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

[Markee]

Nice looks good! how was the application onto the bumper ? pretty straight forward? did you need to tape up anything?
Cheers

Cheers mate. Application is super easy using the supplied applicator sponge. I did tape up around the lights and where the bumper meets the body panels just for ease of use. You could do it without, if you were careful.

[Mtwem]

Epic - got any other photos? tossing up whether to apply to mine when i get some ATs on there - quite a faded grey now

[Markee]

Epic - got any other photos? tossing up whether to apply to mine when i get some ATs on there - quite a faded grey now

Here you go mate.

[maccada]

G'day Markee - this is a cracking thread. Appreciate the effort you've put in to continually documenting it.

I wonder if you could please give me a measurement to orientate where you located the second row seat to allow for the queen bed length (i.e. mm from a fixed point).

I'm having a techsafe triple bench installed and am keen to get it in the right spot to ensure I have at least a double bed length doesn'ta nd any more length I can get that doesn't compromise second row legroom too much.

Cheers

[Markee]

G'day Markee - this is a cracking thread. Appreciate the effort you've put in to continually documenting it.

I wonder if you could please give me a measurement to orientate where you located the second row seat to allow for the queen bed length (i.e. mm from a fixed point).

I'm having a techsafe triple bench installed and am keen to get it in the right spot to ensure I have at least a double bed length doesn'ta nd any more length I can get that doesn't compromise second row legroom too much.

Cheers

Hi Mate,

Cheers. The documenting was as much for me as it is for everyone else.

Measurement as requested:

From rear of front bench seat to middle of rear seat forward mount point - 560mm

[maccada]

Thanks Markee - installer has advised there isn't much wriggle room around fuel tank so install is behind 1st and 2nd cross rail under the floor where a 40mm-ish gap is between the floor and tank - also where the strength is, (double seam at floor and lip of chassis rail). Also noted when folded there that the seat tucks up tight against the front seats.

Seems logical to me.

[Carlmaxx]

Update 23/10/20

Next up was install upgraded Raised KVRR-18HD King Springs in the rear to compensate for added weight of the sound deadening and refit of the cabinetry.

I basically regained what I lost in height by adding the extra weight with the HD springs fitted, which is nice and will go well with the new 265/65R17 tyres I am getting fitted next week.

Actual lift is in the 35-40mm range on the rear with out any weight in the van. Loaded it is 15-20mm as my van now weighs it at nearly 2900kgs. The van now takes off with little to no squat in the rear and obviously rides higher too.
Visually, with the new bigger tyres, I think it's going to dramatically change the look of the van, which I can't wait.

Cracking job on the Van mate! Seriously. Did you get the 265/65/R17 tyres on? Did they fit or rub?

Jealous of the tyre lift you can get away with there. In Palachook country we are only rated to 50mm lift total by either tyres or suspension or a combination but tyres themselves can only go 50mm larger diameter so I'm close at 245/65/R17 (750mm Diameter) but doable or may go 225/70/R17 (746mm Dia) depending on if they rub.

Off road for us is going to be mainly on sand and those 265/65/R17 would make the van travel over sand like a hovercraft. I'm thinking of going max out on tyre size and then air suspension which would stay low when on road (80% of time) to preserve the shafts and then go up when off road.

Cheers

[Markee]

Cracking job on the Van mate! Seriously. Did you get the 265/65/R17 tyres on? Did they fit or rub?

Jealous of the tyre lift you can get away with there. In Palachook country we are only rated to 50mm lift total by either tyres or suspension or a combination but tyres themselves can only go 50mm larger diameter so I'm close at 245/65/R17 (750mm Diameter) but doable or may go 225/70/R17 (746mm Dia) depending on if they rub.

Off road for us is going to be mainly on sand and those 265/65/R17 would make the van travel over sand like a hovercraft. I'm thinking of going max out on tyre size and then air suspension which would stay low when on road (80% of time) to preserve the shafts and then go up when off road.

Cheers

Thanks Carl and sorry for the late reply. Yes I did get the big tyres on and yes they rub, had to do a fair bit of 'clearance work' to make them fit. See below for an update.

[Markee]

Update time.

Recently I've fitted a few more items, replacing ones I had originally and some new.
1st up is a new UHF aerial bracket I fabbed up so I can get rid of the fold over bracket. Nice and simple and takes up less room on the roof rack.

Next up was the bigger 265/65r17 Toyo Open Country A/T II tyres.
These things are huge and took a lot of work to make them fit, in hindsight I am going to go to a thinner version that retains the same overall rolling diameter/height, they will be 245/70r17. I will head down this path once I have my real tailgate wheel mount from Uberbus in the UK so I can then buy 5 new tyres and rims. The current rims and tyres will go on marketplace hoping for an Amarok buyer to snap them up. Here's some photos with the 25mm springs spacers that I also fitted front and rear

When fitting the spring spacers I took some angle measurements of the rear drive shafts before and after to see the increase 25mm spacer made, it made them overall 5 degrees steeper, I've got the 10mm diff lowering kit coming with the wheel carrier so will measure again post install of the spacers.

While under the car fitting the spacers I also changed out the Haldex oil and filter and cleaned the Haldex pump gauze filter too.

Next up on the mod list is a set of under body protection plates made locally here in Melbourne by a company called Boo's Bash Plates. They already had the template for the front engine sump plate but I also want one for the fuel tank.
My van has now been templated and they're making one up. Very similar to the Seikel versions but massively cheaper. Available in both 4mm steel or 6mm Aluminium. I'm going with 6mm aluminium because of the weight saving as I am getting quite close to my GVM of 3000kgs. With the new spare wheel carrier and underbody protection (plus tools and gear for work) I reckon I'm going to be very close.

Also in the last few months I had a starting issue where I would turn the key, the starter motor would spin but the engine would not come to life. I researched a bit and couldn't find much about it and was heading down the path of a new ignition switch but, I then had the cam timing belt changed at 200,000kms by the guys at Baytech Auto in Cheltenham and the problem has since disappeared. My guess is the cam belt had stretched and the crank angle sensor would see the crank spinning on the starter motor but the the cam timing was out by the stretched cam belt and the cam angle sensor was picking up the cam in the right place causing it not to start.
Baytech also sorted my speedo out as it was way over, 12% which was madness at 100kph cos I was doing 112kph!

Till next time. Cheers Markee.

PS. All you Victorian Transporter and Caddy owners come join us at our next Melbourne meet up (TBA) join our FB group here VW Transporter & Caddy Club Australia

[scotinoz]

Hey mate, to centre bore mount these wheels I assume requires an adaptor ring?

New wheels fitted yesterday along with the King Springs last week and we're up high and moving! Ride is incredibly good, it has probably even gotten better than the original ride to be honest.

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.
Total lift is 50mm front and 80mm rear averaged out over both ends from stock.

[Markee]

Hey mate, to centre bore mount these wheels I assume requires an adaptor ring?

Hey mate, no these wheels do not need an adapter ring. The centre bore is the right size for the hub.

[Markee]

Update Time.

So a few things have changed but not to the van so much. I scored a new full time job at Victorian Ski Resort Falls Creek so we packed up our lives in the city and moved 4 hours north to the country.
Prior to going I was able to finally finish off my bed platform for the rear, fits a single easily with my work gear in there but once it's removed a queen mattress fits perfectly. Totally removeable and just lives in the garage when I'm not using it.

For the first month I was there alone and stayed on mountain in staff accom and I was actually able to get out for a drive out to Pretty Valley Lake and Mt McKay the day before the road was closed for the snow season.





On arriving though I faced a small problem with my 265/65 tyres and snow chains, they didn't fit with these massive tyres and I need to carry/use them if I want to drive into the resort!
So ordered a new set of 255/65r17 Toyo Open Country AT2's and 5 new King D Hole 17x8 ET30 rims, headed back to Melbs to have them fitted up and they are great. Fit perfect with no rubbing, because I made room for the bigger 265's and chains now fit and I can drive with them on if needed. I also now have a full size spare up on the roof. Something I've wanted for a while and now I'm in an environment where I can actually take it offroad it couldn't have been better timing for it.

Also got out for a sneaky fire road run locally too. More of this over the coming months for sure.

Latest small upgrade was captains chair armrests. Picked them up used on Facebook marketplace and then ordered the mount brackets from Kernow Transporters in the UK. They finally turned up and of course didn't fit.
That wasn't going to stop me so in true Markee fashion, I made them fit! Not sure why I didn't get them sooner to be honest.


Patch collection is also coming along nicely with a few more in the mail as I type this.
In other news, the move north didn't coincide well with the under body protection procurement and install, so I never got it. Something I feel I'll definitely need when hitting the tracks up here in the High Country. Will be following it up in the coming months, same goes with the rear wheel tailgate carrier from the UK, Covid ruined that idea quick fast.
The view from our lounge at the new place in Tawonga South goes alright too.

Cheers Markee Mark

[Mtwem]

Mate what a move, couldn't time better with all the COVID stuff going down eh? Out of the city and into the fresh air.

Interested on hearing more about your new wheel/tyre fit, would you be able to DM me (or post here if you prefer) the cost all up for them? About to get a 4mo and want to get similar sized. Did you mean that you already have them set up to fit by having that extra lift? Wondering if they'll fit on standard suspen.

[Markee]

Mate what a move, couldn't time better with all the COVID stuff going down eh? Out of the city and into the fresh air.

Interested on hearing more about your new wheel/tyre fit, would you be able to DM me (or post here if you prefer) the cost all up for them? About to get a 4mo and want to get similar sized. Did you mean that you already have them set up to fit by having that extra lift? Wondering if they'll fit on standard suspen.

Yeah timing was pretty good although lockdowns have affected us massively as well. Fresh mountain air is just a mad crazy bonus extra.

Price for the 5 wheels/tyres/nuts/caps and fitting was just under $2k but I also get a great deal as it’s a friends tyre shop.

I don’t think 255 would fit on standard suspension to be honest. I think the widest on a +ET30 rim would be 245 and even they would probably rub on the inner guard at full lock.

The 255 fit on my van because 1. Yes I have extra lift over just raised springs but also 2. I made extra room prior when I fitted the 265’s by modifying the inner guards as well.

For standard 4Mo suspension, unraised, I think 235/65r17 All Terrain tyres work on the standard wheel with a +ET55 rim.

+ET30 rims definitely make it easier to fit a wider tyre, that’s for sure.

[Mtwem]

Awesome thanks for the detailed response Mark.

I'll have to suss out some options when it arrives on those sizes and see how it works.

Cheers,