Zero budget just get out there adventure van

[JamesReddish]

Happy New Year, all. New year's day saw us out and about in the van, found a lovely camping spot for later this year, had a nice walk in a familiar spot but on new routes followed by our first brew in the van of the year!


And then saw a vehicle I would love to own one day. Completely dwarfed the van in every way, first one I've seen in the wild after admiring them for years. A Daf T244.

 

[JamesReddish]

Finally the stars aligned to allow me to take the van out in the snow for adventures sake rather than the commute etc.

Performed very well in the worst snow we've had round here in the UK in quite a few years.

Overall very impressed with it, took us out and got us back safely, perfect!

 

[JamesReddish]

Unfortunately due to weather like the above my mini cycling tour was cancelled. However, with the booking already made the van got an opportunity to come out to play again, and decided to take the bike with me.



Pleased to report the michelin agilis cross climates doing their thing in a muddy carpark as well as snow, which is all they needed to do for me, I wont be doing any real 'off road' in this van.

 

[JamesReddish]

Around this time of year is normally when I pull the van off the road to try to make it better than it was last year.

Unfortunately ran out of time to clean under the cab floor and polish it, but I'll get those done soon enough.

Van was Waxoiled and this year I pulled the front inner arches to do behind those too.

Added a secondary seal around the door. Makes a big difference with the sound of closing the door, I'm yet to drive it any real distance.



And finally I got my hands on something that should finally allow me to sit on the roof once I find a nice enough way to attach it. I will also need to address a ladder situation.



Did a couple of rust repairs on the bodywork, my first time doing anything more than a paint pen on visible panels, very pleased with my results being the first time and having to be done outdoors. The van is certainly helping me learn new skills.

All of the wheels were painted and rotated front to back. Along with a quite few other little tinkering jobs to get it ready for the upcoming year.

Lets see where we can add to the list....

 

[JamesReddish]

New roof rack time -

Have been searching for one of these for around a year, but most sellers don't know what length the van they came off was or what rear door setup they had.

I finally found one for a long and tailgate, it was a long drive, but the correct rack and bargain price more than made up for that.

Previous standard 4 bar rack


Briefly rackless, definitely not for me on this van

New rack given a quick paint


And finally all fitted


Whilst not a custom built fancy rack it should be alot more useful for taking any camping/adventuring kit we wish to take.

 

[JamesReddish]

The van was filled to bursting with camping gear and our bikes ready for a week in Wales (another country for me and my partner to tick off our list, also the first time we've done cycling not just walking whilst camping)

The weather was fantastic, the huge empty beaches were stunning and the cleanest I've ever seen in the UK with some amazing history dotted around to see.

This was Pembry Country park, Wales for anyone from the UK.

 

[RVflyfish]

Vans and champagne...I like your style.

 

[JamesReddish]

I've been after a decent kitchen storage thing for a while, then whilst browsing for ideas stumbled on the below......
https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/kitchen-kit-chuck-box.21268/

So now I know I wanted a chuck box, I had a few requirements it had to meet -
-had to fit at the side of the toilet box
-be able to sit on it

Armed with some wood from the skip and a bunch of bits to make it function how I wanted I set to work.

1 draw to hold the 'make a brew' setup

1 draw to hold the 'make a bacon sandwich' setup

Made my own paracord handles for both

Same height and depth as the toilet box, with some easier to use cam straps than ratchet straps and some fairleads to stop the straps falling everywhere when trying to use them.

And space at the side to hold milk, and eventually maybe things like bottle/cup holders etc

The top lifts off to allow shallow items to be fitted underneath, or removed to hold taller things I don't want rattling round loose in the van.

Just need to add the cooking oil, coffee etc then it'll be good to go.

Really glad everything finally has a real home in the van, but still easily removable if actual van van is needed.

Also the van has rolled over 95k miles now so has had another oil change with fully synthetic Mobil 1 0w40.

 

[JamesReddish]

Chuck box worked a treat. Really basic but had everything we needed and performed better than I expected.


But most importantly, about 2.5 years after owning the van I am finally able to stand on the roof! Something I've been after ever since I bought it.

 

[Stryder]

Love this write up and journey. Please keep it coming!

 

[eg23]

Congrats on your adventures and memories made!!!
Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[JamesReddish]

Love this write up and journey. Please keep it coming!

Congrats on your adventures and memories made!!!
Thanks so much for sharing!

Thank you for the kind words, appreciate it.

 

[JamesReddish]

Well the van broke down on me, a diesel pipe came off the fuel filter. New hoses have been fitted, better clamps and a new filter too. Hopefully it's good to go again now. Damn scary experience!

Fortunately, I had the tools to limp it back. I've since added to the toolkit spare clamps, hoses and the tools to replace them (I've ordered the tools needed to completely replace the hoses should I ever need too) Which brings me onto my question - just how many tools and spares do you carry?

My theory is I have some generic tools (tape, hammer, screw drives and a knife etc) then things to get me out of reasonably foreseeable but hopefully don't happen scenarios such as a pump/tow rope/stuff to change a tyre etc. Then when things like this happen I add the appropriate tools to the kit. But how many is too many? I reasonably have the carrying capacity? But others I speak too think I'm mad.

 

[JamesReddish]

It's been a few weeks and some miles now and the fuel system seems to be all good. (Which is good because my normal daily driver has been a right job doing the brakes on it! Hopefully that's all sorted now to)
But time off meant another day out to somewhere new, another area I've been near but not took any notice of. Van performed perfectly on the single track roads to get us there, bacon sandwich and a coffee before we set out on a hike. Perfect. (Chuck boxes are now my favourite thing, really adds to the just get in and go theme of the van)



And a realistic photo of how the van spends the majority of its time. (Excuse the exposed toilet, we were trialling a bigger one so my regular cover box didn't fit, but its no comfier for the Mrs and bigger/more awkward in the van)

 

[JamesReddish]

More fixing required on the van, another knocking on the front end, diagnosed top mounts.

So struts off



New top mounts on the right old on the left



Removed more than required from the engine bay to assess the issue/repair



Good excuse to buy more tools though, so got an impact wrench, extensive impact socket set and some big spring compressors.
It did require some new drop links as one side refused to come off. I went with Febi Bilstein all round to try and do the best quality job I could. Now means the only front suspension part I've not replaced is the dampers, so I plan to do these next year.

It will probably hit 100k next year so I'm planning for quite an extensive preventative maintenance schedule, mainly, dampers all round (probably Bilstein B4's), auxiliary belt, fluids, filters etc. and some modifications such as a new drivers seat, refurbished steering wheel, additional lighting (driving lights, lights above the doors, in the back etc.) and maybe a simple leisure battery set up to power the non driving lights/charge phone etc. I'm researching how to do this/where to put things currently.

Big question on how to run wires through the roof if anyone can help? Pictures/product names would be great.

But most importantly it works and I can enjoy it.