The odyssey begins…if that’s the right term!

[Uxter]

Hi, I’m new to all of this but have 18 months of research time before we make the move to buy, a lot can happen in that time of course!

So after a couple of months thoughts, we’ve looked at homes on wheels and gone full circle back to what I had in my mind.

The vehicle will also need to be a main vehicle, don’t have the budget to have a drive ornament, my use will include towing a rally car and horsebox, and sometimes taking music gear (subs, amps, instruments) and travelling to gigs.

Camping wise, Europe and the UK for two of us and a couple of hooligan small dogs, possibly occasional extra body in the shape of one of the grandchildren.

I’m yet to decide on wheelbase, but swaying between both, I think I may need LWB but I bet I don’t, need a rail bed to maximise load area and much like my road cars (but not my rally car) I have been driving awd now for over 25 years and have found it makes sense the way I drive and where I drive, so 4motion is high on the wish list.

I’ve recently driven a T6.1 150bhp DSG over 1000 miles over 23 hours down to Cornwall, the Gower, the Mach Loop and back home doing a delivery trip, didn’t sleep in it, but some things I hated were its non standard lowered suspension, awful! Crashed out on anything bigger than a flattened coke can! Apple car play and whole system would crash! DSG box often got confused and bogged down and the ACC is dangerous! And explains the weird behaviour on motorways of people using such systems without monitoring what’s happening! Heated screen is a hazard in low sun dirty windscreen moments!

Having said all that, I am convinced the VW route is the one for us and I’m looking forward to picking brains and asking stupid questions!

 

[DaveD]

Welcome to the Forum!
Lots of topics there, it sounds like the van you used didn't have the best suspension for the journey you were doing. There are lots of after market suspension options, as you know.
I've had my T6 for about 6 years and I'm a big fan of the heated screen, I've never felt that it impeded my view even when the sun is low. I am a bit OCD about keeping the inside of the screen clean though, that helps.
You're definitely doing the right thing in doing your research before parting with your cash!

 

[Ali-G]

Never mind vans, let's have some pictures of the Rally car.

 

[T6ChrisO]

Welcome along.

If you want a rail bed system (for one, dig deep £££) I'd definitely say go LWB to take full advantage of creating a large load space. The only down side as its your main vehicle, is the length of it. Its by no means huge, but that 400mm means it doesnt fit into car park spaces etc (I believe, SWB here ).

Loads of options regards to suspension. You could stick with standard or speak to one of the experts on here like @CRS Performance and they might have the perfect setup for you.

 

[Paynewright]

Crashy suspension can be due to big wheels and ultra low profile tyres 18s seem to be the sweet spot of aesthetics / comfort.

From what I’ve read, the DSG gearboxes can be mapped to make them better.

Finally, like many makes of vehicle, there are some engines that have a higher bork factor - do your research.

Re the bed / seating arrangement. This is something I’ve ruminated over lots. Currently, we mainly need 4 seats but occasionally 6. Either 2nd hand Caravelle sliding seats (you still need a platform to make the full bed) or aftermarket sliding RIB beds are ££££. The last motorhome show we were at, I was quoted £7k+ for fitting a full width, 3 seat belt sliding bed. A bit spendy for me!

For us we only ever need the seats or the bed so I’m working on a removable timber bed platform that I can swap out in under 30mins. At some point we’ll do something permanent when we only need 4 seats.

Anyway, welcome. You’ll find lots of helpful people here who are happy to share their knowledge - I find most things I want to do have been done already. Its just a case of finding it via the search facility.

 

[Uxter]

Never mind vans, let's have some pictures of the Rally car.

 

[Uxter]

Thanks for the replies so far, the bed cost, well this will by far be the most I have ever spent on a vehicle so a bit extra for something so functional is probably a drop in the ocean. The suspension on the van I drove wasn’t on coil overs and was on 16” wheels as the owner said the 20” ones it came on were unbearable, he didn’t test drive it so I think that’s the price he has paid, so I don’t know what setup it had, but the was no suppleness, it felt like a touring car and if not changed it’s just going to destroy all the fixtures and fittings!
I want decent ground clearance for muddy “car parks” fields and weirdly pub car parks and kerbs, but I would also like to keep the height right for car parks and that’s driving the thoughts on swb. When using the load area the seats will probably just be a guitar shelf or softer stuff with either music gear or rally gear, but I don’t want that stuff in the living area. Music wise I fill an F25 BMW X3 with the seats folded, so I suppose I need around 1500 litres of space for the lot, the subs being the big item at 435 w x 600 h &d and I carry two, stuff can be stacked on top so if the seats move forward leaving 650+ then the other cases can stock on top!

All of this pales into insignificance against shuffling off for a 4am pee, that’s probably what I need to focus on!

 

[TeeCeeJay]

All of this pales into insignificance against shuffling off for a 4am pee, that’s probably what I need to focus on!

Right. That's 4am sorted for you, now back to the van discussion!

 

[Uxter]

If theres one bottle you could have picked worse I would like to have seen it! that stuff brings me out in hives and no one wants hives on their undercarriage!

 

[Kind of Blue]

Not sure about the heated screen myself have never got on with them . perhaps the ones in the T6 ect are better but usually see the wires especially in low sun. My 2019 199bhp T6 Caravelle 4Motion +D/L has the thickened windscreen, forgot what it does think it helps with soundproofing but have not driven others to compare. My screen never freezes when driving with heating on and even when stood it clears a few moment after starting anyway say a minute or so with heavy frost the blowers are really affective so for me I would not go for a heated screen but that is me, perhaps some people are more affected by heating elements than others. Agree with above suspension is so important and from new the T6 is barely adequate. Have always been a big supporter for KONI dampers preferably the adjustable damping sort. Not never keen on lowering but I have a reason for staying tall even so I would never tolerate a bum scrapper full stop. Sensible wheels and tyres either 2 sets of specialist tyres or All Seasons but because of my circumstances need AT 3PM&S much of the year I need 4Motion its a necessity. For someone doing a lot of towing 4Motion would be handy especially towing a rally car to venues and pulling a horse box to meets and moseying around off road or traversing muddied farmland. The Diff Lock D/L that mine has could also be a big help on occasion, definitely gives that edge and surety.

 

[kipperman]

I'm curious as to what you mean by the ACC was "dangerous" - do you mean there was a fault? I'm a massive fan of ACC on the basis that it bypasses our average 250ms reaction time and is unaffected by tiredness/age etc to the extent that I would not buy anything not thus equipped.

 

[Uxter]

I'm curious as to what you mean by the ACC was "dangerous" - do you mean there was a fault? I'm a massive fan of ACC on the basis that it bypasses our average 250ms reaction time and is unaffected by tiredness/age etc to the extent that I would not buy anything not thus equipped.

I’m a big fan of cruise control and have been using it for probably most of this century and I suppose I’m just used to making the decisions myself, I found even if I had indicated to overtake and on its most tailgatey setting it could brake as it picked up either a faster vehicle or the one being passed, so I modified my technique yet still got slowed, it’s funny as I would often notice other drivers pull out to overtake and curse them for then braking before accelerating away after causing someone behind a heart attack, I had just put this down to the general malaise of people who seem to take little pride in their driving, but it would appear ACC in its many guises can offer up many an issue for following traffic with its inconsistency and unpredictability.
It seems a particular symptom with the middle lane dwellers, all it takes is one at 62mph and all those following all slow down and clog up the road,

I suppose when all vehicles have it the problem will be reduced, but I’m not a fan of making myself a worry to those around me!

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Welcome along.

If you want a rail bed system (for one, dig deep £££) I'd definitely say go LWB to take full advantage of creating a large load space. The only down side as its your main vehicle, is the length of it. Its by no means huge, but that 400mm means it doesnt fit into car park spaces etc (I believe, SWB here ).

Loads of options regards to suspension. You could stick with standard or speak to one of the experts on here like @CRS Performance and they might have the perfect setup for you.

My LWB fits into parking spaces.
You do stick out a wee bit further though

 

[Kind of Blue]

For what it is worth, I never used the Automatic Cruise Control until recently. I have been experimenting with it on roads that have more recently been blanket moved from 30mph to 20mph restrictions throughout Wales. Some of them for quite a distance. Some parts of Wales have a zero tolerance or leeway unlike most of GB so 1mph might be enough to provoke a penalty. I only use it for that but find it takes a little fiddly but is otherwise good once it is engaged. Fir long 20mph zones it does make it more relaxing and removes any feeling discomfort that one is holding others back on an other wise empt long stretch of road. Have not been using it lately and it has improved my control at that speed even without using it so some element must be psychological. At least a t 30mph some little air resistance helps balance the speed and the faster the limit the more air resistance the easier to keep the speed exact. So I only use it in 20 zones.

The down hill assist is quite good at keeping speeds down on very steep places. Intended for off road use one sets it and it will operate at speeds up to about 18 or 20mph. That is to fast for my access tracks but holding the speed down initially with the brake to the desired speed the aide will keep it steady so long as the way is steep enough. Unfortunately it only does this on a down slope and on some places where a track or other off road way flattens out its stops working. It will re-engage once the way starts descending again but one may need to reset the speed again against a brake to re establish the speed of down hill progress. It is a useful tool but crude and awkward but one does learn its foibles. It does work in reverse. Of road it could be priceless. Proper off road vehicles usually have engines and low range transmissions tat easily control down hill decent even the steepest and one does not normally need to use the brakes at all for full control, infract using the brakes in very slippery mud down hill on very steep dissent can be fatal because brakes can and will lock up with a resulting increase in speed contrary to what one might need. Down hill Assist may be far more subtle than ones own right foot or left for that matter.

hugh