Evening everybody.
Been looking round on here for a few weeks now and had another van to sell before I could fully commit to getting started on the Shuttle I’d bought recently. I’ve fitted black side bars, roof bars and a pair of black cross bars (from Leighton vans which is only twenty minutes from me) a couple of weekends ago. After selling last van (3.5V6 Nissan Elgrand XL) the buyer didn’t want the 175W solar panel, Nemo DC to DC charger and 200Ah LiFePO4 I’d fitted on it so I took all this off and installed panel last weekend on the Shuttle and temporarily located the battery on the rear nearside this weekend and ran a 12v USB outlet as well.
Been considering what to do regards ‘conversion’ as we want similar to what we had in the Elgrand: rear row of seats folded flat and middle row were captain style so they spun and also folded flat to create two beds. With contour of seats we had to use self inflating mattresses to make sleeping comfortable. I’d then made a pod that lifted out of back of van which has a slide out compressor fridge (toploader) and CAN FL1401 double burner and sink. The pod also has a switch panel that connects via a bespoke extension cable and an Anderson connector to get power from the Lithium battery. We’ll use this temporarily (DIY pod) until we make final decision on its replacement (Vangear, Slidepod or similar - don’t want a side kitchen). We’ve committed today to a Rib 130 Slider from Banwy as I want to fit myself. I’d considered the Van King, Fourty Wings, Ovano, Slidepod and similar for the bed that fixed via lashing points but wanted to keep proper travel seats in the back.
I was then considering a rail system looking at and shortlisting the Reimo Variotech 3000 with bonded rails, Clearcut Campervans Rib Glidemotion, the Uberbus Flux, and a few others (Cambee and Crystal Custom Campers). I’d also got a quote from VW Dealership Parts Dept for Caravelle rails to fit myself and use them for a self build system. I’ve also got some good information from BraunAbility on their Unwin rails and seat leg mechanisms for sliding / locking in their rail systems.
Looking at the Rib 150 over this last weekend, the measurements were just too tight to not have to start either removing or modifying the rear internal quarter panels. As you probably know, the internal Shuttle panels protrude beyond the wheel arches and I want to maintain integrity - not drilling or cutting the interior panels. Although the drawings on the Banwy site for the 150 Rib bed showed that technically the bed could fit, without committing to buying it and trying it, I just didn’t fancy taking the risk. I had done a number of searches to see if anyone had bought and fitted a Rib 150 and fitted it into a Shuttle without having to modify the internal panels but couldn’t find anything. I’ll probably find a load of examples now I’ve committed and bought the 130 Rib slider (today). My intention is to bolt the Rib 130 slider in for a few festivals I’ve got this year and then see how we get on with it regards storage and generally just how we use the van.
I’ll probably relocate the Lithium battery under the Rib seat once the bed’s installed and this was one of reasons I moved away from a rail system; to allow battery to be stored underneath it and possibly a drawer style fridge and I’m now going with a fixed bed. I am considering replacing the flooring in the rear for a solid floor but I do like the plush carpet when you’re kneeling doing any work in there. Recommendations suggest doing the floor before fitting the bed but we’ll see. If the bed becomes unworkable for us as a fixed system, I reckon I’ll be able to make it into a sliding system. I am surprised no one’s come up with a system that has a direct fitment for the Kombi/Shuttle quick release floor brackets. If I wasn’t as busy at work I’d look to see if I could adapt a Rib bed into something that used the existing floor fixings.
Anyway, I’ll likely post a few pictures of progress especially if I learn anything that I haven’t seen already on here / YouTube.
Cheers
Jenxfive
