding leg table?
2016 SWB T28 Startline, 102bhp, candy white, 110,000 miles
Found the van on eBay in Feb 2023 over in the North East, about 2 hours away from where I live
Went to visit & test drive, no red flags. Very clean. The styling was a little janky and not to my taste but wasn’t too bothered at this stage - the van was priced well.
Did the deal and brought the van home obligatory stop at Tebay farm services for celebratory lunch on the way home.
On the drive home I was shocked how rubbish the factory speakers are.
Front brakes were shot, suspension was sitting too high and the speakers needed upgrading so I ordered everything when possible. Alpine door speakers and pillar tweeters, front discs and pads, vogtland lowering springs as well as a front bumper & roof bars from Leighton and a pair of sequential LED indicators I found cheap somewhere, I think it was VeeDub or HQ.
Waiting for these to arrive I kept myself busy with a small paint job on the grill trims. The colour is Audi Mars red, from the 80’s Quattro.
Everything else came a few days later, so on the weekend it was off with the old and on with the new. I gave all the suspension bolts a soaking with rust release a few days before doing the job, made for a little less aggro.
New brakes on, springs fitted, speakers in, roof bars and new bumper & side repeaters on. What a difference.
The van stayed like this for a good few months now whilst we spent time enjoying it and using it. During this time I had the timing belt & water pump changed.
Next up was changing the floor to camper spec ready for a rock and roll bed to be fitted. Couldn’t afford both the bed and the kitchen units at the same time, decided on bed first so we could overnight, and the kitchen can be done further down the line.
Final floor is Herringbone vinyl from B&Q. The gank over the back step when the trim is off I can only think is old spilled trade paint.
Rock & Roll bed from Lusso Campers in Bradford the following week.
Once this was in, made a temporary utility wall using leftover ply from the floor and some Ikea pegboards with elasticated straps to secure things.
The van stayed like this for a few months whilst we continued to use it. Enjoyed a trip to Cornwall in August.
Next up was Kitchen time. Went for the middle ground and ordered a reasonably priced kitchen from CustomShopDesigns. Dubious as I couldn’t find much about them online but I have to say everything was spot on. Whilst I was waiting for this to be delivered I fitted a leisure battery underneath the drivers seat, with a fuse board, and wired it all up.
Kitchen in, ready for appliances
SMEV hob and sink fitted. I decided not to go for a fridge due to the cooldown times required for it to be useful, instead opted for a Yeti cool box which doubles up as a very handy seat when sitting at the hob/sink. Have to say, I’m blown away with the Yeti. It kept ice frozen for 3 days, fits nicely into the fridge recess and even managed to get it in the colour that matches the kitchen. It was a display model with a few scratches so a little was knocked of the price.
What do people do for storing the folding leg table?
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