Mostly done!

Removed drawers under oven and fridge.
Exchanged for Tambour doors and a couple of plastic boxes.
Cleaner & lighter!

N/S kitchen unit finished

Cleaner than the drawers, no banging shins either 😂

Offside complete !

Was having problems with the drawers I'd fitted, runners were to weak. So tried heavier duty wasn't impressed.
So went for broke and got a couple of Tambour doors made up. O/S fitted and finished! And a fair amount of weight saved. As in the others we opted for some plastic boxes from B&Q as well!

New rear opener window N/S & blind pod

New rear window with opener

and window pod 

The dismantled kitchen unit

New window

Was a complete pain to fit!
When offered up you cant lay it flat on the panel because of window. So I checked as best could. Cut panel out tidied it the ran mastic around the two lips, the firm I got the window thru sent s different type of edging for the cut out, no rubber tube just a U shaped channel, not a problem till I came to fit it when the joined in the run of rubber are weak so will mishape easily.

When I fitted it I found the bottom right corner sat a little proud. Pushing it into place sent upper left out! Found a compromise and obviously it fitted well enough taped the upper left then pushed the bottom corner and taped it down and spent about 10 minutes holding it place.

It was only about 2mm proud. Anymore and I would have been on the phone! The offside "blank" fitted perfectly so I had no idea something would be wrong.

I was also working in a time boundary which didn't help!

There is a small leak in the top so if it ever stops raining! Have some sealant on order.

So the next hurdle! Because I've built the kitchen unit higher than normal ( back problems) I've had to dismantle some of it. Oven, hob unit, and worktop. 

I also need to re line around the window, something I hadn't realised! 

N/S rear window (opener)

The decision to add a rear window was a good idea, let's a lot of light into the back, along with being able to open it whilst cooking etc.
But the fitting was "fun" using the term loosely!
First problem offering up whilst panel still there, wasn't possible because of the sliding window set up.
So measured everything twice or thrice 😜
Second: kitchen unit higher than bottom of window, this was on purpose but meant I couldn't get in to drill bottom two starter holes. But retro fitting anything is fun anyway.

Bit of trail and error got me there though. Cleaned up the cut panel, filed edges and painted them.
I'd cut the inside panel smaller than needed so with the panel out it was easier to see what needed to be cut. Thus done I set about prepping the window and van panel. Cleaned first then used the supplied "wet wipes" on window and panel.
Added the trim supplied, different to what I've used before, it didn't have the rubber tube effect, just square section about half an inch across at top. Cheap shit basically where it was joined in manufacturing made for weak spots that split on first curve, fortunately I could cut it off with enough left to finish the job. Not particularly pretty but it won't be seen once the window pod is fitted!

Set up lengths of masking tape to hold window in position. And added the mastic around the panel, wasn't fun, the small piece of plastic that is used as a depth guide folded in seconds, so back to good old guess work!
Anyway, time to offer window, whilst pressing it into place I noticed the right bottom corner sat a bit proud, pushed it in bottom left lifted at front!
Secured it, as to late to remove, making sure all aligned. The offside black fitted perfectly, but there was no movement available inside to bring that corner out to meet the window!
It was only a few millimetres adrift so i managed to secure the front by taping opposite corner securely and then tape it down with only slight pressure. All gaps then ok. On the inside tho I could see a gap, so I had to get sealant into it as high and as long as I could.
Needless to say I'm still trying to remove the sealant from my fingers 🙄
Left all over night and removed the tape this morning, giving it a good inspection and a few wallops from inside it seems and feels solid!
He says with fingers crossed we'll see after first road test 😂

I can see nothing more as the panels on van are identical both sides and there was no way of pushing that corner out to reach glass even a few millimetres! So possible manufacturering issue whilst glass was hot it got a very slight bend or knock!

Puzzle number 2
How to cut away a few inches of ply behind the kitchen unit? Without taking the counter top and hob sink unit out ( hopefully)

We'll see!

Off side rear window

Decided to fit a window to the rear near side of the van, to give some light and fresh air into the van when cooking etc.
I have already fitted an off side rear blank window as, just tidies the side of the van!
Was easy to do no cutting involved!

Rear Spoiler

Decided to fit a window to the rear near side of the van, to give some light and fresh air into the van when cooking etc. 

I have already fitted an off side rear blank window as, just tidies the side of the v

12v supply rear of van

Wired in the double socket ( USB & 12v cigar lighter)
All powered up OK! So now have both at back of van on end unit.
Make life easier for checking rear tyre pressures and useful usb charger.

99% Finished!

All that's left to do is

Change over the drawer runners to the upgraded ball bearing ones X3

Seal around the edges between units and floor ( after a good clean of the floor!)

Measure up for a tailored carpet for winter use.

Make some cushions for the gap between rear seats an units. This gives another foot of leg room to the RIB seat length. Wife's just been volunteered 😇

Stick some anti slip matting in food cupboard.

Then get the DaffyDub wieghed to make sure all is well. I think it will be but just in case!

If not and I've got to lighten the load, well I've got the panel templates !!!!
And I know what I'm doing this time around!

Seats boxed in & Propex Outlet

Mostly finished the boxing in of the seats and run the Propex Heater outlet today.

The seatbelt panels I am going to remove and make two longer sides which will include the battery box and propex sides, then will only need the two short sides to finish the boxing in! It'll look neater !

Rear 12v Sockets

I have a couple of USB sockets built into the Solar Panel but now I've mostly built over it! I thought it would be easier to have a socket easily accessible at the back of the van.

Whilst searching good old eBay came across a double socket 2 X USB and a cigarette lighter socket.
I will wire it into the auxiliary 12v box behind the unit.

Benefits for me having it at the back I can use my 12v tyre inflator. I prefer to stick to my own inflator so that I always have the same pressure reading. The supplied power cord isn't long enough to reach back of the LWB !

Oh yes enter my Daffy Duck sticker!

The Vdub has been Christened the DaffyDub due to the front thermal screen having him on the front.

Remap of the van.

My T6 is just 102bhp but moving up to the 140bhp is silly money as you have to have other stuff which I wasn't bothered about plus it was over a grand more.
I ended up going with superchips Bluefin tech.

http://www.mybluefin.co.uk/s/faq-s

Instead of taking the vehicle in I get
To the gizmo that downloads the current mapping, I send that via my laptop to them, they send the new mapping back I download that to the gizmo. Plug it into my vehicle it uploads new remap.

Advantages are if it goes in for service and a mapping update is needed, if it reverts vehicle to original 102bhp! I let the company know upload info, download new remap!
Instead of going into a garage and paying again, most companies have limited warranty to cover.
If you ever change your vehicle you get a heavily discounted new map for your car.
The company has been around since the early 70's. So feel confident.

The difference?

As the furniture was added to the van obviously slowed down mainly a lot more gear changes. And reduction in fuel efficiency.

The remap is 170bhp. That's it, the company has spent many years sorting this and have concluded this is the best mix of power and fuel efficiency.

Only done about a hundred miles and still only have 7,200 miles on the clock. But so far, I'm happy with the acceleration. Less gear changes and oh yes stuffed it up a Audi A4 on the Mway when he tried to intimidate me whilst overtaking in the outside lane gave him a run for the money 😂😂
Mpg a bit better when flooring it in the 102bhp fuel consumption dropped to low 20's now mid 20's
and as said not run it yet!

Whole thing took more than 20 mins to do. £500 seems a lot but convenience is great and 6 months interest free this winter!

95% There!

Built the final cupboard for the offside.
We originally wanted a cover for the toilet with a seat on top. A smaller cupboard above, hiding the electrics and a space above for toiletries etc.
Ah novice mistakes!
Because of the rake of the hatch rear door sloping several inches to the top meant the cupboard above the loo box, meant the "seat" was a no go, no headroom either! Was a just going to be a seat so no big deal.
Cutting the end panel was a long careful process to get it right. But I got there in the end!

So decided on another Tambour door, expensive but very light wieght.
I had to cut about 40mm off one side to fit my unit. So used the same blade style taped the area to cut etc. But nearly had a costly mistake! Once cut and I was happy i stripped the masking tape away to find several chipped of pieces on the underside! Weather is cold so I'm guessing plastic just brittle.

Fortunately the guide rail hides the chips! Slight problem when opening as it sticks a little but I'll see over time. Just don't fancy shelling out another £70!
So all that is left to do is fit a shelf ( when the rain stops!) Box in the battery and propex heater, and finish the offside rear seat box!