Urban Exploring in a VW Syncro Campervan

Posted on May 14, 2012 by jedthespread

Its great heading off for a long weekend camping with the family or with mates pushing your vehicle a bit to see what it can do. Sometimes the things that are right on your doorstep are over looked because they are so close, but when work time is busy its a good time to take advantage of those things closer to home. This time Jed and his son Isaac loaded up the campervan with the bikes early one Sunday morning and drove through the center of London for some urban exploring before the city awoke.

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Posted in campervanculture.com | 22 Comments

CampervanCulture Easter 2012 weekend

Posted on April 15, 2012 by jedthespread

A few Campervanculture subscribers headed off for the Easter bank holiday for a few nights in our campervans. The first night was a great wild camping spot in The Brecon Beacons suggested to us by fellow CampervanCulture subscriber Leon Lewis next to some great waterfalls. We then did another three nights in The Gower at Carreglwyd Caravan And Camping Site at Port Eynon as its right on the beach and not a bad campsite at all. There are some great walks to be had in the area and it made a nice change to go away and not do major mechanical repairs, in fact it was so chilled and laid back I forgot to get the camera out for most of the time but this is a snippet of what we all got up to.

The fish and chips are not bad either…

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Posted in campervanculture.com, Camping, Trips | 8 Comments

Syncro 25 years anniversary road trip.

Posted on April 15, 2012 by jedthespread

While looking through some old video just now this one cropped up from a couple of years ago. A post was put up on the UK Syncronautes forum and a plan was hatched to drive across Germany to Mammut Park to attend the 25 year anniversary celebrations. How many would turn up for the convoy was unknown but a good few did make it and an awesome few days was to be had.

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Syncro Weekend Offroading Trip – mechanical failures galore!

Posted on April 1, 2012 by admin

A weekend away with some fellow syncro drivers turned into a mission when the vehicles suffered mechanical failures – 3 driveshafts, 3 cv joints, 3 cv boots, broken steering rack, one slashed tire and one snapped drop link!!

It was a case of bad luck for one of the vans owned by Syncro nut Alan Hayes in his RHD 1.9 mTDI panel van/camper that had most of the issues that contributed to us taking 13 hours to do the Strata Florida trail / greenlane in South Wales. We have got to give Freds Garage a big THANK YOU from CampervanCulture for bailing us out and coming to the rescue by allowing us to use the workshop and a ramp to get sorted as well as providing Alan with a steering rack, CV joints and good old moral support to get things moving again.

Freds Garage is run by a great bunch of guys and fellow CampervanCulture subscribers that do everything from MOTs to servicing and repairs on any campervan and can be found at,

Salem Road
Llanelli
Dyfed
SA15 3PZ
Telephone: 01554 772 341

Despite the dramas a great fun packed weekend was had as its not always about the driving but the laughs you have with mates doing it…

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Posted in campervanculture.com, Mechanical, Trips, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

16″ Syncro Double cab – are you ready for expedition? (Yes another unique one for sale!)

Posted on March 21, 2012 by admin

It seems with the lack of new videos that campervanculture is turning into a syncro auto trading spot, we have added a for sale page and will put up interesting vehicles that come up for sale.

There are plenty of syncros out there of which I get syncro envy and usually Russel seems to own them, to be fair, it his is hard graft that goes into rebuilding and designing special features on them that make them so desirable! There aren’t many other vans that make me think I’d sell my Westy and replace it with that..

Originally a good solid standard 16″ LHD Syncro doka, this one has been through the usual strip down and rebuild and features. It was setup and designed to take a family on a trip to South Africa from the UK, with plenty of travelling room in the front and a mass of storage in the back. Just add your roof tent, stove and fridge and you have a ready to roll expedition vehicle.

The custom designed rear box can be removed by undoing 4 bolts and cutting the sealant bead and the original drop sides can be refitted to give you an absolutely stunning DOKA.

• 1992 Year Model
• Original Factory 16
• 4 Door with full TRI-STAR spec interior.
• 5 seat belts 4 being 3 point.
• Passenger swivel seat with fold out table
• Power steering
• Engine: AFN TDI 1.9 with hydraulic engine mounts
• Custom Raised Air intake
• Front and rear diff locks
• Full new stainless steel exhaust
• 5 X BFGoodridge MT 235 85 16 tires
• Head light washers
• Custom back designed to take all expedition equipment.
• Custom roof rack over cab and part of back made to take Hannibal family roof tent.
• Custom rack over back
• External wheel carrier with second as an option
• Top tint windscreen
• Custom tube rear bumper
• The rear box on this doka can be removed by undoing 4 bolts and cutting the sealant bead.
• Body strip down and respray

This is currently up for sale, Offers over £16,000. Contact us for further information.

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Posted in campervanculture.com, For Sale | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

VW Campervans in Lagos Nigeria having a riot..

Posted on January 12, 2012 by jedthespread

After the recent fuel demonstrations in Lagos we couldn’t but help notice the amount of T3/Vanagons around the place. We have decided to take a tour around the city just to see how many can be found.

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NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA in VW Syncros.

Posted on January 7, 2012 by jedthespread

There is nothing like a road trip and a jaunt to another country in your camper van. Last summer a group of friends headed out over to Spain to tour the Picos. Mark Williams, a fellow Westfalia Syncro owner put together some great clips for our pleasure. Marks Westfalia is a 16″ tdi converted van that has a vast range of modification that I am not ashamed to admit have borrowed a few ideas from in the past.
Mark says, “It was a good mix, the itinerary was easy, trails were good, non-damaging, fantastic scenery and no crowds. The weather brightened up the last two days so very good all in all and i’d certainly go again.”

So sit back, grab a cup of tea and enjoy this great video of the adventure.

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Posted in campervanculture.com, Camping, Trips, Video | 11 Comments

Incredible Expedition VW LT 40 4×4

Posted on December 16, 2011 by syncroand101

Our good friend Russel has been building this beast for a while now, originally intended for his family to navigate the way South across Africa from Scotland, Russel has had a change of plan, as a result this incredible vehicle is up for sale.

General Spec:
1989 Model
2 Year body rebuild including complete respray!
Uprated to NP242 transfer case.
2.4 intercooled turbo diesel
Approx 3400km on engine – Complete NEW engine fitted
Front and Rear Difflocks
Open and locked 4 wheel drive
Low box for offroad
Almost new 255/100-16 Michelin tyres-x 6. On original VW LT 4×4 rims
100l auxilary fuel tank
Interior / Camping Spec:
Custom build high spec interior fitted recently
Fully insulated
Double Glazing to all rear windows
Internal and external shower points
Hot and Cold Water!
Seats 6, sleeps 5
4 3-Point Belts and 2 lap belts
Lots and Lots of storage
Very high quality interior build.
110 Litre Fresh Water Tank
Twin cooking job with integrated sink and water tap.
Electronic Safe
Casette Toilet in Shower Room with External Access for changing
Sink in Shower Room
90 litre compressor fridge
Eberspacher heater
Shower Room has extraction fan!
Exterior:
Custom Roof basket storage area to rear
Integral BBQ / Braii to rear
Integral Sand Ladder Racks
Fiamma awning with external LED lighting
Fold Down rear Gas storage tray
Let us know if you want Russel’s details…

Jed stayed it in last time he was up in Scotland, and experienced the life of luxury:
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Posted in campervanculture.com, For Sale | 4 Comments

Repairing the rusty chassis rails on my Westy Syncro

Posted on November 28, 2011 by admin

A while ago I noticed some bubbling rust on the outer part of my from chassis rail just behind the front suspension… To the untrained eye (mine!) it looks like a simple cut and weld in plate job…Alas it is a bit more involved as there is also an inner strengthening part which is spot welded to the outer…

I visited syncro specialist Syncro-Nutz up in Scotland for fellow syncro lover Russel to have a look at. Turns out the inner part was rusted pretty badly too and the entire front subframe with diff etc needed to be dropped to provide access..

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Russel then began to cut the outer away..

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Spot welds for drilling out:

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The inner and outer parts removed – worse than I thought it was!

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New inner and outer welded and then “spot welded” together – treated below:

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Here is the one from the other side chassis rail:

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And the finished work, all waxoyled inside and treated on the outside

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Thanks to Russel and Syncro-Nutz I won’t be worrying about this area again – I’d get under your van and check your chassis rails for any bubbling – inner and outer parts. Be prepared for a couple of days in a workshop as it is a good few hours work to drop and refix the front subframe.. Great opportunity for me to fit my Power Steering rack – more on that later!

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Posted in campervanculture.com, Mechanical | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Syncro 16″ 2.1i Demonstration by special guest Syncro Simon.

Posted on November 25, 2011 by jedthespread

We love our Syncro’s and we love being diesel. However more than a few love their Syncros for their factory engine that came with it and the 2.1ij petrol flat four WBX isn’t to be sniffed at.. The MV was listed as supplying 95bhp whilst the the DJ with its 112bhp is no light weight on the road. Lets introduce a fella from the UK who goes by the name SyncroSimon on various VW forums who is passionate about his ex-Finnish army factory 16″ hightop syncro. It started life a very different color and now has an excellent home built custom interior that takes him away from home on many a wild camping Dad and Lad weekends.

Simon is at home ploughing through the snow in his 16″ syncro when the rest of Devon is to scared to venture outdoors down those narrow lanes.
SyncroSimon has fitted extra gauges so he knows exactly what his engine is doing whilst he is driving. He has taken some time out to explain what is happening on his 2.1i when it is cruising along and the behaviour that is to be expected from the engine in question. Check out his 2.1 injection demonstration a real must for all the Wasserboxer injection nerds out there…if we are lucky he might share his wing mirror indicator mod next time…!

x

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Posted in campervanculture.com, Mechanical, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments