Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
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Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Sold van (85 Autosleeper Trooper) before moving house/starting business and thought that was that for a good few years - then looked on eBay!
Anyhoo now have 81 Devon Moonraker 'project' and a single garage. Needing to drop about 12cm and trying to decide between following and was hoping for any advice/past experience input.
Pop top will be coming off in any case then planning to choose between one of the following;
1 - take tyres off rims and roll van on rims into garage (have new set of wheels/tyres to go on)
2 - take out springs and drop onto stops keeping tyres on for easier rolling
3 - anything else
I envisage having to come out of the garage 3/4 times during work.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Oh and must change bit at bottom of posts.
Anyhoo now have 81 Devon Moonraker 'project' and a single garage. Needing to drop about 12cm and trying to decide between following and was hoping for any advice/past experience input.
Pop top will be coming off in any case then planning to choose between one of the following;
1 - take tyres off rims and roll van on rims into garage (have new set of wheels/tyres to go on)
2 - take out springs and drop onto stops keeping tyres on for easier rolling
3 - anything else
I envisage having to come out of the garage 3/4 times during work.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Oh and must change bit at bottom of posts.
83 W/C 1.9 DF or DG
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
- chewbacca
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Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
I'd replace the springs with steel tube I think.
Tiger sealed down on one end to stop them slipping.
It'd take a bit of messing about to cut them to size, but the van would be safe once in there.
A lot of the air bag guys use 6 inch pipe to make mounts. Same idea but longer.
Tiger sealed down on one end to stop them slipping.
It'd take a bit of messing about to cut them to size, but the van would be safe once in there.
A lot of the air bag guys use 6 inch pipe to make mounts. Same idea but longer.
B plate 1.9 petrol bus
Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Thanks Chewbacca - Tiger Seal I have, pipe I can get and any excuse to make grinder sparks I'll take. Glad I posted here now as never occurred to me to slot in something at perfect height, may be able to balance getting into garage and still underneath.
Thanks.
Thanks.
83 W/C 1.9 DF or DG
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
- DoubleOSeven
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Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Swap up and over door for barn doors or ratchet strap it down?
Last edited by DoubleOSeven on 10 Jan 2019, 10:22, edited 1 time in total.
1990 Volkswagen Transporter 2.1 Manual
2005 Porsche 911 3.6 Manual
2012 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 Automatic
2005 Porsche 911 3.6 Manual
2012 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 Automatic
Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Thanks Double O, I did think about swapping the doors bit never considered ratcheting down, I'll have a think about it. After you mentioned it I did think about the doors again and it wouldn't be much hassle to take the up and over door off to free up some precious room then pop the door back on one van is inside.
Thanks.
Thanks.
83 W/C 1.9 DF or DG
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
- chewbacca
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- Joined: 10 Jan 2015, 03:30
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- Location: Chesterfield (ish)
Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Had another thought. What about a set of 2nd hand springs and chop them down?
There must be people on here with a set of rubbish springs for you.
There must be people on here with a set of rubbish springs for you.
B plate 1.9 petrol bus
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Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Make the garage taller.....
1990 2.1 DJ Syncro Caravelle/Westfalia conversion RHD
Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Depending on how much you need:
Hire a (modern) Kango or similar and shave a couple of tyre grooves into the concrete floor. Or find someone in the game to bung to do it for you. They won't need to go right to the back.
CS
Hire a (modern) Kango or similar and shave a couple of tyre grooves into the concrete floor. Or find someone in the game to bung to do it for you. They won't need to go right to the back.
CS
Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.
"A quiet shy boy who took little part in games or sport"
88 High top 2.1 WBX
"A quiet shy boy who took little part in games or sport"
88 High top 2.1 WBX
Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Sorry about not answering for a few days - been busy in my HY van (I know I know it's sacrilegious).
Chewy - funnily enough the van came with a set of springs for lowering once back on the road so I could cut the standard ones - good call
tforturton - you jest but believe me it has gone through my mind more than once but not worth it.........for now
Citizen Smith - I did read a couple of threads where this was mentioned/done and again thought about it (I could get a stihl saw no probs), my main prob with it is losing ability to get underneath whilst in the garage.
Got a couple of hours free this PM so about to get the tools out and look at the springs.
Thanks to all.
Chewy - funnily enough the van came with a set of springs for lowering once back on the road so I could cut the standard ones - good call
tforturton - you jest but believe me it has gone through my mind more than once but not worth it.........for now
Citizen Smith - I did read a couple of threads where this was mentioned/done and again thought about it (I could get a stihl saw no probs), my main prob with it is losing ability to get underneath whilst in the garage.
Got a couple of hours free this PM so about to get the tools out and look at the springs.
Thanks to all.
83 W/C 1.9 DF or DG
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
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Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Was only semi-joking.
If you lift the roof, then once you're done, you can park the van inside all the time. Much better for it than being parked out in the rain and wind. And miles better if you have to work on it. It's hard to tell how the garage is put together from the pictures, but you could lift the roof on acrow props, build up the walls, then drop the roof back down.
Have I ever done this? Er...no. But it sounds like a good idea.
If you lift the roof, then once you're done, you can park the van inside all the time. Much better for it than being parked out in the rain and wind. And miles better if you have to work on it. It's hard to tell how the garage is put together from the pictures, but you could lift the roof on acrow props, build up the walls, then drop the roof back down.
Have I ever done this? Er...no. But it sounds like a good idea.
1990 2.1 DJ Syncro Caravelle/Westfalia conversion RHD
Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
That's job no1 done - just need to fit gearbox, complete a/c to w/c, build an interior etc etc so could be in there a while!
83 W/C 1.9 DF or DG
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
4 speed / twin slider bus
Never forget you're unique - just like everyone else
- Titus A Duxass
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Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Ecopod wrote:That's job no1 done - just need to fit gearbox, complete a/c to w/c, build an interior etc etc so could be in there a while!
That's a snug fit!!
VW T3 GTi Camper 2,0l
Re: Lowering Van (to fit in garage)
Yes that can't be a standard size garage! But then I used to spray Cars in a standard single garage by rolling the vehicle from side to side on little wheeled trolleys on tracks running on rails. I had a fan blowing warm air from the house through a vent in the back wall. Her Ladyship wouldn't let me make a door - probably just as well on reflection .
CS
CS
Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.
"A quiet shy boy who took little part in games or sport"
88 High top 2.1 WBX
"A quiet shy boy who took little part in games or sport"
88 High top 2.1 WBX