And so it starts.....my new T5 LWB Motion

[Pricey88]

Nice build thread Markee.

Electrical is very tidy, yes definitely can tell you're a sparky.

Re: Suspension/Wheels setup summarising your specs:
Tyres: 245/65 17 Toyo Open Country A/T II Light Truck version with a 117 load rating
Rims: Dynamic Wheel Company Sunraysia 17x7.5in ET30 5x120 in black, load rated to 1200kgs so perfect for me, centre bore mounted for the perfect fit.
Springs: Raised King Springs
Shocks: ?

Re: Ride quality. I'm looking at Seikel Desert suspension but the reviews I've seen sound like its a pretty stiff ride (they say potholes are death with the Seikel Desert).

I'll be 80% onroad/20% offroad. I want something not too racy or stiff, but still confident at speed. Can you tell a little more about the ride? Is it still pretty "commercial van-like", or does it feel more like a regular modern car, or is it more towards Toyko drift stiffness levels?

[Markee]

Nice build thread Markee.

Electrical is very tidy, yes definitely can tell you're a sparky.

Re: Suspension/Wheels setup summarising your specs:
Tyres: 245/65 17 Toyo Open Country A/T II Light Truck version with a 117 load rating
Rims: Dynamic Wheel Company Sunraysia 17x7.5in ET30 5x120 in black, load rated to 1200kgs so perfect for me, centre bore mounted for the perfect fit.
Springs: Raised King Springs
Shocks: ?

Re: Ride quality. I'm looking at Seikel Desert suspension but the reviews I've seen sound like its a pretty stiff ride (they say potholes are death with the Seikel Desert).

I'll be 80% onroad/20% offroad. I want something not too racy or stiff, but still confident at speed. Can you tell a little more about the ride? Is it still pretty "commercial van-like", or does it feel more like a regular modern car, or is it more towards Toyko drift stiffness levels?

Cheers mate.

Shocks are are currently standard but are due for an update shortly.

As for ride quality, I come from a 20 year back ground of lowered cars aka ‘Tokyo drift spec levels’ so the van as it sits now is like a limo!
I have the Standard Raised King Springs in the rear but I also carry a fair amount of stock and tools around for work so they’re the perfect fit.
At 40psi tyre pressure the ride is very car like and I drop down to 25psi when off road, sometimes lower.
It still does handle extremely well compared to a lowered sports car and I’m certainly never worried about grip levels, over or under steer.
Hope this provides some answers.

[Transporter]

Re: Ride quality. I'm looking at Seikel Desert suspension but the reviews I've seen sound like its a pretty stiff ride (they say potholes are death with the Seikel Desert).

I'll be 80% onroad/20% offroad. I want something not too racy or stiff, but still confident at speed.

I’ve had MY05 4motion for 11 years. I can’t comment on 65 profile tyres only on std size 235/55/17. I’ve had set of tyres which were LT construction they were Goodyear Cargo, only bought them because someone in the forum said they lasted long time. They’re stiff like hell, very noisy and the ride was really bad. The comment about the Seikel is probably valid if you use their supplied tyres as well.

The bottom line if you drive on the road 80% of time, I would recommend the LT tyres. You won’t be able to fix the harshness even if you significantly deflate them. I couldn’t wait to take the GY Cargo tyres off and at the end they didn’t have much longer life than Hankook RA23.

[Pricey88]

Shocks are are currently standard but are due for an update shortly.

As for ride quality, I come from a 20 year back ground of lowered cars aka ‘Tokyo drift spec levels’ so the van as it sits now is like a limo!

Yeah thats perfect, thanks. Any thoughts re: shocks, or will you just get your mate to sus something for you when the time comes? Curious to know what you're looking at.

The comment about the Seikel is probably valid if you use their supplied tyres as well.

Thanks, yeah I can imagine. Considering the Continental CrossContact AT (LT version) or the Cooper Discoverer AT3 (LT Version). Aiming to run a higher aspect. I'm guessing their still quite stiff with so many ply, hopefully not!

[Markee]

W

Yeah thats perfect, thanks. Any thoughts re: shocks, or will you just get your mate to sus something for you when the time comes? Curious to know what you're looking at.

Probably Monroe to match springs but would also go with whatever my mate can get or recommend as well, I’ll do the install myself too.

[Markee]

Another update for you all.

I finally got away on our first short stay camping trip using the new awning and a few other recently purchased goodies - 200W solar blanket, fire pit, LED light strip, screen cover and front bunk for our daughter. Photos below.

[Transporter]

Great pictures. It’s good to see some are using their van to its potential.

[Markee]

Great pictures. It’s good to see some are using their van to its potential.

Thanks mate. The hardest part is managing it as a dual purpose vehicle. I’d love to have the cash to buy another for work and convert this to a full camper to have for the ‘weekends’

[formatview321]

Hey mate, nice pics. Glad to see you are getting the most out of the van. Your info on the light bar really helped me get mine in. I just went with a 20" slimline bar from kings. Their wiring harness was piss easy to put in.

[VWTDI]

Hi mate, no I only swapped out the springs. No need to change the shocks as they weren't leaking and still relatively new.

Do you have the part no for the springs you installed?

[VWTDI]

Front runner also do a nice rack. This was about 2k but the mounts are made for the exact car.

Cheers mate.

Pioneer Platform was around the $1600 fitted mark. (I bought a bunch of other stuff on the same invoice and can’t remember the exact price) I have the biggest one they offer 2728x1465 with the lowest legs so as to keep the overall height under 2.1m
I have also thought of roof top beers and want a ladder for my tailgate though, will see how that pans out. Hehe

[BMSSS]

Looks good man, did you look into any of the issues with power etc in this thread and figure it all out? Im good with wiring etc just not great at the maths behind it all.

I'm thinking of getting this exact bar, but don't ant to melt anything hahaha.

Hey mate, nice pics. Glad to see you are getting the most out of the van. Your info on the light bar really helped me get mine in. I just went with a 20" slimline bar from kings. Their wiring harness was piss easy to put in.[ATTACH=CONFIG]47293[/ATTACH]

[Markee]

Probably Monroe to match springs but would also go with whatever my mate can get or recommend as well, I’ll do the install myself too.

Update on this, have gone with a set of Sachs rear shocks on recommendation from my friend whom I bought the springs off.

Hey mate, nice pics. Glad to see you are getting the most out of the van. Your info on the light bar really helped me get mine in. I just went with a 20" slimline bar from kings. Their wiring harness was piss easy to put in.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]47293[/ATTACH]

Awesome work mate glad I could help.

Do you have the part no for the springs you installed?

Kings springs - Raised Coil
Fr KVFR-19
Rr KVRR-18
My rear springs are the raised standard option as I carry about 200kg worth of gear/tools around everyday.
Hope this helps?

Front runner also do a nice rack. This was about 2k but the mounts are made for the exact car.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]47294[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]47295[/ATTACH]

Nice one mate. Looks great.

[Markee]

So I installed new rear shocks last Friday because I had a feeling the old ones were shot, turns out I was right.
New shock on the right, old ones down the bottom after me compressing them down and they didn't return haha

New shock part number Sachs 313031

[Markee]

And then we headed away camping again for the weekend.


And then straight back into work mode today!


Man I LOVE my Van