Ex British Gas Work Van
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- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Ex British Gas Work Van
Hi all,
So I guess this will be my build thread, I can guarantee it won't be as exciting as some of the builds on here but it will be customised to my needs for work and family life.
For the last 15 years I've worked in the wholesale side of the ski industry for companies that have always leased me T5's, Vito's, Transit Custom's and the like however a month ago I was given the opportunity to become self employed representing the brands I have looked after for years.
Now it's my money I decided to go for a vehicle that can carry fancy bendy planks up to 2 meters long that I could afford to buy outright (rather than spending £450 a month on lease), was lower to tax, insure and fuel day to day.
I found after much searching an Ex BG Caddy Maxi Auto in good condition, with average mileage and at the right price.
The plan is to strip out all of the British Gas paraphernalia,
Deep clean,
add rear seats,
Build a modular bulkhead behind the second row with door to allow me to fold 1, 2 or all 3 seats forward to slide skis through, also thinking of adding a clip together full length storage box that can be locked for when I only have the single seat down.
Lower it,
New wheels (poss White)
Cruise control with MFSW,
Carpet back and bulkhead
Touran Dash
GTI or Touran colour coded bumpers with white detailing rather than black
New audio system, (although standard is better than the Transit's)
I'm sure there will be more but it's a start
Here are some photos of the van as delivered
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
So I guess this will be my build thread, I can guarantee it won't be as exciting as some of the builds on here but it will be customised to my needs for work and family life.
For the last 15 years I've worked in the wholesale side of the ski industry for companies that have always leased me T5's, Vito's, Transit Custom's and the like however a month ago I was given the opportunity to become self employed representing the brands I have looked after for years.
Now it's my money I decided to go for a vehicle that can carry fancy bendy planks up to 2 meters long that I could afford to buy outright (rather than spending £450 a month on lease), was lower to tax, insure and fuel day to day.
I found after much searching an Ex BG Caddy Maxi Auto in good condition, with average mileage and at the right price.
The plan is to strip out all of the British Gas paraphernalia,
Deep clean,
add rear seats,
Build a modular bulkhead behind the second row with door to allow me to fold 1, 2 or all 3 seats forward to slide skis through, also thinking of adding a clip together full length storage box that can be locked for when I only have the single seat down.
Lower it,
New wheels (poss White)
Cruise control with MFSW,
Carpet back and bulkhead
Touran Dash
GTI or Touran colour coded bumpers with white detailing rather than black
New audio system, (although standard is better than the Transit's)
I'm sure there will be more but it's a start
Here are some photos of the van as delivered
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
Last edited by Sparky6911 on Thu Jul 26, 2018 10:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Next step was to remove the racking, solid piece of kit that racking and had defo increased the need to lower the van as it's sky high at the mo
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Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
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- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Head lining was gross, in fact most of the van was pretty filthy
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Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
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- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Much better, is amazing what a good dose of elbow grease and some heavy duty degreaser can do.
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Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
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- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Thank I've also added the LED lighting that came built into the racking to the roof line of the load area,
Once all of the back had had the sound deadening and is carpeted all of the fixings will be hidden
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Once all of the back had had the sound deadening and is carpeted all of the fixings will be hidden
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
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- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Just a quick update,
Had rear seats fitted by Sirus Automotive the seats are brand new and look great however the workmanship and finishing can only be described as shoddy. Feels like a rush job.
Seats
Examples of the finishing standard, you can be sure I'll be having words
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The last two photos show a raw edge left from the original floor pan just covered with a piece of rubber edging trim, remember the seats were added to allow me to take the kids in the back.
Their solution to the raw edge
Had rear seats fitted by Sirus Automotive the seats are brand new and look great however the workmanship and finishing can only be described as shoddy. Feels like a rush job.
Seats
Examples of the finishing standard, you can be sure I'll be having words
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
The last two photos show a raw edge left from the original floor pan just covered with a piece of rubber edging trim, remember the seats were added to allow me to take the kids in the back.
Their solution to the raw edge
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- 100BHP+
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2016 11:36 pm
- Engine size/power: 1.2 TSI (84bhp)
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Sorry you had such a crap job done by sirus i would take it back, i have had two caddys done by sirus first was excellent but second was abit rushed due to double booking
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- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
On a positive note I managed to mock up my bulkhead today, just need to get hinges and locks for small section and get some carpet from megavanmats.
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- Caddy2k Groupie
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- Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:56 am
- Engine size/power: 1.2 TSI (84bhp)
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Disappointed to hear about sirus, hope they'll sort it out.
I'm thinking of going down the exact same route as you so I'm interested to see how you get on!
Do you know what the measurement is from behind the seats (your new bulkhead) to the back doors?
I'm thinking of going down the exact same route as you so I'm interested to see how you get on!
Do you know what the measurement is from behind the seats (your new bulkhead) to the back doors?
-
- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
The load length with the bulkhead is 1200mm you could angle the lower part of the bulkhead to match the contour of the seats but I decided to use that space for things like sleeping bag, warning triangle, jump leads etc.
Hope that helps with your build
Dave
Hope that helps with your build
Dave
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalkrideroots wrote:Disappointed to hear about sirus, hope they'll sort it out.
I'm thinking of going down the exact same route as you so I'm interested to see how you get on!
Do you know what the measurement is from behind the seats (your new bulkhead) to the back doors?
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- Caddy2k Groupie
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:56 am
- Engine size/power: 1.2 TSI (84bhp)
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Thanks, much appreciated!
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- 100BHP+
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:18 pm
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
Well lots been going on over the past month,
Interior out, man there was some time under the rubber flooring
Side panels fitted,
Box made for the skis for winter season, made easily changeable by using loose pin hinges
Middle shelf fitted
Side windows fitted
Interior out, man there was some time under the rubber flooring
Side panels fitted,
Box made for the skis for winter season, made easily changeable by using loose pin hinges
Middle shelf fitted
Side windows fitted
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- Caddy2k Groupie
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:55 am
- Engine size/power: 1.6 CR TDI (102bhp)
Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
looking good
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Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
How do you find manoeuvring with the longer wheelbase? I would always forget how much more awkward my lwb T4 was than my swb! See quite a few of these ex british vans around my area, lovely colour. Did you buy it straight from them?
- Lister79
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Re: Ex British Gas Work Van
That’s shocking workmanship from Sirus, from what people have said I was under the impression they were the best out there. If that’s the standard of the simple tasks I’d definitely be pulling it apart to check the welded points and that they have resealed underneath where it will have scorched the paint.
Other than that looking forward to seeing the build progress.
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Other than that looking forward to seeing the build progress.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2014 Toffee Brown with EA888 Gen 3 2.0 TSi (CJX) engine (417.5 BHP 545 Nm), Grinds/ABP air suspension and a few other mods
Build thread:
http://caddy2k.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36629
Build thread:
http://caddy2k.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36629