[Closed] T6 Experts - Day Van

Have a look at teahupoo conversions in Lancashire, I've been very impressed with their conversions, both camper and day van, and the prices for very low mileage vans. They have examples and prices on pistonheads.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/dealer/904860

thanks - will take a look.

Is there a good way to carry a bike in Van as yet to see something

sounds like the new Beach with the built in one ring burner would be ideal for you but probably too pricey

self build vs ready made is something I went around when we got our camper. Two things to consider...the quality of the base van and the quality of the interior fit and finish. My criteria (to satisfy the wife) was high quality for the internal fit and finish - better than I could manage with my DIY skills, and for me since it was a daily driver, was a relatively new van, low-ish mileage and decent spec (A/C, cruise, etc). So for me there was little price difference between self build and ready built so went with the latter so didn't have the faff of the build.

If you're less fussy about the base van and quality of the fit and finish then you could do a conversion pretty cheaply i'd guess. One of the benefits of the VW is the big scene and as a result loads of off the shelf kits out there for varying price points. so plenty of choice without having to exercise your carpentry skills (unless you want to of course).

My mate has one of these in his T6, takes up a bit of space, but fine if you're keeping it a day van. I's brilliant btw, but would be fairly easy to make yourself.

https://www.carbox.co.uk/shop/bikestow-bike-rack-for-van-and-home-3/

like the look of those!

Guy I know based in the scottish Borders has done a couple to a pretty high standard. He's pretty good but not a "pro". He'd knock it up in no time. They did this caddy in about a week from ply-lined workers van.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3463242790366934&id=100000437404053

Not a T6 but in our Tourneo Custom LWB we just strap round the bikes from the base of the rear seat to the anchor point on the floor at the back, bike shrouds around the bikes to stop them rubbing, can get 4 29ers in without removing the wheels

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I bought a LWB T6 last year. converting myself (lockdown has hampered this) waiting for bed install then install the kitchen and will be finished, unfortunately wont complete until near the end of the summer

A T5 Beach might be the best purchase with those requirements and that budget (assuming you don't mind a pop top).

What you want is:

- T6 base van (Kombi better as the side windows will be fitted already and you'll get rear air-con if specced but obviously much more expensive than a panel van)
- seating depends. If you have a Kombi (or a Kombi conversion) then something like an Exploria Kombi bed ticks the boxes for occasional sleeping + has storage underneath (there are other options which are made from ply which can be pulled apart and folded flat. Cheaper as well). Or something like a Caravelle bed system. Full width seat on rails that can be moved forward or backward and in conjunction with a multiflex (I think they're called) board, makes a full width bed.

Just seen the thing about making a brew. Could get a Kombi but with 2 seats in the back and get a little pod made which sits next to the middle rear seat, behind the driver. That way you'd get 4 seats, cupboard/cooking pod and space in the back for 4 bikes. Sleeping wise, Exploria kombi bed or ply wood copy of it. A bike or two would go underneath it.

If you need usable rear seats then for an swb bikes will need the front wheels out (at least) if you want to store them “straight” in the back. I’m on my third swb Kombi and since the first have opted for load rails fixed to the side panels in the back which I just use bungy cords to restrain the bikes.

It’s not a fancy as some setups but is versatile and unobtrusive. 2 full bikes will go in with a few bits of kit and for bigger trips wheels come out and the bikes go in parallel with each other.

I now use Unwin rails bolted to the inner skins of the side panels with repositionable lashing eyes.

out of interest, why do no conversions use the space above front seats for the bed? it seems that you could fold the front seats flat (or rotate them to the side, out of the way), then have a platform with feet over\up to the dash, heads above the rear seats, leaving lots of full-height room behind the rear seats for whatever you wanted

You can't get a 29er in a SWB T6 with the wheels on without having it diagonal across the van.  It will fit in a LWB with the front wheel turned.

This is a T6 LWB kombi, IMO the best spec of van for what you want to achieve:

https://imgur.com/a/EVt823M

Get a LWB, so much more useable.

5lab > you get some that use swivel front seats as the foot end of the beds. Lends itself more to a twin single setup than a proper double as you need to fill in the gap. And there are kids bunks that can go across the cab.

A bed that starts at dashboard height would be a real squeeze in a typical low roof van.

Unless you’re dead set on a VW though I’d urge you to look at Japanese import MPVs. They make way better dayvans than most commercials, with seats that slide and turn and fold flat, AC vents everywhere, and IMO way nicer to drive too. Look at Alphard / Vellfire, Elgrand, Elysian, Stepwagon, etc.

I have a T6 Kombi SWB

LWB would definitely help with getting a bike in the back, mine goes in diagonally and gets bungee'd to the rear seats. Will be a problem when a dog crate goes in there!

Went SWB as it's my car so LWB would be more difficult to park, particularly on my drive! The length is only part of the problem, the tailgate needs a fair bit of space to open so you need to park away from walls etc.

Kids absolutely love it

EDIT - don't get a bad spec. Highline comes with cruise, and get the 150bhp engine, 102 is just too slow

Thanks all

Yes it will be a VW SWB T6, Don't want anything bigger
minimum 150bhp and 6 speed with adaptive cruise and AC - both a must for me personally

I think 2 captain seats in the back with a custom removable table might be best option
works for making a brew, picnic etc
works carrying just my bike fully built (quite often)
kids and wifes bike considerably smaller so suspect they would fit behind the rear seat

if you have 2 captains chairs you might be able to position them to fit yours down the side, kids behind chair 1, then wife's between the 2 chairs and other kids behind seat 2?

Ah I forgot
2 captains in the back mean can't turn into a bed for me on occasional weekends away biking etc
so maybe a double slider that can go flat - bike down the side of this ?

https://www.mal-vw.co.uk/b-active.html

this one looks good

I have a double slider with a 2+1 seat. Take the single out and you're good

I'm planning to be able to do what you want to do, just haven't got around to sorting it. Would also like to do similar with a motorbike

Sounds like a great idea...but...if you went with a Vivaro/Trafic then the bed could go widthways across the rear of the van and you'd have more usable space in the rest of the van. Even build a rack for the bed so you have a 'garage' for the bike below (most likely would need to remove the wheels for that to work though).

I like the idea of that and suspect any van will do a great job of it as it doesn't sound massively complicated.

The link from @freeridenick is dangerous...went for a wee scan and ended up scrolling down and seeing a lot of stuff that appeals...really not a safe site to be looking at!

If the stove is only for a brew I'd just get a carravelle and take a gas stove or flask with me. We have a shuttle and I prefer the adaptability of not having a conversion. Always makes me smile at races when all the proper small campers have to lock their bikes outside.

This is the one!

https://www.vwtransportersales.co.uk/product-2586-VW-TRANSPORTER-T6-150PS-HIGHLINE-5-SEAT-SV-SPORT-KOMBI-VAN-ONLY-221-MILES-REFLEX-SILVER-.html

Got to love an outfit that lists a spare key on a vehicle priced at 28 grand plus vat. 20"alloys. ****s

New Beach with kitchen not coming to UK, stock of existing Beaches has been decimated. I sold my 2019 for what I paid for it plus a bit more before lockdown !

Have a look at the infinity customs bed. I made my own one. It’s not to hard.

Now we're talking....

https://www.alino.info/post/stunning-volkswagon-crafter-van-both-inside-and-out

If the stove is only for a brew I’d just get a carravelle and take a gas stove or flask with me.

That's my set up. 7 seat multivan T5. I have to go to the trouble of taking the front wheels off though
I do sleep in it (all seats flat and a mat), has a Webasto for cold mornings. Cooking is taken care of by a Coleman petrol stove, or often just the Kelly kettle. There's a bolt on awning (the ones that most slot into an extruded strip on the roof) to give a bit of space. Goes under most parking barriers.
Will probably move it on soon as I really want a pop top so we can sleep in it as a family, 2 adults and a 7yo. But a tent does that just as well for now.

I've had the caravelle slider installed in my kombi as the fixed seat was a bit **** & got fed up of knocking knees with the seats swivelled. Did cost £3.5k though. I might get a pop top fitted & flog it as a 'beach'.

Crafter looks pump but no use for outdoor pursuits...no storage space for kit. I'm guessing the garage space will be small with a 120 litre water tank in it.

Just another option for you...

Buy van and convert with 2 single RIB seats in the back. These fold over an use the front seats on swivels to make up a bed (you can get them which slide sideways to make a double bed if you want.

The 2 single seats mean you can walk front to back of van without going outside. Longer bikes could be stuck between the two seats. (might need to protect the seat sides.

Have a look at the Bilbo Space and imaging it without the rear units or Banway import the seats;
https://www.banwy.co.uk/made-to-order/rib-neptune-60-seats-made-to-order.html

Would give you a 4 seater van with the ability to create a bed. Chuck a camping stove or kelly kettle in the back if you need a brew

Crafter looks pump but no use for outdoor pursuits

Speak for yourself! Biking, agreed, but if I'm just finished an ultramarathon, I'd be bloody delighted to get straight in that shower, and crawl into that bed!.

I’ve done the same as Mos only in a LWB shuttle, not a Kombi. The caravelle slider seats work better for us but you might find alternating the seats between middle and rear rows of seats does what you want.
We have a kitchen pod behind the drivers seat with fridge etc. Which clips into the seat rails. You could probably add the same to a stock caravelle if you started with that (and added a sleep pack to make a bed from the laid flat seat).

Crafter looks pump but no use for outdoor pursuits…no storage space for kit

Other than driving to work and the occasional carpark height barrier(seems to be a very English problem) it looks hands down better for anything outdoor pursuits related than a t5/6 based camper

I'm with no beer can't beat a shower and a bed
with no messing after a long hard event. ...

For a day van I'd skip a hob/sink etc.... But I'd still stick a pop top on as o dislike stooping and I am tall. I'd still stick a blown air heater in - probably a diesel in a day van -great to come back to when your out on the slopes skiing. And I'd get a proper 12v fridge +solar on roof.

I saw a decent idea recently, it was part 1 of a conversion on YouTube but I lost the channel unfortunately. Part 2 delayed for Covid so I'm hoping YouTube will suggest part 2 to me when it's posted.

It was your typical LWB Rock and Roll setup, with a MWB interior and a bulkhead to make a slim garage behind the rear seats where the bike fits in return wheels off.

However, the clever bit was the bulkhead was to be fixed to the rock and roll seat which would slide right up to the front seats, and then you could put 2 or 3 bikes in, either complete or via a fork mount on the sliding bulkhead, I can't remember which.

So bike is inside as a full camper, but for short trips, push the seat forwards and bung the bike in with less dismantling.

Have a look at Blok Pod, some neat looking solutions to bike storage and camping!

spooky i think you're talking about ben cathro's new mtb camper van

Stretches new van is a transit isn't it.