I got stitched up by a nationwide autocentre (before halfrauds took them over). 2 driveshafts ended up as 6 sets as they couldnt fit them properly. Then they claimed the gearbox was damaged….

A letter to the regional manager, photocopies of all work receipts and a letter from local and excellent ford garage did the trick. Full refund, new free of charge gear box and service voucher(which I obviously never used).

A well written polite letter works wonders…but how these garages stay in business I don’t know

sorry dont have one with bikes in!)

we have a peugeot boxer converted to a camper.
I have the swb low roof with 100bhp engine. I average 37mpg on a roads but 32 on the motorway.

Boxer is great as its wider than a T5…I sleep sideways. At 5″8 I can just about stand up in it, enough to cook standing and change easily – no chance in a t5 without pop up / high roof.

Its my only vehicle, fits in normal car parks (too high for multi- stories but so is almost every van)

I have corner seating that pulls out into a double bed, cooker and cupboard and a half height (so doesn’t block the rear windows) boot. It fits 3 bikes in or 4/5 surfboards.

Happily spend a long time in it. If it wasn’t my only vehicle i would consider a mwb but I have enough room for 3 adults to spend a lot of time in, change into wetsuits etc…

Definately worth trying to have in van storage for bikes, I always got nervous sleeping in the van with them on a rack. Plus when we were away and wanted to sight see for a day or few days around a city it was a nightmare trying to hide bikes.

i feel a bit simple now….

Cougar….your IT skills are clearly far beyond mine!

looks slack for a cx bike…good thing obviously.
slack with discs….cx designers hanging around with mtb designers shocker!!

huge gamble. I have gone many years as I can stay in the camper up there. Have had epic weeks, but last minute decisions. Alps seems the best option from norfolk.

David Attenborough
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Steve Backshall

just to make my life look really really dull

lego?
colouring in book?
cardboard box to make a fort?

Just seen your latest picture! Sleeping bag and fixed bed will sort it. Go outdoors do some good synthetic ones for £100

I’m on my third converted can now.
1. Insulate if it’s not already. I use silver bubble wrap on all surfaces. Then plastic loft insulation. Ply kit then carpet.do floor and roof as well.
2. 4 season synthetic sleeping bag. £100 well spent. Happily did -16 a few winters back on a snowboard trip.
3. Plan a layout. Even in swb transporter you can make a small bike boot for a few bike then you have room for a bed. Sheet of ply on batons if you want to keep it simple.

You need to put a bit of effort into the basics to make it warm and comfortable. If its cold or a mess with no storage you simply won’t use it and it’s a waste of time.
A blind or curtains to seperately cab area from back makes it cosier and warmer too!

O and buy trim fix high temp glue for everything or all your insulation and carpet will come off in the summer!

sounds like they just need bleeding to me

I would have said that all the welsh centres are fairly weatherproof. Wet but all the rocks make them rideable. The only places that will be wet are Fod and Cannock ( both in England obv)

great work by halfords! how on earth did he find this thread!?!

could we have a possible sticky with photos of stolen bikes so if anyone ever see’s something suspicious its easy to go into the “back catalogue” so to speak!?!?

i recently bought a new shape peugeot boxer (same as ducato, relay) same length as a T5/vivaro however wider and a little higher. It means I can stand up in it (huge bonus when spending any time in it)
Also as 6ft wide it means you can sleep sideways (freeing up loads of space) I have a boot that fits 3 bikes, bikes will fit with both wheels on sideways across the van. The extra bit of width is super useful, drives really nicely, very refined and quiet. Worth a look?
being the same length as a t5(shorter than a LWB means it fits in normal car park spaces)

When I suffered I was advised to put my toes on a step and drop my heels. Seemed to help. Rubbing an ice cube into the area until its all melted will help reduce swelling. Ice cube works better than just putting ice on. I tried orthotics but in the end bought light flat shoes and taught my self to run as lightly on my toes as possible not had any problems for three years now.

Ive actually recently subscribed to wavelength instead of surfers path. Wavelength seems to be much improved with the path getting smaller and smaller!
As for France I spent a month last year at lacanau it was great. Bit softer than hossegor and no where near the crowds. Still nice and hollow on bigger days though!

Would roof mounted racks not solve the issue with a lot less effort? A combo isnt particularly high.

Would roof mounted racks not solve the issue with a lot less effort? A combo isnt particularly high.

New bike can work wonders. I’ve gone from hard tail to slack 140mm full sus with dropper post and flats. I feel much more confident than ever before and having lots more fun.

I need a land rover it’s official. Some very cool pics!

Looks superb. I aim to make 1 sometime! Let’s hope there is some swell again soon! Update on how it rides would be awesome I’ve always fancied a stubbie- I’m guessing skatey? More so than a lil fish?

I found my connect van tdci engine was smoother and better to drive with v power but mpg was the same so i stopped using it. Dad notices no difference in 6 month old merc.

I’ve just bought a Peugeot boxer 2008. It will be a camper by Xmas! It’s wonderfully quiet. I can stand up on the low roof I’m 5″8. Best thing is as its wide I can sleep width ways which frees up loads of space and a bike fits width ways so I will be building a boot for 2 bikes. Highly recommended!

commencal all the way, I had a meta 4, nice and slack with 120mm forks. super4 is lighter and similar.
girlfriend has a trek fuel ex6, 68deg head angle, feels awesome, should be worth a look

just get the superstars, had them for a year now and no issues and perform great

ive sold a camper van dropper post, pair of wheels and 2 bikes over the last couple of weeks. The couple that bought the van were super cool and stoked to buy it.
Its been awesome getting emails from the guys who bought the post and wheels how much they like them, makes me feel good. One buyer of a bike sounds super excited about it, only posted yesterday!
However, I sold another last night and I felt a bit miffed when I found out the guy who bought it runs a website selling on second hand bike parts so the bike I spent (well actually g/f as its hers) cleaning, making look nice, setting up etc… is now going to be stripped apart for a profit. Now obviously I got the money I very much needed and wanted but it just doesnt feel right, its nice selling things to a good home.

I sould like a bit of a dealer myself doing all the selling, i’ve just bought my first home to various extra’s have had to go :(

maybe the screech was the magnet of your speedo causing some rubbing? I suggest that you may be even faster if you stop looking at the speedo!

I have spent around 6 months on flats now after 8 years spd. Got to say I love it, much improved confidence on super steep tech. I think I may be slightly slower when its super fast as I get scared of the feet bouncing off, otherwise I love it. Dont notice any difference in climbing, SPD is for the road only for me.

I originally tried it with cheap flats and skate shoes and hated it, feet slipping everywhere. After much pursuasion from friends and g/f I bought Teva’s and superstar nano’s, super grippy and awesome. I say invest in decent kit, if you dont like it at least you know you have tried the best and you wont lose much on ebay. No more than the £20 you lose on cheap pedals and skate shoes that would get replaced anyway if you like it!

My gravity dropper turbo has now been faultless for 2 mucky horrible years of riding. I dont touch it, once I greased the inside but its best left well alone. Friend of mine follows same policy and his GD has been good for 3 years now. Yes its a bit crude, and definately ugly but works.

Saying that g/f has just put a reverb on hers and i must say it looks and feels amazing, only done one ride so no comments on long term but seems very nice compared with all others ive seen / tried on friends bikes.

aftermarket stickers are for sponsored riders only, or perhaps the wannabe’s……..

I’ve just gone with AA for home and contents, bikes up to £2000 each away from home. Previously with M+S, their renewal fee was double the AA quote and I got free breakdown for a year!

With my gravity dropper I’ve gone for a single ring meaning i can use the front mech guides on the top tube.really pleased with how neat it looks. Gf just joins hers to the rear brake hose.looks ok!

ive always gone for flip flops but Sanuk shoes (well technically sandals!)are worth a look, super comfy and take up same space as a flip flop

I agree with tpbiker….the remote bit at the post is rubbish and therefore makes the lever at the bars feel pants. Im going to go for a thumb shifter / other remote from different post to see if it feels better.

the peaks – about to tackle “the beast” dry trails, sunshine, doesn’t get better!

here’s another showing a nice little table that fits to the back door (folds against the wall when not being used) Feel free to email me if you want any specific ones, the cooker sits in the wooden cupboard near the front of the van. Don’t really have many more as this is the most recent “update”

yes self build, really simple really, nice double bed when it pulls out, has done many a snowboard/bike trip to scotland wales etc… and all over europe surfing. 130,000 excellent miles so reccomended on reliability front.

was for sale…but new mortgage has put then on hold for at least 6 months!

super rubbish, definately dont go on a sunny dry day allowing time to play on DH tracks after……

I have an 04 LWB connect. 90bhp. Not sure what the mpg would be but for £60 of diesel I do maybe 450 miles? Most of that is motorway, more often than not with bikes on a rack on the back.

6 foot sleeping inside will be fine, they make a great camper…..

mines an 05…i know they have changed a bit since then but I run 150mm sektors and it feels spot on, I wouldn’t want any less to be honest.