71 Danbury

[gninnam]

Very nice interior 8)

 

[mike202]

A long time since I put anything on this thread
In 2015 we got a litesteer power steering unit fitted which was a revelation, then last winter, after several years of using the original danbury layout we decided on an interior makeover
so in spring 2016, Spaceroofs in Devon fitted a poptop with gas struts so it's really easy to raise and lower, and has side mesh panels which allow air to circulate, good when it's hot


and in summer i fitted a new interior from SJS VW in Southport to replace the original danbury interior, although I kept the original topbox having to cut it down to fit the new roof profile. It's a really practical layout with lots of cupboard space and the bed is slightly wider than the standard 3/4 width. I've since replaced the 'porta potti' seat by the sliding door with a rusty lee foldaway buddy seat to make better use of the space




then in August we got the ferry to Bilbao and drove back over 2 weeks via San Sebastien and the French atlantic coast...................and it was all worth it, we could stand up in the van, the R&R bed was a breeze compared to the danbury's diy effort, we had a fridge, hob and sink (although we cook and wash up oustide mainly) and we're looking forward to more adventures when it's warmer. I'll post details of our itinerary on the camping forum shortly

I’d love to do the same trip. We love the west coast of France. Maybe soon 2022 or 23. Nice interior by the way. [emoji41]
Any pics of your trip?


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[Wannabay]

Mike, hi, coincidentally I've just booked a reverse trip, Portsmouth - St Malo out, Bilbao - Portsmouth return, next summer, using a credit we had from last year, going to head for Ile D'Oleron again for a week, 2nd week yet to decide but further south
Some pics of 2016 trip
we arrived unknowingly at gran fiesta time in San Sebastien, so lots going on into the early hours with fireworks every night





Then on to the grand dune at Pyla, it's staggeringly huge







Head on to I'le D'Oleron, our fav, great for cycling round, seafood, beaches and a great pitch






Next stop Nantes, where surprise surprise there were boating and jazz festivals, plus we had to see the amazing mechanical elephant






Final stop in Brittany near St Malo





Then on to the ferry for the trip back, in good company

 

[mike202]

Looks like a great trip!

I don’t know if you’ve seen my thread on Monty, but we went to France in July that year! We went from St Malo to Ile de Re and Noirmoutier en Ile. We also had a couple of nights at Bois Coudrais campsite as it’s handy for the ferry.


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[Wannabay]

Just installed a pair of Suffolk seats from Newton Commercial, thanks to Mike for his help and advice, just need a trip to try them out

 

[T2 Brinky]

Awsume work.... Big fan of the colour

 

[mike202]

Glad you got them fitted in ok. They look very good

 

[Wannabay]

it was 'drive your car' day today with the local classic car club around north Kent, some interesting cars, a real ex met police Jag S type, ford falcon, Riley (conked out a couple of times but we got it going again) , tiny seat 600 (oil leak and prone to overheating), 2 CV (fun watching it wallow round the roundabouts), jensen C-v8 and my van; there was also a cool 1960's open top mustang and a 1980s vw polo
ended up at the white cross inn Bexley for refreshments, lovely to be out and about again

 

[Wannabay]

Swapped in new tailgate hinge covers from C&C bought at Volksworld, good fit

 

[Wannabay]

on Anglesey for a few days sea kayaking, roof bars and hullavator by Thule, pricey but great kit, can’t raise the poptop, just like the old days when it was a tintop

 

[matty74]

Love Anglesey, just down the road from us these days

 

[Wannabay]

fitted my Customshop design demountable table today, probably only occasional use as we cook and eat outside but will be useful if it’s raining and for overnight stops

 

[ozziedog]

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,verrrrrry tidy

 

[matty74]

View attachment 7710fitted my Customshop design demountable table today, probably only occasional use as we cook and eat outside but will be useful if it’s raining and for overnight stops

View attachment 7712

Looks fabulous

That blanket would look brilliant in our Winnie … love it

 

[Wannabay]

After several years lying in the glove box, I finally got round to sewing the leather cover onto the original steering wheel, looking ok

 

[Bluesnailman]

on Anglesey for a few days sea kayaking, roof bars and hullavator by Thule, pricey but great kit, can’t raise the poptop, just like the old days when it was a tintop
View attachment 5039

cant you move the roof bars further apart? rood might go up when the kayak isnt uptop?

 

[Wannabay]

cant you move the roof bars further apart? rood might go up when the kayak isnt uptop?

Only if you have extra long arms as you have to squeeze the handles to release the catches and to move the hullavator arms in unison. Another kayaker has attached the roof bars to his poptop with strengthening plates which transfer the weight down to the rain gutters, so he just removes the hullavator arms and up she goes

 

[Wannabay]

Workhorse day

My partner is exhibiting in a ceramics show at Olympia and wanted help setting up and taking down, options were van hire £150 for 2 days, man and van £250, or could we get the sideboard, boxes of pots and other paraphernalia into the van? Careful measuring said yes and it did! And we’ll do it all in reverse on Sunday evening
Nice touch, on way home through London rush hour traffic, cabbie shouted across ‘I was born in the back of one of those in 1971’, makes a change from the usual ‘I had one of those’ back in the day………..

 

[Wannabay]

And the return journey this evening, in the cavernous bowels of Olympia

 

[Wannabay]

Up on Anglesey this past week for more sea kayaking, fellow paddler Paul also has a bay