so did I. guess the vw scene mostly focuses on makin oldtimers shiny for sunday afternoon drives....certainly not that great for an expidition vehicle.
@@martinsachs3837 a mitsubishi delica would be perfect for their travels, but they are too stuck on the 'cool vw vibes' even though they are notoriously expensive to repair and unreliable! they even need a new engine swap..
@@stevejeffrey11 you are right, they aren't the most reliable, but I don't know if you've ever driven one, there's just something about them, personally, I have a vanagon/T3 when I brought it home it was only running on 3 cylinders and on the first trip I took, the clutch went and I found the roof leaked, he wood from the original conversion was falling apart and the cooker was far from safe so I had to find another alternative, and yet through all of these drawbacks, there's just been nothing else like it, its more of a passion project than anything and I just love it
That's all I could think about during this episode. He needs to bring it somewhere that can align it and then bolt his frame supports down at the same time.
Relax. Maybe you’re trying too hard to make it all too perfect. It seems you enjoyed the travel and the people more. The van is a tool, a container, but you are the story. It seems, from a distance, that this illustrates the stark contrast between South America and the destinations you’re preparing for, where all is more complicated, expensive and maybe a little bit less of an adventure and more of a job. My two cents. I wish you the best.
Regardless of price, those welds look fantastic, and the structure looks well thought out. Well done. $50 for that garbage wood? Any fans in the mainland that can put you up for a few weeks while you do all the wood stuff?
I am not sure your attitude towards the problems that arise is the best one... You are always upset and nervous. The project should be an enjoyable one to execute! Have more fun! Enjoy more! Your Kombi (and life) is beautiful.... Take care.
Exactly... knew someone already had to have posted. Personally would do extensive suspension upgrades/work and different powerplant and drivetrain for such a journey. But, mechanical issues actually is what kept me glued to the original! Haha!
Thank you for sharing the reality of a van build. Huge kudos to your parents for letting you take over their driveway, garage, and laundry! Can't believe that you haven't been using a VPN - have you not seen/read about TH-camrs who've lost control of their accounts? Who the F gives your videos a thumbs down????
Westfalia’s have double floor pans for additional strength. They can be easily installed. Also find the eberspacher central floor board for more strength.
N911GT2: You missed another important detail...the Bus and Vanagon Westfalia's all utilized the sunroof version with its re-enforced roof structure. The Hi-Top camper versions (99.9% of the time) were converted from no-sun-roof Bus(s) and Vanagons....usually for the poor folks that could not afford the real-deal Westfalia here in the USA. By the time, they get to overloading their current Hi-Top, it's a given they will blow it up,stupidity of locating batteries in the engine bay; overloading the electrical system, this one to will go-up in flames to. That fire suppression installed is a joke....van will still be toast. One of the reasons I have watched their adventures,it's a different version of Road Kill...how stupid can these morons be?
D McNamara: Not very helpful, the BS you‘re putting out. Why exactly do you believe it will go up in flames? Better yet: what constructive suggestions do you have to prevent that? And what qualifies you for a) the criticism and b) the help you might be able to suggest?
Michael Tanner: You ever wonder why 99.9 of car manufactures locate the lead-acid batteries close to the headlight bucket area and low as possible for underhood installations?....To keep it cool as possible and speed-up flow of incoming air and outgoing air...to keep the sufuric gases/hydrogen gases from(building up) causing fires etc. when it comes into contact with other elements which are combustible. Ever seen how Toyota ventilates the Lithium pack for its Hybrids? (it bolts below rear seat)....Toyota has a HVAC fan system that constantly flows air in out of battery pack and car.....which also serves the 12volt gel-battery cooling needs to. An overheated Lithium battery is dangerous in itself...they can and do explode. VW Bus/Van have horrible circulation of fresh air in their bays....does not take a brain surgeon....one bad grind up a steep grade and those batteries get to critical-mass (heat wise).....that fire suppresion system wont stop it. It's why the Vanagon have the Batteries located under the front seat/wheel arch....far away from engine heat. Wonder why Medium-Duty and Big-Rigs,Industrial Equipment have their batteries located on trays far away from the engine.....even lead-acid batteries can cause havoc.
The last few mins of this video really hit me. I had a long distance relationship and I understand how difficult it can be when there's a time difference involved. My relationship ended sadly, but I hope this relationship perseveres.
yeah, not many people understand the strain that it puts on relationships, especially as time passes and you are still apart. Sorry to hear yours didn't work out
I dont think Sheep wool insulation will work,I saw on somebody else's video who was building a van for a trip that wool insulation in a vehicle makes the inside sweat so thats why you got puddles,the guy instead used spray foam insulation.
Hi there what kind of van did yours start out life as? i have a hole cut in my roof but my van has underfloor panels installed at factory to strengthen the van for this reason. you can tell underneath as you can see the floor panels and the beams running under the van if yours doesnt have them. you can purchase these from Alan H schofields in the uk and the can be welded bolted or riveted on adding much more rigidity.
@@KombiLife No problem! I love your channel. It is rare that you see someone stick to their ambitions this faithfully. when it comes to builds, especially frustrating ones with continual problems and living in a place that makes everything more difficult and expensive. I admire your perseverance. If I wasn't a poor college student, I would support you directly.
Wow, my hightop has steel reinforcements going up the ceiling and I always thought it was just a roll bar! Now I know it's for structural integrity too. Also, I just had to fix a leak too... Removed window, re caulked the whole thing, ducker still leaked. Put caulking on outside, still leaked! I ended up filming from inside the van while I filmed and poured water from outside the van. Watched the videos in unison and found the leak in a spot I didn't expect it to be... Try that before tearing the whole window out. Leak may be small and easily fixed and not where you thought it was.
also just want to say i feel your pain! my van has fought me at every step and you feel like giving up sometimes. fix one problem and three more things turn up. nothing ever fits when you get it, it all needs some fettling to make work. Most of the repro stuff is rubbish. my current thing is the gearbox has three gears! big expense!
Hey Ben and Leah my name is Taryn I’m in the Canadian military and I’m a long time follower of your travels I just wanted to say how awesome you guys are and what you are doing is absolutely insane. Remember everything you’ve been through in the past and remind yourself you can absolutely deal with anything that comes your way!! “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast” tell that to yourself and you’ll get through anything
I don't want to tell you how much it cost to get all that welding work done in Jersey......I miss Mexico😂 ► *NEXT EPISODE // DRIVING AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:* th-cam.com/video/cvL7jRKbcUc/w-d-xo.html Kombi Crew Members - Check out the extra 360 interactive VR Bonus Video we made for you - thanks for your support: YT: th-cam.com/video/Lv_EAVleRUc/w-d-xo.html Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/360-vr-build-21120024
Kombi Life it might feel expensive but this is such pro level work! Good job Ben, this thing looks like it’s seriously reinforced now and ready to go! You’ll look back at this set back and be glad it’s done and done professionally.
Hey Ben great video as always. It would have been nice to measure the flex (measure inside diagonal corner-to-corner distance with bus on flat ground, jack up one wheel and measure the change) before and after the stiffening to quantify the improvement. Just remember no matter how bad the build goes, you have found a way to get paid while living your dreams and making people happy by sharing your adventures with the rest of us. You have already won at life no matter what happens with the build.
Wow! It's interesting to know the impact on structural integrity when you do a high top addition! Good to discover the 'invisible' things before you seal up the van, and not down the road. Seems daunting but it may be Godsend :)
When building pumping stations (totally wet environment) we even isolate different alloys of stainless steel (304 & 316) from each other with phenolic sleeves & washers. I'm glad you were familiar with galvanic corrosion. It will prevent problems (and frustrations) in the future. I would think that a burnt finish would bring back bad memories.
Next time you have leaks, you put a smoke machine inside the van and put the van in a place with no wind. You will see the leaks in the seals quite clearly. Don't use water from outside, it's almost impossible to trace the leaks. Best regards Kim the Dane. Great build by the way👍
I know that the insulation philosophy is quite different in UK by trying to seal off the entire outside world, but my view is that you can never stop water from getting in (e.g., through the wheelhouse). That's why I'm doubtful of using wool - its ability to soak up water translates into keeping a nice, moist environment for the metal (which leads to rust). In Germany, we tend to use materials that don't soak up any water like Armaflex. Good luck with everything!
You guys can’t seem to catch a break!! At least you’re still at home and not somewhere off by yourselves with no support... I feel so sad for you two! I know how hard it is to be in a long distance relationship ( my mans in Canada and I’m stuck in Europe for the foreseeable future) and I can’t imagine how frustrating it has to be when you’re working on such a big project and you can’t even find time to call that fits for you both. I really think that everything’s gonna work out! Just don’t give up and keep at it!
Ur frustration is understandable but the reward at the end will be well worth it, u may not be aware of all ur learning o this build will make u the expert to help others and a possible source of income latter down the road as other encounter ur same issues , u also made ur van very structural sound so upgrading it to four wheel drive will only need the drive Trane making it a great advantage to buy ur van ..alot want to just get in and drive away , but u will never have to worry about a break down off grid and not be able to handle it urself ! So cheer up mate this is a huge blessing in the end!
The Volkswagen bus will always be the drivable collectors item because of its engenius simplicity ... Hitler was an evil man but how can it be that he also gave us the Volkswagen!
No panic, all you need is 3 simple perimeter frames in box section steel, I suggest one at A pillar, the B pillar and the rear door frame. You can then link the circular frames with straight bars at the waist line, floor and roof lines. You will end up with an internal steel space frame that will provide texcellent orsion stiffness and rollover protection.
DUDE, your resilience is incredible. Head up. Literally just been looking at getting a VPN for my 7 month trip soon... life/ money saver! LONG time love x
Good on you! You have the keep going attitude that is so lacking in many,,well me anyway! I remember your channel from several yrs ago when I first began my journey. No where near as exciting as yours tho. I am a single grandmother with a spinal cord injury. I can still walk using 2 canes but I can no longer drive...No worries tho..lots of tuc tucs in Central and South America where I have been traveling the past 3-1/2 yrs! Go Bomerang!
Great video. Very good thing you learned about all the structural issues now than later. BTW, one other very important other benefit of using wool is that it is one of the only insulators that can be wet, yet it will keep you warm. Which is why people love wool socks and blankets so much!
I like the reinforcements you installed. Very smooth and unobtrusive. I have worked with aluminium many times and it can be extremely strong when engineered well. It really looks like the fabricator knows what he was doing. You won't regret the cost of this effort down the road, I'd bet.
7:17 I agree. It's better that you've thought about this now, and are able to make it right. And whatever you do, don't stop and give up now! You must make it to Australia! Keep up the good work.
There are so many options and considerations when thinking about insulation. We went with wool as well. We liked it the most because it wicks moisture extremely well, is somewhat fire resistant (found that out when I was grinding on the bus :-/) and the best part is it does not off gas! Keep going on the bus, you're so close!
Its gonna be rust bucket at some point cause of that wool, but take that into sahara for a couple of months and moist will be gone. I use standartplast products and they wont suck moist, but if there´s moist make sure drains are open so there´s not gonna be standing water in cavities. For a structural rigidity kombi would need tubular roll gage from front to back but youll be fine with stock frame
With that aluminum built structure, you should be fine so long as you can keep all 4 wheels on the ground. You will have to keep an eye on your path otherwise you will have an issue with sections buckling or cracking and possible going through the fiberglass. You are lighter but I've offroaded small RVs and learned my lesson keep all 4 wheels on the ground and when you have to jack it up be careful and slow. Older sunbaked fiberglass does not like flexing
About oils: Personally i'm using Osmo wax-oils (which is pretty much danish oil i guess) when making my own furniture. One piece of furniture, where I used it extensively, has not required any touch-up after 2 years of usage, used it on pine which is rather soft wood and yet no issues so far even with dents and scratches. Do look into the Osmo product line.
Instead of framing the 4x4 section screw a hinge to that extra lil loose plateform, but also screw that loose platform in also with hinges. It'll all unfold with 2 pivoting sections....fold and unfold open and shut. But very kewl very nice...
LOL now your back window and windshield are going to take alot more stress and maybe fall out , we see this all the time on class A RVs with sway bar upgrades , put a piece of blue tab on the glass and dash , make a black line on them and drive with a cam looking at them and see if any thing is moving , if you see this then remove every thing you just did
I used a boxed x brace in the back over the engine compartment and bed for the same reason and turned that area into storage Have a good day THE GRUMPY BUS
Hey bro, you should know your perseverance is incredible and inspires me with so many ideas for my own creations, so keep it up. Here's hoping you swing by NZ in your travels!
Along with all those structural reinforcements, you've got to keep an eye on the added overall weight, making sure that your suspension and engine are still up to the task.
Thanks for all of the updates.👍 Ben you are doing this build with stride. I know it cant be easy, but you are such an amazing being and I'm proud of you.👍❣ Leah is to, I'm sure of it.💕💕 you both are such lovely beings and I cant wait for your days to come of happy travels.💕💕😊👍 keep up the great work and Better days are ahead of you.😊😊💕😊💕💕 oh yes, Alaska is very proud of you too and loves you very much.💞💞💞💞
You really need to do some underbody strengthening. Add some more support to connect the front and back and to keep it from twisting. Also get an alignment.
Every project, and I have done many, is blood, sweat and tears. You can do the blood. You can do the sweat. But it is the tears that get you. You say to yourself, "this cannot be happening to me".
I hope you've checked the laws in Australia regarding left hand drive vehicles,they only allow them on the roads under strict conditions,same applies in NZ.
I hope you vented the wool... wool has a thermal/moisture ratio where it will spontaeously combust. like oily/rags refererence OZ clippers to SF in the 1800s
I admire his passion, work ethic, and desire to successfully build this combi into a self sufficient touring vehicle. If you trace these videos right back there has been a repeating theme, a sever lack of research. The concept he is after is quite attainable but not in the configuration that he is doing, there is 3 things that he must do to have a successful build 1. Research, 2. Research some more 3. Continue to research.. When he rolled out the wool I too thought immediately of spon. com.as well. The thing that may save him though is the voids being devoid of sufficient oxygen to allow the heating pass the x over point where the process becomes exotheric (I wouldn’t risk it though)...
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
It's weird that noone at the experienced companies you worked with in the US noticed that huge flaw with the roof 😶
Stefan Leth Elbæk
Yeah, I’ve noticed that as well
so did I. guess the vw scene mostly focuses on makin oldtimers shiny for sunday afternoon drives....certainly not that great for an expidition vehicle.
@@martinsachs3837 a mitsubishi delica would be perfect for their travels, but they are too stuck on the 'cool vw vibes' even though they are notoriously expensive to repair and unreliable! they even need a new engine swap..
@@stevejeffrey11 I think he chooses the kombi because of.. it's a kombi
@@stevejeffrey11 you are right, they aren't the most reliable, but I don't know if you've ever driven one, there's just something about them, personally, I have a vanagon/T3 when I brought it home it was only running on 3 cylinders and on the first trip I took, the clutch went and I found the roof leaked, he wood from the original conversion was falling apart and the cooker was far from safe so I had to find another alternative, and yet through all of these drawbacks, there's just been nothing else like it, its more of a passion project than anything and I just love it
Your sponsors in the USA didn't notice this structural problem?????
@@357smithster Equally surprised. Some legendary names were involved in the rebuild. And no one noticed the missing pillars?
Never loose sight you have come so far
Lose, not loose. Loose is not tight
without a proper aligned frame machine you will never know if your van is actually straight.
That's all I could think about during this episode. He needs to bring it somewhere that can align it and then bolt his frame supports down at the same time.
I wasnt ready for all this drama in season 2. Cracks in the bus, cracks in the relationship...I cant handle this!
This could be a tv series!
It's a TH-cam series, it's even better 😉
It's not? It has the melodrama & classic TV formating...
Who watches tv????
TV? Ill have to ask grandad about that
Sometimes it's more like a soap opera
Ah geez, that sounds incredibly frustrating.
You were very strong to have gotten through that without giving up. Keep up the great work!
Cheers and thanks for your support and encouragement
who would have known that you can't set fire to a sheep!
Relax. Maybe you’re trying too hard to make it all too perfect. It seems you enjoyed the travel and the people more. The van is a tool, a container, but you are the story. It seems, from a distance, that this illustrates the stark contrast between South America and the destinations you’re preparing for, where all is more complicated, expensive and maybe a little bit less of an adventure and more of a job. My two cents. I wish you the best.
Regardless of price, those welds look fantastic, and the structure looks well thought out. Well done.
$50 for that garbage wood? Any fans in the mainland that can put you up for a few weeks while you do all the wood stuff?
I am not sure your attitude towards the problems that arise is the best one... You are always upset and nervous. The project should be an enjoyable one to execute! Have more fun! Enjoy more! Your Kombi (and life) is beautiful.... Take care.
I've seen Surfshark sponsoring other van life channels for the past couple of months. It's about damn time they found you!
:) We're connecting in to answer comments over our SurfShark VPN right now :) We're glad we got onto them too.
I would look at stiffening the main rails under the bus... you can get rid of a lot of the twisting with a couple braces on the main rails.
David Or fit belly pans, as done on double sliding door models
Exactly... knew someone already had to have posted.
Personally would do extensive suspension upgrades/work and different powerplant and drivetrain for such a journey.
But, mechanical issues actually is what kept me glued to the original! Haha!
Thank you for sharing the reality of a van build. Huge kudos to your parents for letting you take over their driveway, garage, and laundry! Can't believe that you haven't been using a VPN - have you not seen/read about TH-camrs who've lost control of their accounts? Who the F gives your videos a thumbs down????
stay strong! you will make it. you've persevered before.
the cliff hanger once again!!!!!! been watching since we meet in CA, like 5 years ago and went surfing and had a bbq at ur van...
That's awesome that you met Ben on his adventures 👍
Lucky bastard
Westfalia’s have double floor pans for additional strength. They can be easily installed. Also find the eberspacher central floor board for more strength.
N911GT2:
You missed another important detail...the Bus and Vanagon Westfalia's all utilized the sunroof version with its re-enforced roof structure.
The Hi-Top camper versions (99.9% of the time) were converted from no-sun-roof Bus(s) and Vanagons....usually for the poor folks that could not afford the real-deal Westfalia here in the USA.
By the time, they get to overloading their current Hi-Top, it's a given they will blow it up,stupidity of locating batteries in the engine bay; overloading the electrical system, this one to will go-up in flames to. That fire suppression installed is a joke....van will still be toast.
One of the reasons I have watched their adventures,it's a different version of Road Kill...how stupid can these morons be?
D McNamara: Not very helpful, the BS you‘re putting out. Why exactly do you believe it will go up in flames? Better yet: what constructive suggestions do you have to prevent that? And what qualifies you for a) the criticism and b) the help you might be able to suggest?
Michael Tanner:
You ever wonder why 99.9 of car manufactures locate the lead-acid batteries close to the headlight bucket area and low as possible for underhood installations?....To keep it cool as possible and speed-up flow of incoming air and outgoing air...to keep the sufuric gases/hydrogen gases from(building up) causing fires etc. when it comes into contact with other elements which are combustible.
Ever seen how Toyota ventilates the Lithium pack for its Hybrids? (it bolts below rear seat)....Toyota has a HVAC fan system that constantly flows air in out of battery pack and car.....which also serves the 12volt gel-battery cooling needs to. An overheated Lithium battery is dangerous in itself...they can and do explode.
VW Bus/Van have horrible circulation of fresh air in their bays....does not take a brain surgeon....one bad grind up a steep grade and those batteries get to critical-mass (heat wise).....that fire suppresion system wont stop it. It's why the Vanagon have the Batteries located under the front seat/wheel arch....far away from engine heat.
Wonder why Medium-Duty and Big-Rigs,Industrial Equipment have their batteries located on trays far away from the engine.....even lead-acid batteries can cause havoc.
@@dmcnamara9859 "how stupid can these morons be?" Stupid enough to have a half a million subscribers and multiple sponsors.
@@dmcnamara9859 I didn't miss that, but since it was cut already that wasn't an easy fix. The double floor pans are.
Simple answer to the leaking issue - just drive a route that hops from desert to desert!
Or wrap Boomerang?
Doesn't work like that in Aus mate
Wrap? You may as well get sticky tape. They will notice out here and the van will be defected.
The last few mins of this video really hit me. I had a long distance relationship and I understand how difficult it can be when there's a time difference involved. My relationship ended sadly, but I hope this relationship perseveres.
yeah, not many people understand the strain that it puts on relationships, especially as time passes and you are still apart. Sorry to hear yours didn't work out
I truly do hope things work out for you two and not just for content sake.
I dont think Sheep wool insulation will work,I saw on somebody else's video who was building a van for a trip that wool insulation in a vehicle makes the inside sweat so thats why you got puddles,the guy instead used spray foam insulation.
Hi there what kind of van did yours start out life as? i have a hole cut in my roof but my van has underfloor panels installed at factory to strengthen the van for this reason. you can tell underneath as you can see the floor panels and the beams running under the van if yours doesnt have them. you can purchase these from Alan H schofields in the uk and the can be welded bolted or riveted on adding much more rigidity.
Hope he sees this
Don't aim to make the van too perfect. The reason why I watched your expedition was the adventure that came out of it.
HAD to drop a like on this one, because I KNOW you are frustrated. Love you, man. Keep it up! Were all rooting for you!!
Thanks for your support Luke.
@@KombiLife No problem! I love your channel. It is rare that you see someone stick to their ambitions this faithfully. when it comes to builds, especially frustrating ones with continual problems and living in a place that makes everything more difficult and expensive. I admire your perseverance. If I wasn't a poor college student, I would support you directly.
Wow, my hightop has steel reinforcements going up the ceiling and I always thought it was just a roll bar! Now I know it's for structural integrity too.
Also, I just had to fix a leak too... Removed window, re caulked the whole thing, ducker still leaked. Put caulking on outside, still leaked! I ended up filming from inside the van while I filmed and poured water from outside the van. Watched the videos in unison and found the leak in a spot I didn't expect it to be... Try that before tearing the whole window out. Leak may be small and easily fixed and not where you thought it was.
also just want to say i feel your pain! my van has fought me at every step and you feel like giving up sometimes. fix one problem and three more things turn up. nothing ever fits when you get it, it all needs some fettling to make work. Most of the repro stuff is rubbish. my current thing is the gearbox has three gears! big expense!
Chris Edwards Is it a European van?
Hey Ben and Leah my name is Taryn I’m in the Canadian military and I’m a long time follower of your travels I just wanted to say how awesome you guys are and what you are doing is absolutely insane. Remember everything you’ve been through in the past and remind yourself you can absolutely deal with anything that comes your way!! “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast” tell that to yourself and you’ll get through anything
Cheers Taryn, thanks for watching and for your encouragement
I don't want to tell you how much it cost to get all that welding work done in Jersey......I miss Mexico😂
► *NEXT EPISODE // DRIVING AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:* th-cam.com/video/cvL7jRKbcUc/w-d-xo.html
Kombi Crew Members - Check out the extra 360 interactive VR Bonus Video we made for you - thanks for your support:
YT: th-cam.com/video/Lv_EAVleRUc/w-d-xo.html
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Keep up the good work on the video's . your biggest fan!
Thanks for watching!
Keep at it, brother. You're a lot closer to being done than you think and the reward is a first class ticket around the world! I can't wait!!!!
Why you decided to overlay music in the middle of the explanation of reinforcement is beyond me. Made it super hard to understand.
Kombi Life it might feel expensive but this is such pro level work! Good job Ben, this thing looks like it’s seriously reinforced now and ready to go! You’ll look back at this set back and be glad it’s done and done professionally.
I would have screamed and punched that van if i wouldve found that leak xD
I'm reassured and avoiding sharing your stress, knowing that all these issues are sorted by now, so long after they actually happened.
Hey Ben great video as always. It would have been nice to measure the flex (measure inside diagonal corner-to-corner distance with bus on flat ground, jack up one wheel and measure the change) before and after the stiffening to quantify the improvement. Just remember no matter how bad the build goes, you have found a way to get paid while living your dreams and making people happy by sharing your adventures with the rest of us. You have already won at life no matter what happens with the build.
Instal a wide shelf into the roof above the bed
Love how much the microphone distorted when you were mad about the window
Wow! It's interesting to know the impact on structural integrity when you do a high top addition! Good to discover the 'invisible' things before you seal up the van, and not down the road. Seems daunting but it may be Godsend :)
When building pumping stations (totally wet environment) we even isolate different alloys of stainless steel (304 & 316) from each other with phenolic sleeves & washers. I'm glad you were familiar with galvanic corrosion. It will prevent problems (and frustrations) in the future. I would think that a burnt finish would bring back bad memories.
You can do it!
Stay positive.
I believe in you and your quest.
♥️🇨🇦
We used sheeps wool in our camper van / windsurfing van. It works really well. Can have the heating on all night and still frost on the outside.
Don't loose hope, stay strong. Anything really worth while is hard to accomplish but so worth it.
Well...no lack of drama in the new series, I'll be ready to be fitted for my sheep wool straight jacket after this.
Next time you have leaks, you put a smoke machine inside the van and put the van in a place with no wind. You will see the leaks in the seals quite clearly. Don't use water from outside, it's almost impossible to trace the leaks. Best regards Kim the Dane. Great build by the way👍
I know that the insulation philosophy is quite different in UK by trying to seal off the entire outside world, but my view is that you can never stop water from getting in (e.g., through the wheelhouse). That's why I'm doubtful of using wool - its ability to soak up water translates into keeping a nice, moist environment for the metal (which leads to rust). In Germany, we tend to use materials that don't soak up any water like Armaflex. Good luck with everything!
Keep it up man, we are supportive of you
Operation Boomerang!She is a character she’s looking fantastic!keep up the amazing work!
I like how the montage of them reinforcing the roof is edited like some kind of heist
You guys can’t seem to catch a break!!
At least you’re still at home and not somewhere off by yourselves with no support...
I feel so sad for you two! I know how hard it is to be in a long distance relationship ( my mans in Canada and I’m stuck in Europe for the foreseeable future) and I can’t imagine how frustrating it has to be when you’re working on such a big project and you can’t even find time to call that fits for you both. I really think that everything’s gonna work out! Just don’t give up and keep at it!
Ur frustration is understandable but the reward at the end will be well worth it, u may not be aware of all ur learning o this build will make u the expert to help others and a possible source of income latter down the road as other encounter ur same issues , u also made ur van very structural sound so upgrading it to four wheel drive will only need the drive Trane making it a great advantage to buy ur van ..alot want to just get in and drive away , but u will never have to worry about a break down off grid and not be able to handle it urself ! So cheer up mate this is a huge blessing in the end!
The Volkswagen bus will always be the drivable collectors item because of its engenius simplicity ... Hitler was an evil man but how can it be that he also gave us the Volkswagen!
My favorite part of Thursday is seeing a new Kombi Life video
Be careful with the wool gathering moisture, if the metal around it isn't treated it can lead to rust
The bus is looking amazing! Definitely life goals for me!
No panic, all you need is 3 simple perimeter frames in box section steel, I suggest one at A pillar, the B pillar and the rear door frame. You can then link the circular frames with straight bars at the waist line, floor and roof lines. You will end up with an internal steel space frame that will provide texcellent orsion stiffness and rollover protection.
DUDE, your resilience is incredible. Head up. Literally just been looking at getting a VPN for my 7 month trip soon... life/ money saver! LONG time love x
Good on you! You have the keep going attitude that is so lacking in many,,well me anyway! I remember your channel from several yrs ago when I first began my journey. No where near as exciting as yours tho. I am a single grandmother with a spinal cord injury. I can still walk using 2 canes but I can no longer drive...No worries tho..lots of tuc tucs in Central and South America where I have been traveling the past 3-1/2 yrs!
Go Bomerang!
My advice to you buddy!
Remove your beloved VW tags!
Suck it up Butter cup!
And install on a Toyota HiAce Van
And get on with your journey!
Great video. Very good thing you learned about all the structural issues now than later. BTW, one other very important other benefit of using wool is that it is one of the only insulators that can be wet, yet it will keep you warm. Which is why people love wool socks and blankets so much!
That window leaking part... Good to know I'm not the only one with leaking windows. Keep up the great videos guys!!!
..just like an old west covered wagon..lol. research and development is required on any custom build..great job..
I like the reinforcements you installed. Very smooth and unobtrusive. I have worked with aluminium many times and it can be extremely strong when engineered well. It really looks like the fabricator knows what he was doing. You won't regret the cost of this effort down the road, I'd bet.
hopefully not :)
Hang in there guys! Setbacks are always part of the deal. Boomerang is looking great 👍
7:17 I agree. It's better that you've thought about this now, and are able to make it right. And whatever you do, don't stop and give up now! You must make it to Australia! Keep up the good work.
There are so many options and considerations when thinking about insulation. We went with wool as well. We liked it the most because it wicks moisture extremely well, is somewhat fire resistant (found that out when I was grinding on the bus :-/) and the best part is it does not off gas! Keep going on the bus, you're so close!
Cheers Ian - slowly getting there!
Its gonna be rust bucket at some point cause of that wool, but take that into sahara for a couple of months and moist will be gone. I use standartplast products and they wont suck moist, but if there´s moist make sure drains are open so there´s not gonna be standing water in cavities. For a structural rigidity kombi would need tubular roll gage from front to back but youll be fine with stock frame
With that aluminum built structure, you should be fine so long as you can keep all 4 wheels on the ground. You will have to keep an eye on your path otherwise you will have an issue with sections buckling or cracking and possible going through the fiberglass. You are lighter but I've offroaded small RVs and learned my lesson keep all 4 wheels on the ground and when you have to jack it up be careful and slow. Older sunbaked fiberglass does not like flexing
About oils: Personally i'm using Osmo wax-oils (which is pretty much danish oil i guess) when making my own furniture. One piece of furniture, where I used it extensively, has not required any touch-up after 2 years of usage, used it on pine which is rather soft wood and yet no issues so far even with dents and scratches. Do look into the Osmo product line.
So glad I have signal right now!! I’m so hyped.
We all have our “first times”. What important is the lesson we learned from all the setbacks and mistakes of the past. Charged to experience.
Adventure wagons were built from factory rear sunroof buses so had belly pans fitted. May be worth fitting some to bullet proof
I can feel your frustrations man, you can do it, rest but never quit.
Instead of framing the 4x4 section screw a hinge to that extra lil loose plateform, but also screw that loose platform in also with hinges.
It'll all unfold with 2 pivoting sections....fold and unfold open and shut.
But very kewl very nice...
I‘m a little scared for the next episode 😬 Enjoyed this one though!
LOL now your back window and windshield are going to take alot more stress and maybe fall out , we see this all the time on class A RVs with sway bar upgrades , put a piece of blue tab on the glass and dash , make a black line on them and drive with a cam looking at them and see if any thing is moving , if you see this then remove every thing you just did
He is back NICE LOVE THE SERIES
I thought a Vanagon Syncro would have been ideal. Using an antique vehicle for traveling the world isn’t the purpose of the channel.
I used a boxed x brace in the back over the engine compartment and bed for the same reason and turned that area into storage
Have a good day
THE GRUMPY BUS
An internal water feature 💦 Our van has a few of those. Keep the faith Ben. We know you can do it.
So happy another episode popped up in my feed, been so bored today! love this, should be sponsored by discovery or some other documentary company!
Cheers Bingo - maybe one day mate - Glad we brought a smile to your face
Hey bro, you should know your perseverance is incredible and inspires me with so many ideas for my own creations, so keep it up. Here's hoping you swing by NZ in your travels!
Cheers Tom. Hard work makes the end result so much sweeter.
Leah looking younger and much better, Ben looking rough! hahaha! Good Luck friends!! Saludos desde Denver, CO.
Ha ha, aint that the truth!
Buy in USA
Ship to UK
Build in uK
Ship to OZ
Would have been cheaper to buy a decent van in OZ
Think your missing the point. We are driving to Aus.
still following you guys. hang in there, i think it will be worth it.
DON’T GIVE UP!!!
Along with all those structural reinforcements, you've got to keep an eye on the added overall weight, making sure that your suspension and engine are still up to the task.
You’re right about that.
Thanks for all of the updates.👍 Ben you are doing this build with stride. I know it cant be easy, but you are such an amazing being and I'm proud of you.👍❣ Leah is to, I'm sure of it.💕💕 you both are such lovely beings and I cant wait for your days to come of happy travels.💕💕😊👍 keep up the great work and Better days are ahead of you.😊😊💕😊💕💕 oh yes, Alaska is very proud of you too and loves you very much.💞💞💞💞
Thanks Shirley
Remember that scene from herbie when they split in half, haha could you imagine that happening
You really need to do some underbody strengthening. Add some more support to connect the front and back and to keep it from twisting. Also get an alignment.
Boomerang is looking very nice, i am anticipating the final reveal.
Stay strong both of ya it will work out and will be worth it.Set back's suck I know but the end result will be awesome.
WOW so much work. I’m tired just watching 😜
The air cooled engine, it not made for extended high-speed travel, it is not an aircraft. Go fluid cooled turbo diesel. could be hybrid electric.
Chin up Ben. Way better to find all this now then down the road when you have it all put together. Best to sort it out now.
Welcome to the world of doing things properly. It sucks!
My hat's off to you for sticking with a vintage vehicle for this, can we have an idea of cost when finished.
Build a colapsable cross member...from corner to corner like a big kiss...use it only when driving....maybe add two cross supports...store in hightop
wow...you totally solved that problem.
Nice engineering.
Not sure if it's the window or the glue but throw a layer of marine silicone to prevent leakage that's what I do in the boat world makes er mint! Bud
you need to go to a frame straightening shop. you need to make sure the frame is straight before you repair the roof.
Did that.
Every project, and I have done many, is blood, sweat and tears. You can do the blood. You can do the sweat. But it is the tears that get you. You say to yourself, "this cannot be happening to me".
Lizard skin for sound deadening and insulation is a great option. Then wool or Thinsolate for secondary insulation.
I hope you've checked the laws in Australia regarding left hand drive vehicles,they only allow them on the roads under strict conditions,same applies in NZ.
hang in there man!!! Walk away for a day or few hours for a coffee. It will be worth it in the end !! watching from California
I hope you vented the wool... wool has a thermal/moisture ratio where it will spontaeously combust.
like oily/rags
refererence OZ clippers to SF in the 1800s
I admire his passion, work ethic, and desire to successfully build this combi into a self sufficient touring vehicle. If you trace these videos right back there has been a repeating theme, a sever lack of research. The concept he is after is quite attainable but not in the configuration that he is doing, there is 3 things that he must do to have a successful build 1. Research, 2. Research some more 3. Continue to research..
When he rolled out the wool I too thought immediately of spon. com.as well. The thing that may save him though is the voids being devoid of sufficient oxygen to allow the heating pass the x over point where the process becomes exotheric (I wouldn’t risk it though)...
Nice build. So much easier to just buy airline tickets to your travel destination and then rent a car for sight seeing.
Hey Ben and Leah,
Plz don't break up.
P.s. I wish I had a UK visa, and could help you in building Boomerang