[mattwilde66]

If anyone is looking at buying the JK thermo mats then here's a slight word of caution but with a happy ending (so far). I bought some at the start of the year but they came with a tiny rip. I couldn't be bothered sending them back with just one small flaw. Since then the main windscreen cover had begun to disintegrate! Thankfully after I emailed them the photos they sent me a whole new set! That's good service.

 

[mattwilde66]

Just ordered a new battery monitor to see satisfy my curiosity of how much the leisure battery system performs when we are out and about. Its the NASA BM1 Compact http://www.nasamarine.com/proddetail.php?prod=BM1Compact&cat=23. I'll bung some shots up when I get it fitted

 

[mattwilde66]

Back home now and the weather was nice and crisp so it was time to get outside and fit the NASA BM-1 battery meter. I bolted the shunt unit through the seat base where I've got most of the leisure electric fitted. The kit came with a negative cable a few inches long which was handy and then ties to the existing negative point at the seat base.

I moved the isolator switch whilst I was at it. Thats next to the 240v sockets now. Much tidier. I also found the main positive from the batter to the fuse block was a loose with the nut almost coming off I: oops

Anyhoo, the cable went behind the board with the heater controller cable. Bunged another hole in the board (it'll have to move if I ever get around to put another side window in.

Now its all up and running and I don't have to use one of those daft cigarette volt meters to find out how much juice I've got. I could have done it a lot cheaper with a zig unit but they look . This looks way better :ILU:

 

[coolguy]

Nice van mate. Pics from Norway look amazing.

 

[mattwilde66]

Nice van mate. Pics from Norway look amazing.

T: Cheers. Can't wait to go back. There's so much more to see

 

[mattwilde66]

I forgot I'd bought one of the Caravans barn-door awnings before we went to Norway. The first one they sent was missing some buckles and had some rips in it but they were great on the phone and sent another one. Sadly too late before we went away. I'm not sure it's worth the money but it will come in handy i'm sure. The fabric is pretty sturdy so it should keep the rain out. I just need to make something to attach the bungy cords.

 

[mattwilde66]

I had a little buying spree with Van-X. I bought some cabin divider curtains to go just behind the front seats. This is so I don't have to keep on digging out the thermal mats which I won't always have to use. I also bought a new set of wind deflectors. I had decent ones fitted already but they went inside the window recess and kept on forcing the electric windows back down which was a major pain in the bum! They would be perfect for windy windows but not good for electric.

 

[Boomer6009]

morning,

i look forward to seeing you updates, this is due to you actually using the van for what i would love to use it for one day, not quite the same extent as you with going to norway etc as i have a small family and a bump on the way. also all the mod's you do are practical for the usew you want and not just follow the trends (which i have to admit i do a little).

keep up the good work look forward to the next update T:

Boomer.

 

[mattwilde66]

Cheers that lad T:

I try not to follow what everyone else has done (I learnt the hard way buying a kangoo 4x4 many years ago :*) I'm keeping it simple and nothing flash. Function over form.

Good luck with your bump by the way. Campers are great for kids growing up. I went all over Europe when I was little in a bay-window devon moonraker. Granted, we spent most of the time broken down but I wouldn't change it for the world.

The next big job will be getting a new bed. The current one is not very good at all. I'd rather sleep in on the floor it that bad! I've been looking at the RIB bed from Kiravans but they aint cheap

 

[mattwilde66]

Just had an email back from Kiravans saying they don't recomend the T5 bed being fitted to the T4 as the crash test cert is only for the T5.

 

[Boomer6009]

thank you mate,

yeah i like the function over form. i guessing that you are learning what you want from living in you van on your trips, which i am a long way off but im sure i will get there, keep up the good work.

Boomer

 

[mattwilde66]

There was a whiff of fuel coming from somewhere today when I parked up after a hard day lugging stuff back from Sunderland. Found smoke / vapour coming from the flexible pipes next to the injectors. I wasn't sure what they were but my mate and someone else on the forum (T: Cheers) confirmed they are just the fuel return / breather pipes. One looks perished so its a trip down to good old Oak Road Motor Factors of Redcar for some bit

 

[mattwilde66]

Anayway, popped down to Oak Road Motor factors and got a meter of fuel hose for just under a fiver T: I tried to get the hose back on in situe but there was no chance of getting it on with the tiny space down below. The nose had to come out. Thanks to this thread showing me how to get the nose off the van:

Angel eyes headlights- how to

I quickly made this tool to get the outer clips off:

Just 5 screws and two bolts and hey presto T:

Lifting the radiator up gave me just enough space to get my hands in and the hose back on

Hopefully no more leaks this year I:

 

[mattwilde66]

Its been a year since I picked him up. Its been a very good year indeed. :ILU:

Right, my turn to give this a shot. I've been loving looking at the rest of the builds on here so I thought I'd try and document a little of mine for posterity.

I'm Matt by the way and I've been after a T4 for many many many years. I foolishly bought a Renault Kangoo trekka once which was a very bad idea (Beer & eBay do not mix at all). Anyway, my best mate found this little peach on eBay when I was in Norway for crimbo. Simon (top lad) from scarborough was selling and when I eventually got back home i went straight down to Scarborough and basically it was love at first sight.

I'll try and document all the little bits I do along the way. My aim this year is to take Syd up to Norway to my Girlfriends parent in Beiarn and then back again the scenic way. This site is already a font of the best information around so I thank you all in advance the help

This was me on new years eve when I finally handed over the cash and then half an hour later I had to get the train back to work offshore

The van I a peach so theres no major work involved (which is nice) A:

 

[mattwilde66]

Finally found the new bed I was after. I'd been looking at the RIB altair and Bedrock by vamoose for ages but they were just too much money. My mate found me this one on eBay from ukpoptops just up the road in Washington. Its got a pull test cert which is handy but the main reason I like this is the storage behind the seat when its folded up. I didn't like my old bed being hard up against the back door. Anyhoo here's how it looks now. We get to fit it when I get back home next month. The old bed is out so that'll be going up for sale pretty soon.

 

[mattwilde66]

Just given that Diesel Rhino fuel additive. See if it does any good. 150ml for the 50 litres of pop.

 

[mattwilde66]

Today I tried to get stuck somewhere cold and remote. I did! I:

 

[mattwilde66]

More picking about before all the snow melts

 

[mattwilde66]

The nose came off again. This time the bumper to give the heat gun treatment. Its worked a treat so far but the sun went down before I can show the after effects. T:

 

[mattwilde66]

The drivers seat armrest gave way too the other day. I amazing how much you miss it when its gone. I've pinched the passenger one for now and ordered a couple to the repair brackets off flea-bay for £3.99. Proper bargain T: