Hi guys - the fan is a good call - we've don't have on yet !! But with some of the temperatures we've had we wish we did. Thanks for sharing. - we're enjoying watching you get ready to the big adventure. Woo Hoo xxx
Wish we could fit two fans on the roof but with the solar panels, we just don't have the space! The leaving date feels like a long way off yet, but we're getting there slowly 😊💛 xx
I don't know why but I got a bit emotional watching this video, I think it's because you are working so hard to build your dream. I am so envious of what you are doing but at the same time I enjoy watching and going along with you on your journey. Love to you all x
Oh lovely, sending you a big hug! Thank you for all your support every week, it doesn't go unnoticed! Having people like you come along with us on this journey is a blessing, and we're so grateful we get to share it with you 💛💛
Hi Guy's, the spare wheel could be on the back of the van, but Not hanging on the door itself. Make a construction so that the wheel can swing aside when you need to open the door. Attached In The back frame . There You Can Also attach the extra fuel tanks that you need! Regards Rickard from Sweden
Great vid guys. I’m doing my MWB 2015 sprinter, mostly on my own. 57 year old female, oh my what have I got myself into. I’m keeping it as simple as I can. Will be mostly living in it. Only at the treating rusty holes in the floor stage, so a long way to go. Can’t wait to hear what you are going to do with the walls. You are a lovely couple. Looking forward to you sharing your journey with us. ❤️🇬🇧❤️🇬🇧❤️🇬🇧
This is so amazing to hear!! Well done on tackling a van build by yourself, sooo brave! Best of luck on the conversion, I'm sure you'll smash it. Keep us updated on how you're getting on 💛 Thank you for the lovely words xx
Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you're all having a lovely weekend. What do you think of the new tyres and lift kit?! We're SO pleased with how they look and drive! Rough roads, we're ready for ya 🗺 EDIT: For everyone who let us know about the wheel carrier, THANK YOU! We've now ordered a Wheeliams carrier after about 100 of you recommended him, both here and on Instagram. We can always count on you to help us out 🌟
Hi. your request about a spare wheel carrier. I used a company called wheeliams. I found there products really high quality. I purchased a spare wheel carrier from them and I was well impressed. Thanks. Mike
HI, don't know your budget, but William at Rhodes Vans imports Owl Vans Engineering products which would give you loads of carry options at the back of the vehicle plus you may consider a rack for the top. Of course Richard and Phoebe (beyond the van) could do a great respray. Good luck with the Project.
Given the terrible condition of the roads you will undoubtedly encounter on your epic journey the fresh water tank seems frighteningly vulnerable. Are you confident that you are protecting your number one resource as well as you should? Very best of luck in whatever you decide to do.
Maybe it’s the angle of the camera but the tanks are tucked in between the chassis ribs and are not hanging low down. If the road manages to severely damage them, we’ll have bigger problems to deal with.
Extending the spare wheel undercage is a far easier job than fitting it to the back door. You can sipmly do this by either widening it or dropping it slightly lower as you have the ground clearance to play with. If you are going that route the easiest and quickest route is to unbolt one from a scrap yard 4x4 and simply transfer it onto your van. With the heat in South Africa I think keeping the spare under the van is a better option.
Just had a major catch up from water tanks to wheels 🤣 how could I not comment on video where I see you so confident with the carpentry Ben 👍🏻 always a great video and Jesus those tyre's are beast's, hope your leak free sending love and cwtches 💙✌️xx
This gave us a wave of nostalgia. All that help you gave us on the first build and seeing him grow his woodwork skills first hand! 💕 Sending love and cwtches to you both always, hope you’re keeping well xx 💛
Hi guys before you go spending unnecessary money the tyres do fit under the van in the wheel carrier LAsy tyre fitter is the issue They are great tyres and makes onroadbdriving so much better Cheers guys
Very intrigued to see what your plans are for the walls! We wallpapered the "bedroom" section of our van and really love that it gives it a different feel from the rest of the van. We will be watching closely to see what you do with the spare wheel on the back doors, we currently don't have one, so need to get one and mount it before we head on our travels (whenever that may be). Got alot of things to do to get our van road trip worthy, it was all designed for city living lol, so learning from your process!! Much love xx
Hey guys! Ooo nice! We aren't going for wallpaper but can see why it makes a difference in the van! I love anything that divides the areas of the van without losing space, makes it feel more like you have different rooms, even if you're just a footstep away 😜We decided to go with a guy called Wheeliams for the wheel carrier as we had probably almost 100 recommendations for him! Hope you're both keeping well, sending love to you from the three of us xx 💛
Thanks Bob! Unfortunately we did get the snow - LOTS of it too! We’ll see how we get on this week, not sure if we can make it out to the workshop yet! ☃️
Sophia is coming along beautifully 🥰 I've gone for the Maxxair fan too. It's fitted but not used yet as STILL waiting for the conversion to be finished (hopefully in the next two weeks 🙌)... So exciting to see her progress. Betty Boo sends her love to River 🐾🐾🐾
The Indie Project used a bracket for their spare wheel. Give them a shout, it was featured in their 'fixing our van build mistakes' about eight months ago. Sophia is really taking shape now and looking great so far. Raptor paint would finish it off in keeping with the look.... Just sayin'
Hi, van refurb is coming on great, lift and tyres are great...just a thought ...winch on the front to get you out of sticky situation? Wishing you all the best .. take care Regards kev
Great video,don't forget you can buy slime to put in tyres to help seal any punctures,also you need a couple of ways to inflate tyres when going off road.
Ben have you tried a multimaster to cut off the wood the thin blade should slide in behind wood and cut glue might scrape paint a bit but that’s fairly easy to sort
Some of the people that own REVEL VANS when they mount the tire on the back door they say you can mount extra fuel tank where the tire went. For those long distances between fuel stops. Owl tire mounts for spare tired, other mounting points for other things, box etc.
I made a carrier for the back of my van. M12 threaded rod straight through with an aluminium plate on both sides. Spare wheel lock to finish. Will try and forward you a picture. Vans looking great x
We are so excited for this build to start taking shape, Josh just said if you're still building when lockdown is over we'd love to come and help out if you need some extra hands. Also, defo recommend some of those hand warmers that you pop to start and you can re-use them by boiling them in water for those cold build days, they work a treat! Looking forward to the next installment :) XXXX
Ah that would be amazing! Dream team! 😍Seriously guys, that's really kind of you, thank you. There's a very high chance this won't be finished by the end of lockdown! 🙈Thanks for the handwarmer tip too - I've seen them everywhere but never tried them - anything to keep us toasty at the minute! Hope you guys are keeping well down in the south west, say hello to the sea for us 🥰 xx
@@OverlandingSophia We actually are planning on a few sea swims this week as think we've started to take for granted somewhat that we are so close by to it. Definitely get yourself some handwarmers, they're so gooood and you can put them in pockets or tuck them into you trousers (😂😂😂) and they're toasty, definitely does the trick. Just let us know and we will be there, Josh declared yesterday that 'these guys are our friends aren't they' hahaha
Here's a man who has a youtube video of putting the tire on the back door of the Sprinter....Red Nemesisdog, June 3rd 2020, #27 Fitting a spare wheel carrier. Yes, and I've seen videos of others having leak problems with those fans but looks like you have it well sealed now. The inside ply is looking good, nice job! Have a good week you three.
Thank you! So helpful, as always 🥰 yeah the maxx air fans don’t have a good history! Fingers crossed it stays dry now 🤞 Hope you’re having a lovely weekend Adele ☺️ xx
Hi Guys - the Maxxfan screws never seem to line up. Its very much a case of trying to angle all four screws into the clips before tightening up. It also helps to have another pair of hands to firmly twist the top towards the particular screw you are focusing on.
Another bonus of the KO2's which can often be overlooked is the strong sidewalls as well as thread. Tyre temperature can be a big issue in hot countries, ye will be able to run those at reduced pressures if necessary which makes a massive difference with punctures or blowouts.
Brilliant bit of advice, thank you Mick! Something we’ve not heard or thought of. We’re so glad we upgraded the tyres, should make such a difference once we’re on the road ☺️
LOVED the video this week, fingers crossed 🤞 ref the MAXX fan! We will soon be having the same battle for the second time when we fit ours in Ragnar. We will too be chucking a load of Sikaflex at it. I remember there was always one pesky screw in the first one we fitted drive us nuts but we got there in the end. They are worth it though. Chesca’s concentration face at the end, had me in stitches ! 🥰🥰🥰 xxxx
Ah thank you!! And thank you for being our sounding board for the maxx air fan leakage 😅Good luck with yours, although second time around you're basically pros now 😉Ahaha I look like a troll hiding under a bridge 😂xx
Done a wheel carrier on my van back doors by fitting an Honda crv wheel carrier and fitted strengthening inside the door fitted on second opening door £25 all in
i think we seem to be the only channel that's not had a fan shower , we put in 2 maxx air fans , but we kind of went mental on sikaflex so may be that's why, also ooooohhhh question who told you BFG where good , go slap em , watch my video on fitting the wheeliams carrier
Or it's probably because you guys are professionals and know what you're doing 😉 After filming this we've had some wet and snowy weather and it seems to be holding up well. Haha are you not a fan of the BFGs?! Ben's already been watching you Neil getting some tips!
Hey guys!! Always the highlight of my week watching your videos and seeing the progress made to the van build!! Hopefully that Maxx air fan will help a lot more and provide better ventilation now! You're gonna need it in those hot climates 🥵. Loving the ply lining too, looks so neat and clean!! Hope you're all well, sending love and hugs to you three!😄❤️✨x
Thank youuu! It’s always a highlight reading your comments Jak 🥰 We’re making good progress - just excited to get stuck into the interior now! Sending love from the three of us! 💛 x
The 245/75/16 wheel does fit underneath the van if you extend the hinges to the front so it hangs a bit lower, worked for me. Also check out wheeliams.co.uk for spare tire holder for the rear door, he makes good ones for good prices!
I used a Wheeliams rear door mounted carrier on my conversion, not expensive and relatively easy to fit. Make sure you paint it well as it comes as bare steel.
Love the vid.😊 Bad Fuel could be a problem... take some fuel filters with you and learn how to change them.a pre-filter/water separating filter is a good idea.. Jason
This video literally mirrors my experience with the maxair fan. Right down to the screw not lining up on instillation. There is a steady drip which I can’t seem to locate the area it’s coming from. 3 different attempts at Sikaflex and flashing strips later I’m about to take it out and reinstall 🤦♂️ I hope yours is all good now
Ah no! Honestly we've heard so many horror stories about fitting these fans. Hope you manage to get yours sorted, don't know what we'd have done if we couldn't find the source of the drip 😭
Hi, coming on well. Might also do a cladding like yours, and even Wallpaper it. Will have to look at what designs could be suitable for a Van. "Eamon & Bec" , "Project Amber" and "Lost in Europe" have experiences with wheel frames on the back door. 🇨🇭greetz, Steve.
Would you mind sharing which lift kit you went for and how much it cost please? Planning to do the same with my Sprinter. Well done for persevering with the fan!
Hay guys another great video .... ben I feel your pain with your leak ours drove me mad we were going out each day and with a heavy heart it was still just a little bit of water coming in 😥😥😥😥😥😥😡 so this is what we did stripped down the surround of the fan re did the putty but this time put a good amount around and then got so 'tiger seal ' stick like s@#t to a blanket and ....... hay presto no leak 👏👏👏👏👏🤘🤘🤘 hopefully this helps stay building jon and Kirsten
Hey guys! Ah tell us about it! Didn’t realise how prone they were to leaking until we found out the hard way 😂 Glad to hear you got it sorted in the end, we got some flashing tape as a last resort but we haven’t needed it so far *touchwood* !
@@OverlandingSophia hi sophie, ben and little summer ofcourse 😁 Where from Cornwall and building our own sprinter for our travels to it's been great watching all your videos and getting inspiration for travelling around Europe and England, Ireland cant wait for Covid to go away and we 2 can set sail on the road our build is going good so far just getting the shower and lay out all sorted plus all electric done but really enjoying it 🥰 keep up the good work and stay safe jon and Kirsten
Hi ,Chesca, Ben , River🐕 , thanks for sharing always good, long weekend here, Australia Day Tues so we always take the Mon if we can, no lockdowns and no new cases we can travel just about anywhere in the country stay safe cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Thank you for watching, as always Barry 💛So happy for you that you have freedom again, can't say the same for the UK unfortunately! Enjoy your long weekend xx
Just check your load rating on those tyres as iv see tyre fitters fit those tyres with incorrect load ratings. Another thing to be aware of is wet driving at speed. They don't dispers water very well at speed and its easy to aqua plane on them. The build is looking awesome tho, so jealous and wish you both a great journey.
I used a landrover discovery wheel carrier just need the studs moving and rewelding. It will fit on rear door ok if you put a strengthening plate on the inside to stop it flexing.
Wouldn't it be easier to put it on the roof? I'd have two spares actually and put them both up there. The wheel is heavy and won't do much for the door. You could make a swing-out bracket but it will probably get on your nerves if you use the rear doors a lot.
And we love River cuddles! 🥰 Regarding the handling, the van actually feels more responsive and like it grips to the road much better. Might just be us but we can definitely feel a difference.
If the spare wheel is going on the back door, will you be fitting a (nice big) refillable “doughnut” LPG tank in the original space where it used to live? Great progress as always, stay safe.
Hi I am not sure but you need to make sure if you have altered the size off the wheel to a larger size than the manufacturer this could have a serious effect on the diff ratio you need to check this Usually you drop the size off the wheel then put the bigger tyres on to keep the original size You truly have to check this out With your future adventure in mind it could put you in a serious unforgiving position
Not sure what the standard position of the spare wheel carrier is but if it hangs in a frame like my Motorhome it’s worth removing the frame and seeing if there is space for the new tyre. If there is space get a fabricator to modify the frame as it must be better than the alternative. Richie.
Hi Guys, Sofia is coming along nicely, nice fan idea, and you either have patients or you don’t with jobs, I must concede I’m a bit like Ben, not the best with patients 😂😂..,and the lift and tyres look the business!!
Thanks Mark! Yeah patience isn’t Ben’s strong point - HOWEVER over the past two builds he’s got much better. You can’t build a van without it 😅 And glad you like the tyres! We think they look awesome, so happy with them! 🚐
Oh man Ben's hands looked so painfully cold in this episode, working in a cold environment seems like such a pain. Even though the last few episodes were focusing a lot on constructional necessities and groundwork, they were so much fun to watch! But I am definitely waiting for the interior and cosmetic part of the van build.😂 I wish you both a happy Sunday 💕xx
Haha I feel like I should put a disclaimer on these videos that they're truly 'van build' videos - the emphasis on the build part 😂I cannot WAIT for the cosmetic and interior part! Fingers crossed we really aren't far away from that now. That's when it gets fun hey 😍Sending loads of love to you Jenny! Hope you're having a lovely weekend! xx
It's just a standard one off Amazon! Don't think it's a particular make. We've racked our brains but can't for the life of us remember which one it is. Sorry I can't be more help! And while 2 spare tyres would be handy, it would just be too heavy 😭x Chesca
Thank you! We were a bit confused between poplar, lightweight, hardwood ply etc. We just purchased some 5 mm hardwood ply so thanks for Confirming that! We are in the process of building our first van and have watched your previous build videos. Looking forward to seeing what you do next! Good luck with the re-build !!
Just a thought, check how good your front and if fitted rear towing eyes are, I got my Peugeot Boxer pulled out of the Glastonbury mud and it snapped off like a carrot!!!!
Jesus! 😳😂Ours are pretty good, when we were in France we were roped into helping tow a motorhome after it had got itself stuck, and the towing eye was fine. Hope your new ones are better!
Great vid again guys ,, we just took delivery of our new / old French camper van ,,, Our uk reg Bessie has been sold to a lovely guy in london ,, (delivery of which when BoJo allows Bessie back in uk lala land !) Our new baby MeauJeau ( french for MoJo lol) is 30 yrs old challenger 360sr ,, owned by an old couple from new , kept in a heated garage all her life , one little holiday every year and amazingly done just 20k miles !! ,, she is as new time warp museum piece ,, an incredible find ,, a few bits of things to do today and we are off on a short road trip around the coast of Finistere before Macron follows BoJo and locks us down again next week grrrrr .. keep em coming as per all our love as per ,, Neil Liz and Barneyboo the Cockerpoo xxx
Hello you three! 💕 Congrats on the new camper, she sounds like an absolute beauty! You should email us some photos! Enjoy your mini road trip along the coast, not jealous at all! 😭 Sending love to you all, hope you’re keeping well! 💛
Exciting to see how far you've got. Are you thinking of a winch? (I've seen winch systems that mount on the driving wheel for emergencies) Also I came across hemp wool insulation recently, good for temp and humidity, familiar with that? Great set of wheels, what issues changing tyre, jack and tyre nuts?
Yeah we’re making progress! We probably won’t have a winch because they weigh a ton, as much as we’d like one. Yes we’ve heard of hemp wool! Sounds like a great insulator, although as ours is already done we wouldn’t be using it ourselves ☺️ x
Hi , we are also thinking of uprated tyres particularly to deal with wintery conditions . I noticed in the tyre specs in your Amazon link they have a load capacity of 1360 kg . How did you determine that they were ok for your van ? Any pointers would be gratefully received . Vince and Dee .
Hey guys! This is a great question. So we know our rear axle weight capacity is 2250kg, so as long as both tyres together can take greater than that, then we're good. So the BF tyres together take 2720kg. Not what we can carry that larger weight, but it means the tyres will be safe to drive with a full load. I hope that makes sense!
@@liveinthesunshine3018 We have just been fitting our gas/water inlets and it's just as nerve wracking as the first time drilling into the van! You can do it!
Awesome work performed! Nice to see that huge wheels BF AT I also gone install them later. I like to ask, which kind of sliding windows you are using in the back side? After your experience with sliding window in the back side, do you think you will install them again if you have to decide again? Im am still straggling, if sliding or standard angle windows are better (rain protection, handling, sliding easy and so on). Thanks in advance for your experienced answer
Hey, thank you! At the minute we haven’t lived in the van with the sliding windows, so we can’t really say whether or not we would have them again! But we can’t see anything wrong with them and love how they open up the space more than an angled window would ☺️
Hey, ah thank you! We picked up ours from a company in Wales but we wouldn't particularly recommend them. They are called Black Rock Outfitters...if you want more details happy to chat on Instagram or via email if that's easier 😊Had to drop Sophia off at the garage for 7 hours so don't have any footage of it being fitted I'm afraid! As much as I would have loved to x Chesca
Hey, I've been following you guys for a long time now, I love seeing what you're up to. The S.A trip sounds epic! Im currently converting a van too trying to work out whether to put all the various wires into the walls or hide them in the furniture so they can accessed if anything goes wrong down the line. What would you guys recommend? Any advice would be really appreciated! Keep up all the great content! 😊
Hey Jamie! Ah the ultimate wiring question 😂Ben says: Where you can, have it in trunking discreetly hidden, so that if something comes loose etc, you can easily access it. There's no way we could have accessed wires through our cladding as we covered up the screw holes. But saying that, in our new build, we're having lighting wires and a couple of other wires go behind the ceiling as we have no other option. With that we're putting the wires in conduit through the insulation, so that we only have to take down a section of the ceiling and can pull/run wires through easily if we need to. Hope that makes sense and hope it helps. Always happy to chat on Instagram if you need more details! 😊💛
@@OverlandingSophia Thanks guys, I really appreciate the quick response. I'll definitely send over some more questions on insta as and when. All the best to you both x
Hi guys - the fan is a good call - we've don't have on yet !! But with some of the temperatures we've had we wish we did. Thanks for sharing. - we're enjoying watching you get ready to the big adventure. Woo Hoo xxx
Wish we could fit two fans on the roof but with the solar panels, we just don't have the space! The leaving date feels like a long way off yet, but we're getting there slowly 😊💛 xx
I don't know why but I got a bit emotional watching this video, I think it's because you are working so hard to build your dream. I am so envious of what you are doing but at the same time I enjoy watching and going along with you on your journey. Love to you all x
Oh lovely, sending you a big hug! Thank you for all your support every week, it doesn't go unnoticed! Having people like you come along with us on this journey is a blessing, and we're so grateful we get to share it with you 💛💛
Hi Guy's, the spare wheel could be on the back of the van, but Not hanging on the door itself. Make a construction so that the wheel can swing aside when you need to open the door. Attached In The back frame . There You Can Also attach the extra fuel tanks that you need! Regards Rickard from Sweden
Great vid guys. I’m doing my MWB 2015 sprinter, mostly on my own. 57 year old female, oh my what have I got myself into. I’m keeping it as simple as I can. Will be mostly living in it. Only at the treating rusty holes in the floor stage, so a long way to go. Can’t wait to hear what you are going to do with the walls. You are a lovely couple. Looking forward to you sharing your journey with us. ❤️🇬🇧❤️🇬🇧❤️🇬🇧
This is so amazing to hear!! Well done on tackling a van build by yourself, sooo brave! Best of luck on the conversion, I'm sure you'll smash it. Keep us updated on how you're getting on 💛 Thank you for the lovely words xx
An inspiration to ladies looking to do the same 😊 good luck, thank you 🙏🏼
As an avid offroader I would suggest looking into getting a locking differential fitted for your van. its nearly as good as a 4x4 in many situations.
Yes we thought of this! It’s just whether our budget would stretch to that 😣
@@OverlandingSophia they are pricy,
Owl vans wheel carry they are very good 👍👍
If you look on "Tread the Globe" they had a bracket made to fit on their rear door.
Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you're all having a lovely weekend. What do you think of the new tyres and lift kit?! We're SO pleased with how they look and drive! Rough roads, we're ready for ya 🗺 EDIT: For everyone who let us know about the wheel carrier, THANK YOU! We've now ordered a Wheeliams carrier after about 100 of you recommended him, both here and on Instagram. We can always count on you to help us out 🌟
Hi. your request about a spare wheel carrier. I used a company called wheeliams. I found there products really high quality. I purchased a spare wheel carrier from them and I was well impressed. Thanks. Mike
Brilliant. I need a spare wheel carrier also. Will check them out to. 🙌🙌
It's the door hinges you need to worry about with the weight of the spare. A swing out arm somehow mounted to the bumper or tow hitch area.👍
HI, don't know your budget, but William at Rhodes Vans imports Owl Vans Engineering products which would give you loads of carry options at the back of the vehicle plus you may consider a rack for the top. Of course Richard and Phoebe (beyond the van) could do a great respray. Good luck with the Project.
Given the terrible condition of the roads you will undoubtedly encounter on your epic journey the fresh water tank seems frighteningly vulnerable. Are you confident that you are protecting your number one resource as well as you should?
Very best of luck in whatever you decide to do.
Maybe it’s the angle of the camera but the tanks are tucked in between the chassis ribs and are not hanging low down. If the road manages to severely damage them, we’ll have bigger problems to deal with.
Extending the spare wheel undercage is a far easier job than fitting it to the back door. You can sipmly do this by either widening it or dropping it slightly lower as you have the ground clearance to play with. If you are going that route the easiest and quickest route is to unbolt one from a scrap yard 4x4 and simply transfer it onto your van. With the heat in South Africa I think keeping the spare under the van is a better option.
Just had a major catch up from water tanks to wheels 🤣 how could I not comment on video where I see you so confident with the carpentry Ben 👍🏻 always a great video and Jesus those tyre's are beast's, hope your leak free sending love and cwtches 💙✌️xx
This gave us a wave of nostalgia. All that help you gave us on the first build and seeing him grow his woodwork skills first hand! 💕 Sending love and cwtches to you both always, hope you’re keeping well xx 💛
Highlight of the weekend!
Love seeing your videos pop up in my feed :)
Comments like this are the highlight of our week! Thank you so much, it means a lot to us 🥰
Hi guys before you go spending unnecessary money the tyres do fit under the van in the wheel carrier
LAsy tyre fitter is the issue
They are great tyres and makes onroadbdriving so much better
Cheers guys
Very intrigued to see what your plans are for the walls! We wallpapered the "bedroom" section of our van and really love that it gives it a different feel from the rest of the van. We will be watching closely to see what you do with the spare wheel on the back doors, we currently don't have one, so need to get one and mount it before we head on our travels (whenever that may be). Got alot of things to do to get our van road trip worthy, it was all designed for city living lol, so learning from your process!! Much love xx
Hey guys! Ooo nice! We aren't going for wallpaper but can see why it makes a difference in the van! I love anything that divides the areas of the van without losing space, makes it feel more like you have different rooms, even if you're just a footstep away 😜We decided to go with a guy called Wheeliams for the wheel carrier as we had probably almost 100 recommendations for him! Hope you're both keeping well, sending love to you from the three of us xx 💛
Coming along nicely, not the weather to be outside, 10/10 for keeping going on it, hope you have a better week and not got the snow
Thanks Bob! Unfortunately we did get the snow - LOTS of it too! We’ll see how we get on this week, not sure if we can make it out to the workshop yet! ☃️
Sophia is coming along beautifully 🥰 I've gone for the Maxxair fan too. It's fitted but not used yet as STILL waiting for the conversion to be finished (hopefully in the next two weeks 🙌)... So exciting to see her progress. Betty Boo sends her love to River 🐾🐾🐾
Ah exciting times for you! Bet you can’t wait to get your hands on it 💕🚐 River sends puppy licks to Betty Boo 🐶 xx
So cool sophia is lifted and has new shoes! She looks really mean 😎 good luck with climbing in 😂❤️
The Indie Project used a bracket for their spare wheel. Give them a shout, it was featured in their 'fixing our van build mistakes' about eight months ago.
Sophia is really taking shape now and looking great so far.
Raptor paint would finish it off in keeping with the look.... Just sayin'
As someone else said I think it would look great on the bonnet if possible, great video by the way take care
Hi, van refurb is coming on great, lift and tyres are great...just a thought ...winch on the front to get you out of sticky situation?
Wishing you all the best .. take care
Regards kev
Hey Kev! We would love a winch but the problem is they weigh a ton, so, it’s not top of our list at the moment.. 😔
@@OverlandingSophia hi, yeah like I said just a thought...would be handy in a tough situation though.
Best wishes
Great video,don't forget you can buy slime to put in tyres to help seal any punctures,also you need a couple of ways to inflate tyres when going off road.
Ben have you tried a multimaster to cut off the wood the thin blade should slide in behind wood and cut glue might scrape paint a bit but that’s fairly easy to sort
Nice tyres look great on the van
Thank you Gary! We’re chuffed with them ☺️
Some of the people that own REVEL VANS when they mount the tire on the back door they say you can mount extra fuel tank where the tire went. For those long distances between fuel stops. Owl tire mounts for spare tired, other mounting points for other things, box etc.
Always a pleasure to see you two work together, it's so clearly your project 👍 The scene with the vacuum on the roof, really made my day 🤗😉
Ah thank you, that's so lovely to hear 🤗 Haha the vacuum scene! Improvise, adapt, overcome! xx
@@OverlandingSophia You're very welcome
I made a carrier for the back of my van. M12 threaded rod straight through with an aluminium plate on both sides. Spare wheel lock to finish. Will try and forward you a picture. Vans looking great x
We are so excited for this build to start taking shape, Josh just said if you're still building when lockdown is over we'd love to come and help out if you need some extra hands. Also, defo recommend some of those hand warmers that you pop to start and you can re-use them by boiling them in water for those cold build days, they work a treat! Looking forward to the next installment :) XXXX
Ah that would be amazing! Dream team! 😍Seriously guys, that's really kind of you, thank you. There's a very high chance this won't be finished by the end of lockdown! 🙈Thanks for the handwarmer tip too - I've seen them everywhere but never tried them - anything to keep us toasty at the minute! Hope you guys are keeping well down in the south west, say hello to the sea for us 🥰 xx
@@OverlandingSophia We actually are planning on a few sea swims this week as think we've started to take for granted somewhat that we are so close by to it.
Definitely get yourself some handwarmers, they're so gooood and you can put them in pockets or tuck them into you trousers (😂😂😂) and they're toasty, definitely does the trick.
Just let us know and we will be there, Josh declared yesterday that 'these guys are our friends aren't they' hahaha
Here's a man who has a youtube video of putting the tire on the back door of the Sprinter....Red Nemesisdog, June 3rd 2020, #27 Fitting a spare wheel carrier. Yes, and I've seen videos of others having leak problems with those fans but looks like you have it well sealed now. The inside ply is looking good, nice job! Have a good week you three.
Thank you! So helpful, as always 🥰 yeah the maxx air fans don’t have a good history! Fingers crossed it stays dry now 🤞 Hope you’re having a lovely weekend Adele ☺️ xx
Guys, you could look at a bonnet mount as I had my spare land rover defender tyre on my bonnet and that was a beast.
Ah interesting idea! We hadn’t thought of that one, thank you! 💛
Well done guys proud of you , in extreme conditions too. Keep well keep safe xxx
Thank you! It was a tough one 😂😭
Hi Guys - the Maxxfan screws never seem to line up. Its very much a case of trying to angle all four screws into the clips before tightening up. It also helps to have another pair of hands to firmly twist the top towards the particular screw you are focusing on.
Another bonus of the KO2's which can often be overlooked is the strong sidewalls as well as thread. Tyre temperature can be a big issue in hot countries, ye will be able to run those at reduced pressures if necessary which makes a massive difference with punctures or blowouts.
Brilliant bit of advice, thank you Mick! Something we’ve not heard or thought of. We’re so glad we upgraded the tyres, should make such a difference once we’re on the road ☺️
Great episode, thanks guys....well done with the panelling looks like a great neat job, very professional.....Those wheels are MASSIVE!
Thank you! He did such a good job with the plywood! The wheels are a beast aren’t they?! 😍
LOVED the video this week, fingers crossed 🤞 ref the MAXX fan! We will soon be having the same battle for the second time when we fit ours in Ragnar. We will too be chucking a load of Sikaflex at it. I remember there was always one pesky screw in the first one we fitted drive us nuts but we got there in the end. They are worth it though.
Chesca’s concentration face at the end, had me in stitches ! 🥰🥰🥰 xxxx
Ah thank you!! And thank you for being our sounding board for the maxx air fan leakage 😅Good luck with yours, although second time around you're basically pros now 😉Ahaha I look like a troll hiding under a bridge 😂xx
@@OverlandingSophia you don’t look like a troll!! Your lovely ☺️
Done a wheel carrier on my van back doors by fitting an Honda crv wheel carrier and fitted strengthening inside the door fitted on second opening door £25 all in
i think we seem to be the only channel that's not had a fan shower , we put in 2 maxx air fans , but we kind of went mental on sikaflex so may be that's why, also ooooohhhh question who told you BFG where good , go slap em , watch my video on fitting the wheeliams carrier
Or it's probably because you guys are professionals and know what you're doing 😉 After filming this we've had some wet and snowy weather and it seems to be holding up well. Haha are you not a fan of the BFGs?! Ben's already been watching you Neil getting some tips!
Hey guys!! Always the highlight of my week watching your videos and seeing the progress made to the van build!! Hopefully that Maxx air fan will help a lot more and provide better ventilation now! You're gonna need it in those hot climates 🥵. Loving the ply lining too, looks so neat and clean!! Hope you're all well, sending love and hugs to you three!😄❤️✨x
Thank youuu! It’s always a highlight reading your comments Jak 🥰 We’re making good progress - just excited to get stuck into the interior now! Sending love from the three of us! 💛 x
Good progress in the freezing cold. Seemed to end up a really big job. But it’s done now. Let’s crack on with the next job on the list
Yep, done and dusted and we hope to not have to do it again 😭 !
If you lift the 4 metal brackets about 5mm then put the fan on, you'll find they all line up and the screws will go in easy. :)
Hindsight is a beautiful thing 😂You know now you mention it, I'm sure we watched other people do exactly that too 😅
@@OverlandingSophia Lifting the metal brackets up solved it for me too. After many minutes of frustration!
The 245/75/16 wheel does fit underneath the van if you extend the hinges to the front so it hangs a bit lower, worked for me. Also check out wheeliams.co.uk for spare tire holder for the rear door, he makes good ones for good prices!
Nice to see it all coming together , your giving me some good ideas , great vlog , take care and stay safe.
Thank you Ken, we're getting there! I'm just itching to get started on the interior now 😊💛x Chesca
I used a Wheeliams rear door mounted carrier on my conversion, not expensive and relatively easy to fit. Make sure you paint it well as it comes as bare steel.
Brilliant, thanks for the help Chris! So many people recommended Wheeliams so we ordered one on Monday ☺️
Love the vid.😊 Bad Fuel could be a problem... take some fuel filters with you and learn how to change them.a pre-filter/water separating filter is a good idea.. Jason
This video literally mirrors my experience with the maxair fan. Right down to the screw not lining up on instillation.
There is a steady drip which I can’t seem to locate the area it’s coming from.
3 different attempts at Sikaflex and flashing strips later I’m about to take it out and reinstall 🤦♂️
I hope yours is all good now
Ah no! Honestly we've heard so many horror stories about fitting these fans. Hope you manage to get yours sorted, don't know what we'd have done if we couldn't find the source of the drip 😭
Its looking fantastic yous are doing amazing well done xxx
Thanks Julie! We’re getting there ☺️ I’m so excited to start on the interior though!
Loving the build so far and those tyres 😲😲 absolute beasts love them.
Ah thank you, they are beasts aren't they?! We're chuffed with them 😊🚐
KO2 is a real good choice , had them on my old truck , never let me down :)
Excellent to know, thank you! They are absolute beasts, love them 😍
Hi, coming on well. Might also do a cladding like yours, and even Wallpaper it. Will have to look at what designs could be suitable for a Van.
"Eamon & Bec" , "Project Amber" and "Lost in Europe" have experiences with wheel frames on the back door.
🇨🇭greetz, Steve.
Would you mind sharing which lift kit you went for and how much it cost please? Planning to do the same with my Sprinter. Well done for persevering with the fan!
❤ GR8 VID ❤ LOVED IT ❤
Loving your build and the ply looks amazing!...till next week 👍
Thank you!! We're so pleased with the ply, such a big job ticked off now too 😊See you next week! x
The look on your faces, obviously one of those days not to install a fan, we've had these days on our conversion, good luck guys
Hay guys another great video .... ben I feel your pain with your leak ours drove me mad we were going out each day and with a heavy heart it was still just a little bit of water coming in 😥😥😥😥😥😥😡 so this is what we did stripped down the surround of the fan re did the putty but this time put a good amount around and then got so 'tiger seal ' stick like s@#t to a blanket and ....... hay presto no leak 👏👏👏👏👏🤘🤘🤘 hopefully this helps stay building jon and Kirsten
Hey guys! Ah tell us about it! Didn’t realise how prone they were to leaking until we found out the hard way 😂 Glad to hear you got it sorted in the end, we got some flashing tape as a last resort but we haven’t needed it so far *touchwood* !
@@OverlandingSophia hi sophie, ben and little summer ofcourse 😁 Where from Cornwall and building our own sprinter for our travels to it's been great watching all your videos and getting inspiration for travelling around Europe and England, Ireland cant wait for Covid to go away and we 2 can set sail on the road our build is going good so far just getting the shower and lay out all sorted plus all electric done but really enjoying it 🥰 keep up the good work and stay safe jon and Kirsten
Hi ,Chesca, Ben , River🐕 , thanks for sharing always good, long weekend here, Australia Day Tues so we always take the Mon if we can, no lockdowns and no new cases we can travel just about anywhere in the country stay safe cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Thank you for watching, as always Barry 💛So happy for you that you have freedom again, can't say the same for the UK unfortunately! Enjoy your long weekend xx
Just check your load rating on those tyres as iv see tyre fitters fit those tyres with incorrect load ratings.
Another thing to be aware of is wet driving at speed. They don't dispers water very well at speed and its easy to aqua plane on them.
The build is looking awesome tho, so jealous and wish you both a great journey.
I used a landrover discovery wheel carrier just need the studs moving and rewelding. It will fit on rear door ok if you put a strengthening plate on the inside to stop it flexing.
Sofia is looking great guys , River looking into sofia so sweet 😍
Thank you Alice! Haha she's very cute when she does that - she knows she can jump up but she does that so we have to lift her up 😂🐶
There’s a guy in Wales that sells the rear door wheel holder. He builds it off the hinges.
Pinky’s Customs... look him up.
As someone else said in the comments the Speedo will read slow with bigger circumference tyres use the Speedo feature on Google maps to check
Wouldn't it be easier to put it on the roof? I'd have two spares actually and put them both up there. The wheel is heavy and won't do much for the door. You could make a swing-out bracket but it will probably get on your nerves if you use the rear doors a lot.
Where you planning on going if everything is locked down ??
We aren't going anywhere in lockdown 😊
Which lift kit did you use?
Great job!
River loves her cuddles ❤️ have you noticed a difference in how the van handles on normal roads with that tyre type?
And we love River cuddles! 🥰 Regarding the handling, the van actually feels more responsive and like it grips to the road much better. Might just be us but we can definitely feel a difference.
If the spare wheel is going on the back door, will you be fitting a (nice big) refillable “doughnut” LPG tank in the original space where it used to live? Great progress as always, stay safe.
Go with Wheeliams for the spare wheel carrier. Website and Instagram has loads of example pictures.
Thank you for this, we went and ordered one today! 😊
@@OverlandingSophia brilliant, can’t wait to see it on !
Hi I am not sure but you need to make sure if you have altered the size off the wheel to a larger size than the manufacturer this could have a serious effect on the diff ratio you need to check this Usually you drop the size off the wheel then put the bigger tyres on to keep the original size You truly have to check this out With your future adventure in mind it could put you in a serious unforgiving position
Hi guys where did you get your all terrains tyres from? Thanks!
Not sure what the standard position of the spare wheel carrier is but if it hangs in a frame like my Motorhome it’s worth removing the frame and seeing if there is space for the new tyre. If there is space get a fabricator to modify the frame as it must be better than the alternative. Richie.
Hi Guys, Sofia is coming along nicely, nice fan idea, and you either have patients or you don’t with jobs, I must concede I’m a bit like Ben, not the best with patients 😂😂..,and the lift and tyres look the business!!
Thanks Mark! Yeah patience isn’t Ben’s strong point - HOWEVER over the past two builds he’s got much better. You can’t build a van without it 😅 And glad you like the tyres! We think they look awesome, so happy with them! 🚐
Oh man Ben's hands looked so painfully cold in this episode, working in a cold environment seems like such a pain.
Even though the last few episodes were focusing a lot on constructional necessities and groundwork, they were so much fun to watch! But I am definitely waiting for the interior and cosmetic part of the van build.😂
I wish you both a happy Sunday 💕xx
Haha I feel like I should put a disclaimer on these videos that they're truly 'van build' videos - the emphasis on the build part 😂I cannot WAIT for the cosmetic and interior part! Fingers crossed we really aren't far away from that now. That's when it gets fun hey 😍Sending loads of love to you Jenny! Hope you're having a lovely weekend! xx
You ladder looks like a strong one, do you have the make please, also on such a long trip wouldn’t 2 spare tyres be best? Stored on the roof. Cheers 😷
It's just a standard one off Amazon! Don't think it's a particular make. We've racked our brains but can't for the life of us remember which one it is. Sorry I can't be more help! And while 2 spare tyres would be handy, it would just be too heavy 😭x Chesca
You definitely don’t want a leaky flange inside the van guys 😆😂
God no! The absolute worst! 😂
Look up Wheeliams on Facebook if you are still wanting a carrier for your spare. Based in Scarborough.
Brilliant, thank you for the help! So many people recommended him we bought one on Monday ☺️
Could your spare wheel go on your bonnet look quite cool there just a thought
Hi there, great job with the lift. Do you mind telling me, which lift kit did you go for and why?
Thanks!
Hey, we went for the 50mm savage lift kit from black rock outfitters ☺️
Have you considered fitting a winch?
And maybe some traction boards! You can get really lightweight ones!
Your doing a nice job of the ply it looks tidy
Thank you Steve! Needs to be as tidy as possible now it's on display!
@@OverlandingSophia got that Scandinavian look about it ( not IKEA 😆)
😂
Fit the wheel to the roof.
It took me about 4 hours to line them screws up on the fan aswell 🤣 ciz edited it to look like it dropped in smoothly though 😂
😂😂 the wonders of editing! It’s actually hard to capture the frustration and the constant fiddling around on camera!
Ha ha ha just like my hubby no patience but it will be done xx
It must be a guy thing 🤪 xx
Love from Nepal ❤️❤️🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵
Thank you! Sending love back to you from the UK 💛
@@OverlandingSophia thank you
Coming along great! What quality of plywood are you using on the walls?
Thanks Lucy! We’re using 5mm hardwood ply ☺️
Thank you! We were a bit confused between poplar, lightweight, hardwood ply etc. We just purchased some 5 mm hardwood ply so thanks for Confirming that! We are in the process of building our first van and have watched your previous build videos. Looking forward to seeing what you do next! Good luck with the re-build !!
Just a thought, check how good your front and if fitted rear towing eyes are, I got my Peugeot Boxer pulled out of the Glastonbury mud and it snapped off like a carrot!!!!
Blimey 😕
Jesus! 😳😂Ours are pretty good, when we were in France we were roped into helping tow a motorhome after it had got itself stuck, and the towing eye was fine. Hope your new ones are better!
Great vid again guys ,, we just took delivery of our new / old French camper van ,,, Our uk reg Bessie has been sold to a lovely guy in london ,, (delivery of which when BoJo allows Bessie back in uk lala land !) Our new baby MeauJeau ( french for MoJo lol) is 30 yrs old challenger 360sr ,, owned by an old couple from new , kept in a heated garage all her life , one little holiday every year and amazingly done just 20k miles !! ,, she is as new time warp museum piece ,, an incredible find ,, a few bits of things to do today and we are off on a short road trip around the coast of Finistere before Macron follows BoJo and locks us down again next week grrrrr .. keep em coming as per all our love as per ,, Neil Liz and Barneyboo the Cockerpoo xxx
Hello you three! 💕 Congrats on the new camper, she sounds like an absolute beauty! You should email us some photos! Enjoy your mini road trip along the coast, not jealous at all! 😭 Sending love to you all, hope you’re keeping well! 💛
Hey guys! Where did you get your van lifted?
Hey, it was a mechanic the guy we bought the lift kit from recommended! We got the lift kit from Black Rock Outfitters 😊
Exciting to see how far you've got. Are you thinking of a winch? (I've seen winch systems that mount on the driving wheel for emergencies) Also I came across hemp wool insulation recently, good for temp and humidity, familiar with that? Great set of wheels, what issues changing tyre, jack and tyre nuts?
Yeah we’re making progress! We probably won’t have a winch because they weigh a ton, as much as we’d like one. Yes we’ve heard of hemp wool! Sounds like a great insulator, although as ours is already done we wouldn’t be using it ourselves ☺️ x
Super, new video!
Yess! Hope you're having a lovely weekend Sergei! x
@@OverlandingSophia As they say in our country - "work is in full swing". Well done guys, it's always a pleasure to spend time watching your videos.
@@OverlandingSophia There are also a lot of rough roads in Russia and we love this 4x4
@@aSC_na_kolenke Thank you for always supporting us 🥰
Hi , we are also thinking of uprated tyres particularly to deal with wintery conditions . I noticed in the tyre specs in your Amazon link they have a load capacity of 1360 kg . How did you determine that they were ok for your van ? Any pointers would be gratefully received . Vince and Dee .
Hey guys! This is a great question. So we know our rear axle weight capacity is 2250kg, so as long as both tyres together can take greater than that, then we're good. So the BF tyres together take 2720kg. Not what we can carry that larger weight, but it means the tyres will be safe to drive with a full load. I hope that makes sense!
@@OverlandingSophia Yes that figures . Thanks . Stay safe . Vince and Dee
Good work guys. Was that Sikaflex 512 you were using? I have a camera to fit on the van and need some good sealant. Thanks.
That’s the one! Although Ben says it’s rebranded to Sikaflex 522 now ☺️
@@OverlandingSophia lovely thanks. I will order some. Then all my need to do is get pluck up the courage to take a drill to my van😁🤔
@@liveinthesunshine3018 We have just been fitting our gas/water inlets and it's just as nerve wracking as the first time drilling into the van! You can do it!
Awesome work performed! Nice to see that huge wheels BF AT I also gone install them later. I like to ask, which kind of sliding windows you are using in the back side? After your experience with sliding window in the back side, do you think you will install them again if you have to decide again? Im am still straggling, if sliding or standard angle windows are better (rain protection, handling, sliding easy and so on). Thanks in advance for your experienced answer
Hey, thank you! At the minute we haven’t lived in the van with the sliding windows, so we can’t really say whether or not we would have them again! But we can’t see anything wrong with them and love how they open up the space more than an angled window would ☺️
Hi where did you get the small slide window thanks
We got all our windows from Van Windows Direct ☺️
Hi, what lift kit did you go for? thanks.
Hey, we went for the 5mm lift kit from Black Rock Outfitters ☺️
Hi guys,
What’s the name of the lifting kit you used. And have you got any footage of it being fitted. Great work you both are doing.👍
Hey, ah thank you! We picked up ours from a company in Wales but we wouldn't particularly recommend them. They are called Black Rock Outfitters...if you want more details happy to chat on Instagram or via email if that's easier 😊Had to drop Sophia off at the garage for 7 hours so don't have any footage of it being fitted I'm afraid! As much as I would have loved to x Chesca
👍👏👏
Hey, I've been following you guys for a long time now, I love seeing what you're up to. The S.A trip sounds epic! Im currently converting a van too trying to work out whether to put all the various wires into the walls or hide them in the furniture so they can accessed if anything goes wrong down the line. What would you guys recommend? Any advice would be really appreciated! Keep up all the great content! 😊
Hey Jamie! Ah the ultimate wiring question 😂Ben says: Where you can, have it in trunking discreetly hidden, so that if something comes loose etc, you can easily access it. There's no way we could have accessed wires through our cladding as we covered up the screw holes. But saying that, in our new build, we're having lighting wires and a couple of other wires go behind the ceiling as we have no other option. With that we're putting the wires in conduit through the insulation, so that we only have to take down a section of the ceiling and can pull/run wires through easily if we need to. Hope that makes sense and hope it helps. Always happy to chat on Instagram if you need more details! 😊💛
The wires should run in pipes or bendable hoses, that way you can always change the wires if some problem. Regards Rickard from Sweden.
@@OverlandingSophia Thanks guys, I really appreciate the quick response. I'll definitely send over some more questions on insta as and when. All the best to you both x
whats the song at 17:50 ?
I say put it on roof , less chance of getting stolen as well
It won’t fit on there unfortunately! 😣
Thieves in Africa will steal it off the back of the van if not caged in. Believe me I have lived there for years.