This August we took the van to Pevensey for the bank holiday weekend. We decided that as there were no sleeping facilities in the van we would take the small 2 man tent and sleep in it but use the van for living in - when we weren't outside.
We arrived at the campsite to be told we couldn't bring a van onto the site. Quelle Disaster! But after chatting to the landlady for a while it dawned on her that we had a Kombi, not a panel van, and suddenly all was well with the world. We booked into a lovely campsite and found our way to a pitch overlooking the duck pond. As you can imagine, it being August bank holiday it was very crowded.
We pulled up, threw the tent up, chucked the blow up matress and duvet inside it and were set within about 2 minutes flat. Got to love that Kyam tent with the built in poles that virtually puts itself up! We took the table and chairs out and arranged them so that they overlooked the pond and the nice view and then took the bikes out of the back and tied them to the fence next to us. That left the van mostly empty on the inside. But we still had a bike box and a couple of camping boxes and a bag with our clothes in strewn about the back of the van. This led us to realise that a box rack which we would slot our bike/camping/surfing boxes into when we needed them would be very handy. I need to get on to Terry and see about making one.
The captain chairs in the front were swivelled and with the rear doors opened they also afforded a view over the duck pond. This was when it was apparent that rear windows would be a good idea. However at £330 plus an extra £60 for tinting they weren't cheap!
We spent most of the evenings either sat outside cooking, or sat in the captains chairs inside. The table was easy to move in or out and it was simple to eat at it when it was inside which was a bonus. Our camping light lit up the inside nicely and the Blue Cat heater took the chill off when it got cold.
It was quickly apparent that a raising roof would have been a real bonus. Forget sleeping in it, just being able to stand would have made a huge difference. Also, we missed curtains, for cosyness and privacy both. And a rack to tidy the back of the van from boxes and bags would have been useful. In fact, I think had we such a rack it would have been easy to throw the blow up matress in the back and sleep in there once all the bits were off the floor out of the way.
The one thing which was quickly apparent would have been most welcome when camping was a Leisure Battery. It would have been nice to have been able to have the van lights on, although our camping light was handy, and it might have been nice to have the radio on at times. Also, I had to unplug the side door light to stop that draining the battery when the door was open - which was often.
All in all our first camping trip with the van was a great success and it showed us exactly which things we needed to get for the van to make it more comfortable.
The California Beach
Monday, 31 August 2009
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Mountain Biking in Wales
The same day I picked the van up from Bilbo's I took it home, packed it full of mountain bikes, surfboards and kit and headed off to Wales to visit some friends. It was a great way to really find out if the van would do what I bought it for. And the answer was emphatically yes.
It was a sinch to stack the bikes and boards in the back. No need to take any wheels off, just slide the bikes in, turn the front wheels sideways and they just fit. A quick hook up to the rear loading lash and to the rear seat headrests using bungees and the bikes were secure and didn't move around during the whole ride. I can see I'll need to have a think about how to secure them if we're away and have taken the rear seats out however!
The first long drive of the van was an absolute pleasure. The driving position, especially with the arm rests, is like being in an armchair and being sat up that high makes it all less stressful as you can see what is going on ahead much easier. I definitely missed cruise control however and that upgrade has moved much higher up the list of future modifications as a result!
We arrived at the Severn Bridge toll faster and much more refreshed than expected and joined the queue. As we moved up to the barrier the man punched us in as a class 2 vehicle - with a toll of £10. He then spotted the seats in the back and dropped the toll back down to £5. Result. Remember to leave the seats in when taking the van to Wales whenever possible!
The next day three of us loaded our bikes and gear into the van and set off for Afan bike park. We had a very wet ride around the hills and forests and then came back to the carpark. The van proved its use again as we were able to clamber into the back to get changed in some privacy and out of the rain. We then loaded up the bikes and got into the front. Swivelling the front seats around we had a sociable lunch with the three of us all sat together facing each other, rather than all looking the same way. Small touch but a nice one.
Upon getting home we cleaned out the van. It was dead easy with the floor being rubber and simple to sweep out. Also my seats are currently covered with vinyl which makes them a little sticky to sit on but they cleaned up in seconds from all the dirt on them from biking. Very handy!
Overall the first voyage was a great success. We spent more cash on diesel than we would have done in our car, of course, but it was the little touches which made a difference - being able to shelter and change inside, being able to just throw the bikes inside without sticking a bike rack on, being able to swivel the seats for a more sociable lunch. These were all good things.
The next big test will be when we take it camping! Hopefully the end of the month...
It was a sinch to stack the bikes and boards in the back. No need to take any wheels off, just slide the bikes in, turn the front wheels sideways and they just fit. A quick hook up to the rear loading lash and to the rear seat headrests using bungees and the bikes were secure and didn't move around during the whole ride. I can see I'll need to have a think about how to secure them if we're away and have taken the rear seats out however!
The first long drive of the van was an absolute pleasure. The driving position, especially with the arm rests, is like being in an armchair and being sat up that high makes it all less stressful as you can see what is going on ahead much easier. I definitely missed cruise control however and that upgrade has moved much higher up the list of future modifications as a result!
We arrived at the Severn Bridge toll faster and much more refreshed than expected and joined the queue. As we moved up to the barrier the man punched us in as a class 2 vehicle - with a toll of £10. He then spotted the seats in the back and dropped the toll back down to £5. Result. Remember to leave the seats in when taking the van to Wales whenever possible!
The next day three of us loaded our bikes and gear into the van and set off for Afan bike park. We had a very wet ride around the hills and forests and then came back to the carpark. The van proved its use again as we were able to clamber into the back to get changed in some privacy and out of the rain. We then loaded up the bikes and got into the front. Swivelling the front seats around we had a sociable lunch with the three of us all sat together facing each other, rather than all looking the same way. Small touch but a nice one.
Upon getting home we cleaned out the van. It was dead easy with the floor being rubber and simple to sweep out. Also my seats are currently covered with vinyl which makes them a little sticky to sit on but they cleaned up in seconds from all the dirt on them from biking. Very handy!
Overall the first voyage was a great success. We spent more cash on diesel than we would have done in our car, of course, but it was the little touches which made a difference - being able to shelter and change inside, being able to just throw the bikes inside without sticking a bike rack on, being able to swivel the seats for a more sociable lunch. These were all good things.
The next big test will be when we take it camping! Hopefully the end of the month...
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Insuring The Van
Blimey. This was harder than I thought. If you own a car you go to about three different web pages, stick your name, address, occupation and the car registration into the web page and you get your quote. Simples. However with a T5 it appears it's not that simple. No web page knew of the van's registration. And when you try and tell it what T5 you have there are a bazillion different options for a T5 SWB T30 window van/kombi. Add to that the fact that it's a tiptronic gear box and it seems that half the web sites don't believe such a van exists.
In the end a call to Direct Line managed to get things sorted, including all the exterior bodywork modifications for what seems like a very good price. I hope they don't put their prices up too much next year as I deffo just want to renew my policy and not go through that hell again.
Whilst I was at it I picked up gold standard breakdown cover from IC Breakdown - recommended off www.moneysupermarket.com. That covers me for just about everything you could hope, home and abroad for the tiny figure of £68 a year.
In the end a call to Direct Line managed to get things sorted, including all the exterior bodywork modifications for what seems like a very good price. I hope they don't put their prices up too much next year as I deffo just want to renew my policy and not go through that hell again.
Whilst I was at it I picked up gold standard breakdown cover from IC Breakdown - recommended off www.moneysupermarket.com. That covers me for just about everything you could hope, home and abroad for the tiny figure of £68 a year.
Buying the Van
Bilbos is not far from where I live so I tend to keep a half eye on their web page. About this time a Black Kombi came up which looked perfect - until I spotted it was an automatic gearbox. I've never liked the idea of driving an automatic so I just dismissed it. Then one night, searching the web looking for Black Kombis I thought of it and so I posted on the Brick-Yard about the tiptronic gear box and what people thought about it. I did some research on the net and found to my surprise everyone had nothing but good things to say about it. So I had another look on the web site and the van was still there. It looked great and just what I was after. I phoned Bilbos to see if it was still available and it was so I went for a test drive.
The van looked amazing and the test drive went great. I was seriously interested so I was cheeky and asked the salesman if I could take it home for the evening. A quick form signing, hand over some assurances (plus my car) and I was off home! That gave me the chance to drive it for a good few hours and really get used to it. I was able to take it to Andy's house for him to have a look over and comment on. I was able to take it home, show it to Lou and also to prove I could get bikes and surfboards straight in the back. Lou and I went for a spin as the sun was setting and agreed it was a shame we weren't off camping for the weekend! I was sold. So I went back to Bilbos the next morning and paid a deposit for the van. Did some haggling and managed to convince them to reupholster the two front seats in leather, and fit swivel bases to them both. They're also sticking a safe under the passenger side seat.
I pick the van up on Friday 14th August 2009 and am taking it off to Wales that same day for a mountain biking weekend. Can't wait.
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