VWBUS T4&5+
http://www.vwbusmagazine.com 57though, as he couldn’t find any
used ones. To get the stance right
the front end has had the torsion
bar wound down, once he got to the
bottom he added some extra length
and wound down further but after
looking at it, he decided it wasn’t
quite right so went back up a touch
and cut off the extensions. The rear
was a different problem altogether
though, as John wanted to be able to
adjust the level to make loading and
unloading an easier task. This called
for an air set up, so John utilised a
pair of Firestone bags, he added a
compressor and tank into a purpose-
built box at the front of the bed.
Inside the cab, the interior has
been re-trimmed using a pair of
Jaguar XJS seats in brown leather.
The rear seat is standard but has
had new foam attached and has been
trimmed to match. On the floor all
new rubber mats have been installed
and Mark at Fat Bob’s EmporiumThe paint has been complimented
with some wood pattern
vinyl while the wood theme
has been carried on inside
about the decorative, swirly bits
on the frame.... The bed is lined
with 12mm ply and the sides are
made from 22mm and covered in
multiple coats of yacht varnish.
This has stained the wood so
much that it actually appears that
the material is something more
expensive. While he was making
things John put together a roof
rack for the cab, the wood slats are
made from an old bunk bed frame.
Now, when we say “old” it’s fair
to say that his son, Kalib, wasn’t
lying on it at the time! Fear not,
a suitable replacement has been
found and installed in his room.
The Bentley Continental GT
wheels were picked up cheaply
as they were a mismatched set
on eBay, but John knew that they
would all look the same after a rub
down and a fresh coat of paint.
He had to go to Bentley direct
for the centres and chrome ringsworking on the truck turned out to
be a therapy of sorts. John decided
that as his Dad had liked the Woody
T4, that the Doka would emulate
that and be a semi-matching pair,
he set a budget and was determined
to stick to it and create something
that his Dad would have been proud
of. The paint has therefore been
complimented with some wood
pattern vinyl from James at Hexis
UK, while the timber theme has
been carried on inside with various
items being hydro dipped.
As it was too far gone to repair,
the first job was to remove the old
metal truck bed and replaced it
with something more suitable. That
was made from off cuts that other
local business were throwing away,
he also wanted to add a canopy
to keep things dry and this has a
distinct Split Screen feel about it, it
will come as no surprise that John
has one of those too. The frame
is made from 20mm x20mm box
section with 20mm x 6mm bars.
The canopy cover was made by
Harris Signs and the whole thing is
actually removable. It’s not as light
as it may first appear, and it does
take a few strong blokes to move it
around. John knows that his Dad
would have had something to say"Dad would have had something to say about the swirly bits..."Plenty of room for the DAX