Seeking advice - T3, Synchro, T5 4Motion, Camper

**transparu** · 08-08-2009, 12:39 PM

This MAY be a dangerous question to ask.

I've been driving a T3 Trakka conversion camper for over 25 years. I put in a Subaru EJ22 in 1992 and it has been great, however after 25 years a change could be good - though I know it pretty well.

I am looking at upgrading (to another not-new vehicle). We want a walk-through van. I have been toying with the idea of looking seriously for a T3 syncro but have wondered about a T5 4motion. (I have been warned off T4s but can't give a good reason.) A poptop Landcruiser has also been suggested as a 4WD replacement but it isn't walk-through.

Is anyone able to comment on a T5 4motion camper and make any comparisons with earlier VWs or with alternatives?
Has anyone done their own camper conversion on a T5?

Thanks

Dave

There is a UK book:
"How to Convert a Volkswagen T5 Van to a Camper"
by Lindsay Porter, FWIW

**gregozedobe** · 08-08-2009, 06:12 PM

I had an 80 series landcruiser before I bought my T5 LWB van. The T5 has a huge amount more room, but even with 4motion wouldn't perform in rough going as well as the landcruiser. Even an extended Troopie wouldn't have the same room as the T5.

Ii comes down to whether you want room and comfort (T5) or heavy duty off road ability (landcruiser).

Lots of happy people here with T5 4motions, a search will probably find a few posts with their experiences. The Brickyard is a good UK forum with lots of T5 info as well.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/forums.html

I'd expect the landcruiser to be more reliable (some T5s have a few problems), but use more fuel.

**4wheels** · 08-08-2009, 06:33 PM

Hi Dave,

I see you're new here, but I'm sure I've seen your user name on some other forum.

I upgraded from a T3 Syncro (no 'h' in syncro) home built camper that I'd had for 10 years, to a new T5 Trakkadu in 2007. It was a big step for me to spend nearly $100k on a new van, but I'd decided I wanted something new (and this was before the GFC hit).

In comparing the two, I'd say the T3 Syncro's are the better off road vehicle, but the T5 is way ahead for general cruising, with all the modern creature comforts, and finally VW have made a van the really goes (in the 128Kw version, at least). The T3 will cruise at highway speeds, but is working hard doing it (unless you transfer your Subaru conversion into a Syncro), and while they're good when they're good, they can be expensive when things go wrong.

For off-road use, the T3's have a much shorter wheelbase (especially compared to the LWD T5, which most campers use), giving better 'ramp over' angles, and are also less vulnerable underneath for serious off road work. And, I guess, being older, you're not going to be as concerned about little scratches and dents.

Trakka do an 'off road pack' for the Trakkadu, which would resolve most of the limitations, but it's pretty expensive (see www.trakka.com.au ). I'd already stretched my budget just with the standard version so I didn't get that, but I did get the 4Motion, with a rear diff-lock. This has proven to be pretty effective as I did the Kombis to the Kape trip last year with a group of (mainly) T3's. You can read about it here (it's a fairly long post) http://forums.kombiclub.com/showthre...is+to+the+Kape

So you need to think about just what you want to do with your new van, and how much, and how serious, off-roading you want to do. Unless you're really going hard core off-roading, I'd recommend the T5 4Motion. Get a diff lock if you can, although that might be harder in the secondhand market. There's been a lot of ex-ambulances going through the auctions, a few of which have been 4Motion, so that might be worth a look. You'll have to be prepared to do your own conversions with these though, as Trakka (and presumably other converters) are not set up to deal with the double sliders that the ambulances have.

happy hunting

Brian
2007 Trakkadu 4Motion

**transparu** · 09-08-2009, 01:28 PM

Thanks gregozedobe,
I appreciate the comments and advice. Yes, I've read a little in the brick-yard and will look for more.

One issue of importance is that ANYwhere in Australia Toyota know-how and parts are much more likely to be had than those for VWs. (I was criticised a year or so back for having a VW at Yowah, a little west of Cunnamulla. Mind you, I have travelled the Strzlecki track twice and the Birdsville track too in recent times in my 27 y.o. VW!)

Space in a T3 is pretty light-on and I do suspect that the reduced floor space in a Landcruiser might get us down. Walk through is a great feature too!

Thanks again for the response.

Dave

**transparu** · 09-08-2009, 01:46 PM

G'day Brian,

I appreciate your taking the time to respond so fully. At first I misread your post and though you were implying something about MY age! I realised when I reread it that you were referring to my van, of course, but I guess I am well over twice its age.

Yep, you'll have seen me on other forums in Australia and elsewhere.

Your personal experience and comments are most helpful. I have seen the 4motion Trakkadu advertised and it sounds like a dream. There HAVE been a couple advertised second hand, but they aren't common.

With the other member of the family not being keen on fair-dinkum off-road travel, I think the abilities of a T5 4motion would be sufficient but I would always be a bit worried about clearance. I guess practice makes perfect.

I'd like to do my own conversion (having owned three different ones in three countries and driven another in the US), but there would be some resistance whilst there are two bathrooms to renovate and a lot of other stuff around the house.

Thanks for all the comments - and if you see a vehicle coming up for sale, please email me!

Thanks again.

Dave

oh - the error in the Topic was a genuine spolling mistoke.

**gregozedobe** · 10-08-2009, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by transparu

With the other member of the family not being keep on fair-dinkum off-road travel, I think the abilities of a T5 4motion would be sufficient but I would always be a bit worried about clearance. I guess practice makes perfect.

I firmly believe the ability of the driver is way more significant than that of the vehicle they are driving. When I had my Landcruiser I ocassionally used to see how far I couuld get just using 2WD (that way you can get a driving challange without getting into the seriously scary/damaging stuff). With the right technique it was surprising just what stuff you could drive in only 2WD (and with an open rear diff at that).

Picking the right line and knowing when to turn back are probably the two most important off road skills anyone can learn. Investing in a short training session with a good professional 4WD instructor may help you get the best out of your T5 4motion when you finally find one (and save learning some lessons the hard/expensive way).

Cheers,

Greg C

**transparu** · 10-08-2009, 08:01 AM

Yes,

Thanks Greg. I agree re the care in choosing a path. I did some pretty hairy things in a little Austin as a youth.

I do have formal 4WD training.

Dave

**Seano** · 10-08-2009, 10:08 AM

Given the prices that one can get a used basic T5 for these days then there's no real reason to cast you mind back to a T4 syncro like mine.

As someone who used and abused their T4 on dirt roads in the middle of nowhere right from the get go...lived in far west NSW, purchased new in Sydney and the first service was done in Perth....I can happily confirm that a T4 will suit your needs. BUt a T5 might well be a better long term arguement.

Main reasons are the improved suspension set-up, driveline and service intervals of a T5.

The T4 torsion bars are not ideal in the dirt - they travel further when they are warm and you need to be attentive to road conditions lest you skin the chin - also the front shocks cop a heap as a result and the resultant pogo is not pleasant.

The T4 driveline is just not as good as the T5. The Tdi's and the six speed gearbox in the T5 is a great cruising combination....couple that with the lack of the expensive, heavy and notoriously difficult to source T4 syncro rear diff...and the T5 has the driveability down pat.

Service intervals are what really kil the T4 TDi's - a new engine timing belt & water pump every 60,000km (at a cost of $1,200) is plainly ridiculous.

Hunt down a T5 4motion....

Despite all this........I'll be keeping the T4. I just can't justify the cost of entry into a T5 given that my own car is near enough to worthless these days. Besides I know this unit and its quirks.....and it continues to eat dirt roads just the same. With the way things are going with fuel and technology (coupled with the low mileage of my rig) I reckon I might well have a drive it till it dies proposition.