Hi there, this is my van The Green Geko
It's an ex green flag van, which I bought in March 07, after I got water in the engine of my last car a Seat Cordoba, always being in to my German cars. I looked for ages and it seamed all over the country, all the good T4's seamed to be down south or far up north
Anyhow this one was about 10 doors down from where I lived and when I mentioned I was looking for T4 he said I could have his for 1500 and it only had 84000 on the clock :jiggy it's only a 1.9 but it was a SWB and had a half bulk had which was what I was looking for.
The plan was to convert it to a camper that would at least seat me and 4 mates and sleep 2 of us, my mate Dave was gona help me. Both of us are quit handy with power tools but done nothing like this before
So this is what it looked like when I first got it.
The van had some seats in the back but I didn't want them as i was gona convert so they where the first thing out and put on ebay, whilst on there i got a double seat for the front and sold the captain seat that I replaced with the double ones. Gotta love ebay :cheers
First thing I did I get this 8 ball gear knob off ebay and fit a small steering wheel I had from my old VW golf.
Once the seats where out we ripped up the old rubber floor and got the back steam cleaned out. First was the insulation, I'd managed to pick a big roll off 9mm foam (like camping roll mat) which I first lined all the panels and roof with. I then used kingspan and expanding foam the fill out all the panels and doors.
During that job I also had some side windows fitted. the windows are a sore point as i wanted the original VW windows and I’d not even thought that they would put in the ones they did and by the time I’d got back and they where in it was a little to late, yes being back twice now due to them leaking so far so good at the moment, complained but they said they would take them out and give me a refund even though I argued they don't do there job coz they leak. It still hurts sometimes when I look at them now when I get some spare cash I’m gona get proper ones put in.
Next was to get the panels made and carpeted, got the carpet from Mike at CMC.
The dog had all the good ideas??
We found carpeting the metal in the van was well easy which was nice as we had learnt a major lesson in making templates when doing the panel, so to have a simple job was nice.
For the floor we laid it with the 9mm foam, and then 12mm ply wood which was screwed down then lyno'd.
Whist I boarded it up I also wired in the lights
We then moved on to building the L shaped bench seat which would run down the back of the bulk head and along the drivers side. We made the frame up first and then screwed on the laminate chipboard fronts from behind to leave the front clean. We decided to show off as well and put a curve in the bench at the side door A: the top is 9mm ply (I think) with a small lip for the bed panels to sit on.
I was gona but in a cupboard at the back but just decided to leave it open so i can stack boxes there. As the 6 x 9's where going in at the top we build in a small cupboard at the top. Got the leisure battery and bass box in as well as the amp and 6 x 9's.
Before I fitted the back bit of chip board i went back to see Mike at CMC and got some light gray carpet to do the roof with which matched the ceiling in the front cab which I’ve left standard.
Next was to build the side cupboard which would also have to hold the bed panels in and I had to think of a way to bridge the gap between the Bench and the cupboard so the bed would extend. After a morning off looking at that space, like as if it would just come to us……………it did.
Mint it works
We used a normal kitchen work top for the top of the unit, and I got the guys in the DIY store to cut out and fix in the piano hinge, so the top would flip up to access the stove. I then got some plastic for a splash guard from a local sign writing company, works a treat.
It's an ex green flag van, which I bought in March 07, after I got water in the engine of my last car a Seat Cordoba, always being in to my German cars. I looked for ages and it seamed all over the country, all the good T4's seamed to be down south or far up north
Anyhow this one was about 10 doors down from where I lived and when I mentioned I was looking for T4 he said I could have his for 1500 and it only had 84000 on the clock :jiggy it's only a 1.9 but it was a SWB and had a half bulk had which was what I was looking for.
The plan was to convert it to a camper that would at least seat me and 4 mates and sleep 2 of us, my mate Dave was gona help me. Both of us are quit handy with power tools but done nothing like this before
So this is what it looked like when I first got it.
The van had some seats in the back but I didn't want them as i was gona convert so they where the first thing out and put on ebay, whilst on there i got a double seat for the front and sold the captain seat that I replaced with the double ones. Gotta love ebay :cheers
First thing I did I get this 8 ball gear knob off ebay and fit a small steering wheel I had from my old VW golf.
Once the seats where out we ripped up the old rubber floor and got the back steam cleaned out. First was the insulation, I'd managed to pick a big roll off 9mm foam (like camping roll mat) which I first lined all the panels and roof with. I then used kingspan and expanding foam the fill out all the panels and doors.
During that job I also had some side windows fitted. the windows are a sore point as i wanted the original VW windows and I’d not even thought that they would put in the ones they did and by the time I’d got back and they where in it was a little to late, yes being back twice now due to them leaking so far so good at the moment, complained but they said they would take them out and give me a refund even though I argued they don't do there job coz they leak. It still hurts sometimes when I look at them now when I get some spare cash I’m gona get proper ones put in.
Next was to get the panels made and carpeted, got the carpet from Mike at CMC.
The dog had all the good ideas??
We found carpeting the metal in the van was well easy which was nice as we had learnt a major lesson in making templates when doing the panel, so to have a simple job was nice.
For the floor we laid it with the 9mm foam, and then 12mm ply wood which was screwed down then lyno'd.
Whist I boarded it up I also wired in the lights
We then moved on to building the L shaped bench seat which would run down the back of the bulk head and along the drivers side. We made the frame up first and then screwed on the laminate chipboard fronts from behind to leave the front clean. We decided to show off as well and put a curve in the bench at the side door A: the top is 9mm ply (I think) with a small lip for the bed panels to sit on.
I was gona but in a cupboard at the back but just decided to leave it open so i can stack boxes there. As the 6 x 9's where going in at the top we build in a small cupboard at the top. Got the leisure battery and bass box in as well as the amp and 6 x 9's.
Before I fitted the back bit of chip board i went back to see Mike at CMC and got some light gray carpet to do the roof with which matched the ceiling in the front cab which I’ve left standard.
Next was to build the side cupboard which would also have to hold the bed panels in and I had to think of a way to bridge the gap between the Bench and the cupboard so the bed would extend. After a morning off looking at that space, like as if it would just come to us……………it did.
Mint it works
We used a normal kitchen work top for the top of the unit, and I got the guys in the DIY store to cut out and fix in the piano hinge, so the top would flip up to access the stove. I then got some plastic for a splash guard from a local sign writing company, works a treat.