Re: Extra storage for pvc vans

by kaspian Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:07 am

Cant disagree with anything you say Stew. I used 4 'sky hooks' - self adhesive nylon cable anchors for attaching wiring to pcb's to tidy up the lighting wiring. Also added a bit of car carpet to the forward upstand that is bare metal to stop any more rattles .
I have 2 decent sized cheap baskets that fit perfectly and it now also stores the awning tie down out kit. Warwick XL has no table sockets to worry about but the Sargent unit is behind the drivers seat . Luckily the loom has enough slack to allow cutting in situ as I was charging the vehicle battery at the time.Otherwise it would require unplugging of the various connectors and remove the step plank for cutting outside.
For anyone following the hinged lid design , the difficult cut is the one parallel with the rear of the seat, the cut allows the hinged flap to stand vertical unaided when open resting on the plastic rear panel of passenger seat. Your solution would be a lot easier to achieve for those with limited tools ie one or two straight cuts . Did you use anything to hold the removable panel in place such as velcro while on the road ?

Babian , have not noticed but will have a look and let you know!

by babian Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:18 am

thanks.
was trying to see from your photos the area but can't .
the cut on ours is just left of the rear of the extinquisher just before the wooden step.
not a problem with top carpet fitted just looks very wrong without.

by Dbvwt Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:46 am

Can I ask you guys if the edge of your step has a rounded edge, from your pictures they look a square profile?
I’m a bit worried about making a mess if I cut to the edge, may have to think about another plan.
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by kaspian Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:02 am

The Warwick edge profile is square in my build year , from memory the Kemerton was quarter rounded like yours. Makes no difference , in fact if cutting with a hand saw it will ease the saw into the cut so don't let this hold you back!

by StewPotch Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:21 am

kaspian wrote:..........Did you use anything to hold the removable panel in place such as velcro while on the road ?........

Yep, the 1” x 1/8” strip glued to the underside of the hatch stopped it from slipping. Just need to raise the front edge 1/8” to slide it off. look here

by StewPotch Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:29 am

Another mod I was going to do but never got around to was removing the rear speakers which we never liked.
I would have kept the grills purely for aesthetics.
On one side I was going to cut a hole from the overhead locker for access from inside the van.
On the other, a hole from outside the van BUT with a false plate on it, making it a hide hole - for Whisky

before you ask Kaspian hugegrins

by kaspian Fri Apr 10, 2020 11:27 am

Yep I agree those Radiomobile rear speakers are rubbish . Not at all suitable for Rammstein turned up to 11. ( if only for 20 mins at a time)

by StewPotch Fri Apr 10, 2020 11:29 am

Ah Rammstein - perfect to ensure social distancing:allthumbz:

by Dbvwt Fri Apr 10, 2020 3:43 pm

kaspian wrote:The Warwick edge profile is square in my build year , from memory the Kemerton was quarter rounded like yours. Makes no difference , in fact if cutting with a hand saw it will ease the saw into the cut so don't let this hold you back!

I hear what you are saying kaspian and I’m generally not scared to attempt things but I think I’m going to cut a small round access panel (I’ve only got limited storage space there so a large access is not needed). This will be hidden under the carpet where any cock ups wont show!!
Modding is much more fun than decorating smile!

by Dbvwt Thu Apr 23, 2020 12:31 pm

Here’s my variation on the great mods already pictured on the thread.
As my Symbol seems to have more limited space under the step I decided to go for a simple smaller lift out panel.
For anyone worried about cutting the step, as mentioned previously it cuts very clean. I used a Bosch T101AO jigsaw blade.
The flush pull ring wasn’t exactly necessary but it was only £3. A hole cut with a flat wood bit would work fine.

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by Greyhound Thu Apr 23, 2020 1:45 pm

Nice job that - when I get the Symbol out of storage when we're all 'released' i'll be digging out my jigsaw too.

Still have the electronic waste valve to fit too that's been sat in the garage waiting for the nice weather.

by Dbvwt Thu Apr 23, 2020 2:09 pm

Cheers, It must be so frustrating with finally having time to do these jobs but not being able to access the van.

by GP1069 Mon Apr 27, 2020 8:23 pm

babian wrote:hi Kaspian, another very good mod too Warwick xl.
just out of interest while you were " on your hands and knees" down that area of the van and exposed the step caverty. ( I can't visit my van at the moment) I've seen on other XL's and ours, autosleeper cut the original Peugeot floor soundproofing just next to the fire extinguisher mount, leaving an inch gap by four inches long.
without the autosleeper top carpets fitted this looks very odd and crude.
Do you know or can you see why they had to do it?
and also is yours the same?
thanks

My 2019 is the same but god knows why apart from somebody did it on the very first one and its carried on since.

by IanH Thu May 07, 2020 11:35 am

kaspian wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Had some free time today- who doesn't- and turned my mind to the fact that the Warwick xl lacks the sheer volume of space that our previous Kemerton had- by far! The Kemerton had the space heater fitted under the cab step but Warwick has it below the wardrobe so I removed the sticky covers hiding screws and unscrewed the 4 screws holding the step to the fibreglass upstand. There is a perfectly useable area below the step from the vent outlet in the middle to the sliding door.
I marked up the step hatch without removing the Sargent unit fixed behind driver seat as it is on long enough leads to allow work to progress. Next up was the moment of truth , I used a mini circular saw (Skil saw) to cut into the step and a careful plunge cut across the hinge side parallel to passenger seat rear. Next up was bit of a clean up and application of some matching edging before screwing and glueing in some reinforcement timber around the hole. A left over piece of piano hinge from previous project forms a nice opening hatch. I may line the inside with some carpet to avoid things rattling about but already have a few cheap mini baskets sized to fit the area perfectly.
All in took a couple of hours and cost next to nothing. As new hatch normally lives below the carpet may give a slightly more secure hole to store valuables etc or just a good area to store spares and tools etc. A small hand saw or jigsaw would do the cutting just as well. I ran out of edging so this will wait till we return to normality..... Surprised A/s don't exploit this area but then they are not known for forward thinking.....Ps may also be a mod for other models of pvc apart from 6 meter Kemerton for reasons stated above.

Has anyone done this to a Warwick Duo, (NON XL), if so, any pics or info would be much appreciated
Thanks
IanH

by kaspian Thu May 07, 2020 11:38 am

Ian I think you will find your van is more or less the same space wise . The only van I have seen so far that is not viable is the Kemerton 6m as the space heater is built into this area.

by Paulmold Thu May 07, 2020 11:41 am

Depends Ian if you actually have that step. My 2010 Duo does not.

by IanH Thu May 07, 2020 5:06 pm

Paulmold wrote:Depends Ian if you actually have that step. My 2010 Duo does not.

Thanks to all,

Here's a pic
Extra storage for pvc vans - Page 2 5

by Paulmold Thu May 07, 2020 5:55 pm

That's like mine, no step !

by kaspian Thu May 07, 2020 6:08 pm

No step = no good hugegrins

by IanH Thu May 07, 2020 9:22 pm

kaspian wrote:No step = no good

Kaspian and Paul

Just fwd of the cooker in the pic I posted is a STEP!!!!

The cab floor is higher than the habitation floor, surely that is a step??? scratch head

by Paulmold Thu May 07, 2020 9:38 pm

It's a slope not a step such as in the XL photo you posted. It's carpeted over (and very well stuck down) .
Did your previous Duo have such a step?

by IanH Fri May 08, 2020 6:55 am

Thanks Paul, as always your advice is good, however,,,,,,

The pic is the new Warwick Duo I have bought and its not an XL, just checked its 5999mm long
You did have me worried for a few seconds tho!!

Our previous Duo was identical and did have that "step" up to the flight deck as I call it.

I'll wait till I get it and see what I thiink, I have a 6mm dia boroscope camera so may drill a 7mm hole and stick it in to see what's there if it seems hollow

Thanks again
IanH

by rgermain Fri May 08, 2020 7:26 am

Be careful, if I recall correctly there is a screw down flap on the "sloping bit" under which is a load of electrics.
------------
Richard

by IanH Fri May 08, 2020 7:30 am

Thanks re electrics, if I find the screwed down flap then removing it is a much safer option. Whatever I find I will, of course, share on here

by kaspian Fri May 08, 2020 8:03 am

Ian looking at the photo, yes there is a step as you say but this is the metal van shell step created when the van body was built. If you look at one of my photos you will see that gold vertical 'wall ' inside the cut out. Your step ends immediately behind the seats. On my and others Van's there is at least an extra 12 inch step formed by a horizontal wooden step and a black vertical fibreglass moulding that contains some led floor lights to illuminate the floor area. Please don't go drilling holes in your van , it is as they say pointless! No point killing your ' frog' even if it is Italian....especially as the fuel and gas tanks are below that section.
You may like to look at my other mod to turn the rear sofa closing panels into doors to allow access to the bed/sofa boxes from the rear if the van. Saves a lot of fuss especially if like us you protect the upholstery by using throws.