Catch-up pt I

So the truth of the matter is that I have actually owned this van for nearly 2 months but only just decided that I should be charting the transition - other than just taking the pics and tweeting my progress (sometimes lack of!)

Firstly, the build is by no stretch of the imagination a pro job.  I consider myself a pretty logical, handy person but by no means a pro.

Secondly, this is not a build funded by a treasure trove of riches.  its a self build wherever possible.

In my world, most things of this nature start with a list.  This was no different, so I started a list.  In the words of Ron Burgundy "That escalated quickly, I mean that got outta hand really fast."
Windows, music, bumper colour coding, alloys, lowering springs, a bed, storage, bike rack, phone charging, power, coolbox, cooler interior lighting, insulation, carpeting...   so far as to say, I am still adding stuff on an almost daily basis.  I was warned!!

I decided first job was something that would start to make the van look "right".

#1 - Tinted rear windows.
In T5 world it seems almost obligatory to darken the rear windows on a Kombi.  My motivation for doing this was to add a little more security for when the bikes are in the back.  I chose limo tint film as a temporary measure.  The intention is actually for sliding windows but available funds are needed for other van things and the list is too long.  Ordinarily, re-doing something would irritate the hell out of me but in this case, I'll simply have to come back to this in the interest of moving things along.

#2 - Tunes
Love my music, especially when I'm driving.  The van came with a real retro unit, one of those face off Kenwood jobbies.  No good to me in the new world of streamed music and iPodness.  So new head unit purchased after reading some fascinating threads on the T5 forum about all in one units that run Android - jeez they seem to do everything.

Following a surprising moment of discovering all the manuals and clips for removing the old unit stashed under the passenger seat...
... out with the old...

( I actually also found 2 of the original VW head units - probably the entire audio history for the van).

...  in with the new

#3 - Rear vision.
Parking the van is considerable harder than the Audi ever was.  Well it would be, its bigger, longer, wider and has no back window.  I needed a reversing camera.

I chose to run a cable full length of the van after seeing some reviews that the wireless option isn't really that reliable.  Cue removing interior panels, finding a wire coat hanger to fish the cable and some very sore fingers.
Note: the factory clips for the interior panels are a sod to get out.  The best tip I read for these was to jam a T20 torx screwdriver into the middle bit, turn a couple of times then push to one side so that you can get the panel lever behind it.  It works but still not the easiest job.  Also, don't underestimate how long this job can take - there's bloody loads of them.

Now I can see what's going on at the back and reversing is no longer a "you're OK, you're OK, go on" type event.  Fiddly job but still find it so useful every time I put the van into reverse.  Well worth the effort.