What Have You Bought Today?

New discs and pads all round, after much deliberation, and interweb searching and pricing up Brembo/Pagid etc.
I've decided to go for some homegrown talent and given my hard earned £££'s to @Nutexa Frictions
After reading all the reviews on here I thought it would be rude not to give them a go, these will be fitted next week by a competent professional and not by yours truly.
 
After months of procrastination I took the plunge and bought a 10 degree bracket and a lowered seat base from Vankraft. They really have transformed the whole passenger experience.

Fitted them myself at the weekend and it was all simple enough once I'd watched the video on YouTube. You do need an M10 and an M12 splined socket/bit to fit the bracket though so probably best check you have them or order them off the internet.

We have a Kiravans rotating plate, bought second hand, and a bench seat. When I fitted the plate it increased the seating height such that my head touched the roof and my knees touched the dashboard. All in all it was uncomfortable!

I’m 6ft 2” and the lowered seat base has solved all that. No issues rotating the seat either.

The reclined bracket has also been a game changer. Rather than being forced to sit bolt upright we now have a much more relaxed seating position - pretty much matching the driver's seat. Handy to be able to tip the seat forward too as it'll help access the pop top and gives a good space for the dog bed too.

I really cannot over stress what a difference this has made. It wasn't cheap but it was worth every penny and I wish I'd just gone for it months ago (rather than endure those endless motorway miles).

If you are unsure I'd suggest you just buy! You won't regret it.
 
@Dezdez99 Would be interested in any pictures you have. Contemplating this purchase for exactly the same reasons you've mentioned. Fairly pricy so want to make sure it's definitely right for us (and ideally I'm able to fit it)
 
No problem at all. I’ll take some at the weekend then send them over.

Fitting the seat base was no More complicated than undoing the eight nuts, lifting the base out, putting the new one in, replacing and tightening the nuts.

Bracket was more involved but still easy enough. Best advice I have regarding that is to watch the YouTube video. That’ll show you better than my pictures (but I’ll send them too).

Seriously though, and I know I sound like I’ve bought shares in the company, but it’s made a huge difference already. But more than that……. it’ll make a difference every single time my wife and I go anywhere in the van together.
 
@step. If you just mean pictures of the installed bracket, this is mine (10% version). The extra recline looks quite pronounced in the pictures but doesn't feel so much in use and makes a world of difference comfortwise. The actual installation was a doddle and if a mechanically inept idiot like me thinks that, it must be.
001.webp002.webp003.webp
 
Thanks @Ayjay that's great. Also thinking when folded flat can be used for the dog rather than the space at the bottom of the bed which makes getting out a bit tight.
I think its going to be a purchase that is made, just wondering if lowering it would help us as well
 
@step. I guess it also depends on how good the dog is - the footwell might be an even better place for their bed. Also, don't forget that you will need to make a board to slide into the back of the seat to stiffen it up and also to allow you to stand on it if necessary. There's a template on the Vankraft website (or, at least, used to be) and my top tip would be to get hold of a large piece of cardboard and make the first cuts on that, try it for size and make adjustments for the final version. IIRC, I used a sheet of 1/4" ply for mine and after cutting, I sanded down the edges so there was nothing sharp or rough to damage the seat fabric.
 
The dog sleeps in his crate anyway, so hopefully would be ok on the folded down seats. I wasn't sure how the board would work as we have pockets in the back of our seats. I did wonder if putting a carpeted board on top could work as a solid surface
 
I'd be very surprised if the pockets inerfered with the board as it just slides in under the the back of seat cover from the bottom - the clips are a bit fiddly but it would be simple enough to check.
 
Received my Ablemail AMT12-2B (B for Bluetooth) today, very pleasing to be able to change the AMT settings via the App easily. In the process of recalibrating my LB by performing a deep discharge. The SB went a bit too low, but with the B version it was easy to pump it up a bit.
Up the Ablemail!
 
Drive Wayne said:
Received my Ablemail AMT12-2B (B for Bluetooth) today, very pleasing to be able to change the AMT settings via the App easily. In the process of recalibrating my LB by performing a deep discharge. The SB went a bit too low, but with the B version it was easy to pump it up a bit.
Up the Ablemail!
Click to expand...
Is it as straight forward as this to add one of these? Just the 3 wires into my MPPT
Screenshot_20251120-080800.webp
 
I'd love to fit ones of those Ablemail things but just haven't got the confidence to do it - I've looked at the installation instructions on their website and TBH, I'm none the wiser, I've always been the same with electrical stuff because if you get it wrong it has the capability to either kill you or burn stuff down!
 
It would be great to add one and keep the SB topped up especially now the weather is getting colder. That's screen shot I posted was from their website... So I'm none the wiser either 🤔
 
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