General Modifications

[soulstyledevon]

Haha exactly and £150,000??? Unless I heard wrong!

That’s what I heard...
Makes the California look pretty cheap in comparison

 

[B J G]

Having found this section and read most of it, thanks @bvddobb, it seems like a great place to share some thoughts I have for future modifications, as well as look for others experience. To start of with, I am not looking to replace a full on (insert your 4x4 brand here) but rather take a vehcile already well suited to long distance leisure travel and add a few enhancements that will either improve comfort, convenience or safety, without drastically affecting the usability of the Cali.

suspension

probably starting with the most expensive area, I am thinking about VB air suspension. The idea of improved ground clearance does seem attractive but the reality is that an increase in suspension lift with springs is going to do little to improve ground clearance in terms of departure and break over angle. What is more valuable in my opinion is suspension travel and therefore being able to keep wheels on the ground and keep traction. Raised suspension also allows options for more tyre choice in terms of size, which also increase ground clearance so a lift becomes interesting, until I want to get into A car park or under a road toll.

my thinking is that air suspension keeps me standard until I need to go up, or down, but has the advantage of levelling out the van for camping. I know I could carry levelling ramps but, this is a multi part solution. Advantage of VB is that it does not compromise the factory warranty. Downsides are that the more remove I go, the greater the chance of a problem, so it would be good to understand if VB users have had issues. I have had various JLR cars in Middle East all have leaks from the air suspension.

wheels and tyres

quick and relatively cheap in terms of gains per $ are new tyres. I love the look of BFG AT but long experience tells me that these tyres suck power, but also need a lot of grunt to get the most out of them. Having gone for a 150 engine for longevity and “simplicity”, I want to keep things simple. I am also not a fan of oversized tyres as again, this bleeds power quickly. I would therefore be looking at getting a robust AT tyre with the least aggressive tread as a compromise, after all, no matter where I go, trips will generally be 80% or greater on tarmac. My preference would be smallest steel wheels possible, get the biggest tyre sidewall and steel can be hammered back into shape if damaged. I believe it is 17”.

I would also look to have an option to carry a second spare, probably mounted when needed on a modified rear carrier, as well as keeping one underneath the van. The reality is the most accessible spare becomes the first spare, and whilst it takes a chunk of trip payload, anything mountainous having the second spare is probably worth it.

recovery equipment

in my experience winches are great for recovering other people and I have rarely used my winch to recover me. It is also a weight concern for 99% of the time, so I need to think hard and consider the knock on implications.

Having somewhere to be winched on is important too. At the rear I have the factory tow bar which is acceptable in a straight pull backwards without shock ie not in a snatch recovery but a tow. At the front I have seen reinforced recovery eyes made by a German company that are popular in Australia.

I already have a collection of straps, shackles and various other bridles which are compact, easy to store and can live in the van without taking up too much space.

I will look at alternatives to the standard jack, either carry a jacking board which can give stability on loose surfaces or a trolley jack but weight is again a concern. I always carry a cordless rattle gun with correct size socket and I will mount an air compressor, probably an ARB single under the bonnet. One area to research is to see if it’s possible to tap into the VB air compressor.

tyre repair kits are great to carry, even for repairing sidewall punctures in an emergency and take up no space.

safety

minimum legal requirements in most of Europe do cover this, fire extinguisher, safety vests, first aid kit, warning triangle, but I would add safety glasses, work gloves, degreaser/cleaners for hands, and a mat to lay on. Typically a set of gear that is always stowed in the van anyway.

storage and extra luggage

I do get a bit OCD on storing things in the right place, but for me part of the fun is knowing where everything is and not having to rummage or worry about forgetting things. I also don’t want to worry about stuff flying around so aim is to make as much use of existing space. Problem with a van is that by the nature of it, there is not much that isn’t open (in a beach of course). will need to investigaPte what can go into the jack storage compartment, the space under the bonnet and see if there are any other easy to access but out of the way spaces. Maybe do something custom with the storage under the bench. Fridge will be mounted on the floor rails under the pull out cooker. I am considering a rear rack to carry spare wheel as mentioned and could also then include a box for breakdown kit so everything can be accessed outside of the van to prevent unpacking ( in the dark and rain as that’s when things invariably go wrong).

my intention is to come back to this thread with various products and solutions as each one gets locked in place and to attract input from others that have their own tips and tricks as well as those more expert than me in how to modify, remove or otherwise fix panels etc.

VB suspension has a speed restriction on both raised and lowered positions. They do or did do a raised version which would have similar action to raised springs.
VB mount the compressor etc under the LH seat floor area. not sure if they still can on a new T6.1 with the 27ltr Adblue tank. it also may be a problem when 'wading' due to water possibly getting drawn into the compressor.

With the current trend to the Swamper style there are a few other air suspension options. available.
Seikel appear to be THE place to go for a quality and reliable upgrade.

I did have VB air and found that it is low air capacity system which takes time to raise. Now have a VIAIR compressor based system that takes seconds.

Good luck.

 

[subthree]

That’s what I heard...
Makes the California look pretty cheap in comparison

I'll crack on and buy that cheap £82k Cali

 

[B J G]

For versatility and practicality on a long trip through variable terrain I would be considering a T32 4Motion Kombi base.

Reasoning, T32 load capability with long distance extras, Barn door rear with no windows to permit rear mounting of spare wheel(s) and fuel, Adblue or water carrier. No rear quarter windows to again permit exterior racks or just reduce glass.
Interior can be customised to individual requirements.
Finished cost could be close to starting price of a Cali.

 

[Calimili]

For versatility and practicality on a long trip through variable terrain I would be considering a T32 4Motion Kombi base.

Reasoning, T32 load capability with long distance extras, Barn door rear with no windows to permit rear mounting of spare wheel(s) and fuel, Adblue or water carrier. No rear quarter windows to again permit exterior racks or just reduce glass.
Interior can be customised to individual requirements.
Finished cost could be close to starting price of a Cali.

No elevating roof, with possibility to carry a lot on a dedicated rack. As an alternative ,with a roof tent like the Maggiolina

 

[Tarquers]

No elevating roof, with possibility to carry a lot on a dedicated rack. As an alternative ,with a roof tent like the Maggiolina

Thanks @Calimili and @B J G but firstly vehicle bought and secondly it has to do a lot of other functions where the tailgate is useful. One of the pluses is camping chair stowage.

I am not a fan of roof tents, had both a clamshell Maggiolina and folding ones and neither style impressed, plus don’t want the extra weight in the roof. As with anything lots of options.

 

[marchugo]

For the price of two Calis you have better options. As they say in Australia: Yes, you can get to the outback with a Landy, but only can return from there with a Toyota Landcruiser.

2021 EarthCruiser Extreme XTR250 – New Land Cruiser Camper Built for Off-Road Adventure

By Steve & Tamami Laser EarthCruiser Australia, the aftermarket company that makes expedition-style all-terrain campers, has introduced the new Extreme XTR250. Based on the current Australian-m…

www.carnichiwa.com

240.000 Australian dollars. A 195×138 cm sleeping area for two people, 12V BBQ set, about 400 Amps Lithium battery. Based on the 36-year old Toyota Land Cruiser 70 model. Seems to fit in a parking garage.

Reagards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

 

[Tarquers]

Happy to stay with my beach!

 

[Velma's Dad]

For the price of two Calis you have better options. As they say in Australia: Yes, you can get to the outback with a Landy, but only can return from there with a Toyota Landcruiser.

2021 EarthCruiser Extreme XTR250 – New Land Cruiser Camper Built for Off-Road Adventure

By Steve & Tamami Laser EarthCruiser Australia, the aftermarket company that makes expedition-style all-terrain campers, has introduced the new Extreme XTR250. Based on the current Australian-m…

www.carnichiwa.com

240.000 Australian dollars. A 195×138 cm sleeping area for two people, 12V BBQ set, about 400 Amps Lithium battery. Based on the 36-year old Toyota Land Cruiser 70 model. Seems to fit in a parking garage.

Reagards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

Nice but does it have ARC? (Adaptive Roos Control)

Seriously though, I want one.

 

[bvddobb]

Take a look at Michelin Crossclimate Agilis. I've found that their aggressive tread pattern gets close to BFG AT performance without losing dry weather performance and economy.

We have heard that Michelin will stop the production of their Latitude Cross ATs and indicate the Crossclimate Agilis as their alternative. Pity, we liked the Latitude Cross.

 

[Tarquers]

We have heard that Michelin will stop the production of their Latitude Cross ATs and indicate the Crossclimate Agilis as their alternative. Pity, we liked the Latitude Cross.

I found a great summary of overland modifications with links that you posted and can’t find it again. Had a number of links, do you think you could help point me to it?

 

[westfalia]

Here's some bedtime researching for you.

Startseite

Sie suchen ein hochwertiges, geländegängiges Reisefahrzeug für höchste Ansprüche? Entdecken Sie unsere Basisfahrzeuge, Ausbaumodelle und Dachvarianten.

terracamper.de

 

[bvddobb]

I found a great summary of overland modifications with links that you posted and can’t find it again. Had a number of links, do you think you could help point me to it?

Don't know @Tarquers , is this perhaps the topic you mean? It's in this same Off Road section.

 

[bvddobb]

Although T5s and T6s have never been sold in the US or Canada, T6s are manufactured in Mexico, so i think a Pan American Highway Argentina to Alaska is doable.

It is doable and others have done it. We have been dreaming about taking our Cali across.

But it is a huge hazard that it has never been sold there, there are no dealerships with knowledge, experience, spare parts, etc.
We know of people who have had a lengthy conversation with their dealer here before going, and then together they came up with a set of spare parts they took with them over there under consignation, and when indeed they had to have a repair, they found an Audi-dealer in the US (they have those - at least they had a lot of the necessary tools of the right dimensions), and then their dutch dealer talked the US mechanics through the repair on the phone (nowadays perhaps Zoom or something). But in Peru? Colombia? Nicaragua? Don't know...

 

[Tarquers]

Don't know @Tarquers , is this perhaps the topic you mean? It's in this same Off Road section.

That’s the one thanks.

 

[Tarquers]

It is doable and others have done it. We have been dreaming about taking our Cali across.

But it is a huge hazard that it has never been sold there, there are no dealerships with knowledge, experience, spare parts, etc.
We know of people who have had a lengthy conversation with their dealer here before going, and then together they came up with a set of spare parts they took with them over there under consignation, and when indeed they had to have a repair, they found an Audi-dealer in the US (they have those - at least they had a lot of the necessary tools of the right dimensions), and then their dutch dealer talked the US mechanics through the repair on the phone (nowadays perhaps Zoom or something). But in Peru? Colombia? Nicaragua? Don't know...

VW is built in Mexico, they have 4 massive factories on some large real estate. VW group vehicles are common and while Diesel is less common, its present, and the dealer networks are impressive. I work in the mining industry and have started to see Amaroks joining the fleets along with Tiguans as the choice of company car, so I would be less concerned having seen it first hand. Courier services are reliable and cheap to use, would suggest that you are never more than 48 hours away from some sort of part delivery. Carrying the basics would always be a good idea, but as it is possible to do the whole trip on tarmac, I would not be overly worried.

 

[bvddobb]

VW is built in Mexico, they have 4 massive factories on some large real estate. VW group vehicles are common and while Diesel is less common, its present, and the dealer networks are impressive. I work in the mining industry and have started to see Amaroks joining the fleets along with Tiguans as the choice of company car, so I would be less concerned having seen it first hand. Courier services are reliable and cheap to use, would suggest that you are never more than 48 hours away from some sort of part delivery. Carrying the basics would always be a good idea, but as it is possible to do the whole trip on tarmac, I would not be overly worried.

Yes, you have a point. But still, the T-series are not sold there, there is no experience with it in the dealerships. Don't lean on the speed of courier delivery too much. I know of people who have waited 6 weeks for spare parts to arrive in a country's capitol... We ourselves have had to wait 2 weeks for a spare tyre in the right size to arrive...
Sticking to the tarmac will take a lot of the fun out of the trip... All those beautiful ocean-side camping spots...

Not trying to dissuade anyone, but have a realistic expectation and allow slack in your planning! We would try to avoid electronic gear as much as possible in those realms (e.g. rather a Seikel lift kit than electronically managed air suspension...).

 

[clarinetbcn]

Yes, you have a point. But still, the T-series are not sold there, there is no experience with it in the dealerships. Don't lean on the speed of courier delivery too much. I know of people who have waited 6 weeks for spare parts to arrive in a country's capitol... We ourselves have had to wait 2 weeks for a spare tyre in the right size to arrive...
Sticking to the tarmac will take a lot of the fun out of the trip... All those beautiful ocean-side camping spots...

Not trying to dissuade anyone, but have a realistic expectation and allow slack in your planning! We would try to avoid electronic gear as much as possible in those realms (e.g. rather a Seikel lift kit than electronically managed air suspension...).

The T6, and now the T6.1, are manufactured in Hannover and sold in Mexico.

Volkswagen Transporter 6.1 2021 llega a México, la van de carga y pasajeros cambia de imagen

La versión chasis ya se encuentra a la venta, mientras que la variante para pasajeros llegará entrado el mes de diciembre.

noticias.autocosmos.com.mx

https://www.t6forum.com/threads/mexico-t6s-everywhere.7332/

Volkswagen Transporter: Precios y versiones en México

(10/2023) Aquí encontrarás información sobre los precios de Volkswagen Transporter, uno de los vehículos comerciales de la marca que permiten el transporte de mercancía. La Volkswagen Transporter está disponible desde 497,891 pesos

automexico.com

 

[KGCali]

For the price of two Calis you have better options. As they say in Australia: Yes, you can get to the outback with a Landy, but only can return from there with a Toyota Landcruiser.

2021 EarthCruiser Extreme XTR250 – New Land Cruiser Camper Built for Off-Road Adventure

By Steve & Tamami Laser EarthCruiser Australia, the aftermarket company that makes expedition-style all-terrain campers, has introduced the new Extreme XTR250. Based on the current Australian-m…

www.carnichiwa.com

240.000 Australian dollars. A 195×138 cm sleeping area for two people, 12V BBQ set, about 400 Amps Lithium battery. Based on the 36-year old Toyota Land Cruiser 70 model. Seems to fit in a parking garage.

Reagards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

We went to Australia in 2004, purchased a 25 year old Toyota Troopy Land Cruiser Station Wagon (FJ45) from a hostel backpacker for about £2,000, replaced the engine for a 2nd hand unit and then drove across Australia from Brisbane to Broom crossing the 1100 sand dunes of the Simpson desert (inc. Big Red), the bone shaking Tanami track and included Cape York, Kakadu, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs and Ularu. Had a real blast with only a few issues in 8,500 miles ... a cracked roof rack (welded), cracked exhaust (fixed with a beans can, putty and wire), rad hose leak (had a spare), a broken carb spring and a jammed starter motor that almost caught fire in the middle of nowhere (this was a new unit supplied with the engine so we called them up and the small garage sent a replacement via a small plane within 2 days!) A great adventure with the old Troopy that took us to places many of the newer vehicles couldn't manage and spare parts were available!

 

[bvddobb]

The T6, and now the T6.1, are manufactured in Hannover and sold in Mexico.

Sure thing, but the PanAmericana is a lot longer than just the stretch through Mexico, or even Middle America!
E.g. through the US, Canada and Alaska, where no VW vans are sold...

But again: not trying to dissuade anyone! Go! Problems along the way will get solved!

 

[marchugo]

We have heard that Michelin will stop the production of their Latitude Cross ATs and indicate the Crossclimate Agilis as their alternative. Pity, we liked the Latitude Cross.

That's correct. I was in contact with Michelin Netherlands, and they informed me that the Latitude Cross will disappear from their programm. Certain sizes have already been stopped. Some sizes you can still buy, but you'll have a problem if one of your four tyres has a blow out: you can't find a replacement anymore.

The alternatives from Michelin are:
- Agilis Cross Climate, this is actually the successor of the Latitude Cross. It has the snowflake symbol, plus M&S symbol. It's an all season tyre.
- Agilis 3, the summer tyre.
- Agilis Alpine, the winter tyre.

Tyred regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

PS: I have fitted (fit for Americans?) the Agilis Cross Climates this week, in size 215/65/R16.



The "damaged" spot in the rubber, half way right, is a four-step marker that shows how much the tyre has worn down.

 

[Wesel]

That's correct. I was in contact with Michelin Netherlands, and they informed me that the Latitude Cross will disappear from their programm. Certain sizes have already been stopped. Some sizes you can still buy, but you'll have a problem if one of your four tyres has a blow out: you can't find a replacement anymore.

The alternatives from Michelin are:
- Agilis Cross Climate, this is actually the successor of the Latitude Cross. It has the snowflake symbol, plus M&S symbol. It's an all season tyre.
- Agilis 3, the summer tyre.
- Agilis Alpine, the winter tyre.

Tyred regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

PS: I have fitted (fit for Americans?) the Agilis Cross Climates this week, in size 215/65/R16.

View attachment 74509

The "damaged" spot in the rubber, half way right, is a four-step marker that shows how much the tyre has worn down.

It's a shame, because the proposed alternatives do not have the same "bad roads" objective. Will it be necessary to review in other brands?

 

[briwy]

There was a couple who came to one of the Cali meets years ago who did the Pan American Highway in a LHD Cali. They didn't have any major problems. A couple of services on the way but they did come across someone else doing it who were not allowed entry to one of the S American countries (possbly Equador) because they were in a right hand drive vehicle. You still have to ship down to Columbia as well to get past the Darian Gap.

 

[bvddobb]

It's a shame, because the proposed alternatives do not have the same "bad roads" objective. Will it be necessary to review in other brands?

Probably, yes. Now that BFG have winter admission (3PMS), they may function as all-season. But they are more on the bad roads/off-road side and less on the normal roads side than the Michelins.

 

[Chris Ratay]

Great comments here, thanks. Just bought a T6.1 Ocean and will be shipping to Colombia in Sept 2023. Been to SA a few times, but only by moto and without a dog.

I opted for a new van rather than a T4 or T5 as in 2015 I bought a 2006 Td5 Defender I used to travel 94,000km across Africa and Europe, and although older don't have as many electric faults/fuel issues, older vehicles have wearing out issues (just like the drivers!). I did consider a 2018 T5 TSI (petrol) to avoid potential Euro6 diesel issues, but in the end believe the T6.1 will be better for us.

We went for the OCEAN as it's ready to go as-is. These days interior builders have huge delays, and quality varies greatly. I know the VW cabinetry is so-so. When we rented one from RoadSurfer.com to test before buying, they said to carry extra cabinet latches and roof bed latches. They also suggested not buying a rental due to the intentional and unintentional abuse/wear they see by people not familiar with campers. So, we went for brand spanking new, fully loaded, pre-spec'd version with 30km. Paid 88k€ a few weeks ago in Germany (including VAT), and it's got every possible VW option. We saw prices from 88k-110k€ - but that's a whole other discussion.

I would have preferred a manual roof (faster, less potential problems), but that 's only available on the COAST and they don't offer locking rear diff, so no go for us.

I plan to change 18" alloys to 17" steels with 225/65r17 AT tires, with a single spare underneath, a spare inner-tube, and portable compressor for re-inflating tires. While the spare on a rear rack looks considerably cooler, the constant dirt rubbing off on my head and clothing is annoying, and wife even tested lifting tailgate with upgraded struts, and it was tedious. The tailgate will be used every day, multiple times per day. As for suspension, at this point, I don't plan to modify as I want to keep the overall height at 2m.

Haven't looked into a proper bull bar. Had a beauty on my Defender and used the winch to help a mate who rolled his Defender in remote Kenya, but no winch this time. I need to research if during a light crash, does a good bull bar protect the front end, or cause more damage?

Need to figure out which VCDS to get - the Ross-Tech Hex-Net has me intrigued, but I'm still early into my research. Budget is probably upto 1000€ for the right equipment, and this cell/laptop version is $450. I considered Carista, but it seems the RT would do more. Am I wrong?

Hopefully this group will continue to educate me and we can share ideas/experiences.

Attached is the build sheet as the dealer ordered it 3-years ago - he got the car in November.