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Wheels, everything you need to know! From wheel size to load rating, it’s all here.
Already know your stuff? See some of our FAVOURITE BRANDS.
If you prefer to shop by vehicle type, we’ve got your favourite wheels to suit the VW T5 & T6, the VW Caddy, and the increasingly popular Ford Transit Custom & Connect platforms.
Download a PDF version of this blog here
If you’re looking to buy a new set of wheels (with intentions of improving appearance, comfort, or performance) you will need a set that fits your van correctly according to particular specifications.
You might be asking…
How do I choose the right wheels for my needs?
What’s PCD?
What offset should I be running and how do I calculate it?
What size of alloys will work best with my suspension setup?
What tyres do I need for my wheels?
Our wheel-dedicated blog post will give you everything you need as a van owner to make an educated decision on the most suitable (practically & aesthetically) wheels for your build. Here you’ll find the pros & cons of wheel size & width, the tricky-to-grasp offset debate, PCD, and, most importantly, load ratings attached to wheels & tyres alike.
- 275 WIDTH The width of the tyre measured in millimetres. This is largely determined by the actual rim width & can be increased or decreased to achieve perfect tyre fitments.
- 40 PROFILE Tyre profile is, effectively, the depth of the tyre wall. The 40 refers to the ratio of tyre wall to tyre width. Therefore, our tyre above has a tyre wall 40% (or 0.4) the depth of 275mm. This gives us a tyre profile of roughly 110mm.
- R20 DIAMETER This is the most self-explanatory part of the tyre wall. The 20 simply refers to the actual rim diameter this tyre is designed to fit. Once again, this is measured in inches.
- 106 LOAD Tyre load ratings are usually displayed as 2 or 3-digit numbers. These are as (if not more) important than your wheel’s load rating. These numbers correspond to load ratings in KG per tyre.
The first question you should be asking yourself might be…
What am I using my van for?
Answering this question may be able to help you decide on whether you need alloy wheels or steels.
Wheel size is perhaps the most deterministic factor when deciding on a set. When browsing our wheels, the two dimensions to take notice of are rim diameter (measured in inches) and rim width (also measured in inches).
In terms of diametre, bigger is usually better. Well, not too big. We, along with many other camper enthusiasts, have found 20” to be the sweet spot. That being said, popular sizes range from 16” to 20” depending on the application.
You’ll see this displayed most frequently as 20×8.5 for example. The ‘20’ refers to the diameter of the wheel in inches.
Width is a slightly more important factor than the previously mentioned diametre. This measurement largely determines how the wheel behaves on the road, what size tyres you buy, and the overall rolling resistance of the wheels.
Manufacturers typically don’t fit wheels any wider than 7J. We’ll come back to that ‘J’ later. From a manufacturer’s point of view, 7J is more than enough to achieve the desired levels of grip, comfort, and support the vehicle requires.
However, we, as van owners, want more. Much like diametre, bigger, in this case, wider, is better. We want 8J, 9J, and even up to 10J on some staggered width sets. Let’s take a look at how this is measured.
Again, you’ll find this represented most frequently as 20×8.5 or something similar. The ‘8.5’ refers to the width of the wheel in inches. As a stand-alone measurement, this will likely be displayed as 8.5J.
Put simply, PCD, or Pitch Circle Diameter, is the distance between the mounting holes on both your hub and wheels alike. This measurement, unlike size & width, is represented in millimetres. Some of our common PCDs at Vanstyle are 5×120, 5×108, and 5×112.
The first half of this measurement is simple. The 5 represents the number of holes per wheel. The second number represents the diameter of the pitch diameter circle. Simple as that. As long as you fit wheels with the same PCD as your current one (or according to your van’s spec) they’ll fit like OE wheels.
Offset, like many of the previous points, is an important factor when selecting the right wheels for your van. Put simply, offset (often seen as ET) determines how far in or out the face of your wheel sits in relation to the mounting surface. This is most commonly referred to as ‘poke’.
A lower positive offset (let’s say et32) gives more poke than a greater positive offset (et50). 18mm more to be precise.
That’s right, offset is also measured in millimetres.
Typically, the offset can be found stamped on the back of a spoke.
Each of the above wheels shares the same width, only the offsets vary. A positive offset places the mounting surface towards the face of the wheel in relation to the centre line, whilst a negative offset places the mounting surface further towards the rear of the wheel. ET0 is neutral positioning.
Measured in millimetres, the centre bore of a wheel is designed to fit snugly over the hub on your vehicle. OE wheels almost always match since they are specifically tailored to the vehicle in question. However, since aftermarket wheels aren’t vehicle specific, a spigot ring is likely going to be a necessary component to make the wheel fit that hub snugly.
This shouldn’t be a worry for you, however. We supply all wheels with the correct spigot rings (if required at all). One we see very often is 72.6mm – 65.1mm. Quite self-explanatory, this spigot ring adapts your 76.2mm wheel centre bore to fit the fixed 65.1mm hub diameter. Get it?
Always use spigots where required! They’re vital to a safe-fitting wheel.
Load ratings are arguably the most influential factor when selecting new wheels for a commercial vehicle. If they don’t meet your axle weights, they can’t be installed. Simple as that.
Don’t let this get you down, however. We, at Vanstyle, pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of hand-picked wheels from some of the world’s leading manufacturers, chosen specifically to be run on even the weightiest of campers. Rest assured, we’ve got you covered!
How might I check my vehicle’s axle weight?
Luckily, manufacturers make this really simple to check.
On most vans, this can be found on the vehicle plate located in a prominent area, typically in the door jamb or under the bonnet. Let’s take a VW for example, it should look a little something like this.
Here’s how a typical chassis plate might look on your van
The chassis plate contains vital information about your vehicle, including your chassis number as well as some important numbers around your van’s towing and carrying capabilities.
Let’s go through the numbers.
- 2800kg gives us the vehicle’s gross weight. In the Transporter world, this is where we get the T28 designation.
- 5200kg resembles the vehicle’s gross weight plus the maximum allowed trailer load.
- 01 – 1600kg gives us the vehicle’s front axle weight.
- 02 – 1550kg gives us the vehicle’s rear axle weight.
Disruption to Courier Services June 2023
Update Tuesday 27th June 2023 – 7pm
Thank you for your patience whilst we have been addressing our courier services issues further to the recent administration of Tuffnells.
On Thursday 22nd June we started moving our long-length parcels once again with our new courier partner, DX Freight.
Customers are now successfully receiving their goods and our warehouse team is now more or less caught up with the backlog which had been created whilst we have now long-length shipper services available.
By the end of this week, we anticipate all orders for in-stock long-length (or large volume items such as wheels & tyres), will be back on normal delivery terms of 2-3 working days.
For customers who have their items caught up in the Tuffnells network, we are working with the Tuffnells administrators to recover these parcels and we will be in contact with you as soon as possible.
Once, again we thank you for your patience and support during what has been a very hectic period, especially whilst we have also been a little short-staffed.
Thank you
Vanstyle
Update Tuesday 20th June 2023 – 7pm
We are pleased to report that our new courier services are now in operation.
Earlier today we have been able to go live with our courier services for long length parts with DX Freight.
Our team are now working through the back log of orders from the oldest through to the most recent.
We anticipate it is still going to take around another week to clear the back log and get up to date before we are in a position to have despatch times back to our normal levels.
The first batch of parcels have been loaded onto vehicles today and will begin passing through the network tomorrow. First deliveries will be with our customers from Thursday this week.
As mentioned in our previous updates, we will be working through the orders on a first in – first out basis.
We thank you for your continued patience and support.
Thank You
Vanstyle
Update Monday 19th June 2023 – 7pm
Further to the previous updates about our courier services, we were expecting to be able to bring news of the first batch of parcels having been re-labelled to be shipped with our new courier provider and for those parcels being out into the delivery network as of Tuesday 20th June.
Unfortunately, that is not yet the case and we are now awaiting updates from our new courier partner before 10am on Tuesday 20th June.
Therefore our current status remains as peer the update on Friday 16th June (below) where long length items are still on our warehouse floor awaiting collection, or in the case of orders which have been placed for long length items since Monday 12th June, they are sat as pending orders waiting to be processed through our system.
We have our full team of staff waiting to process these orders as a matter of priority as soon as we have the courier systems implemented and our team will be working as quickly as possible, as well as putting in additional hours, to get your parcels to you as quickly as possible.
If you need to contact us about your order, we would urge you to contact us by email via sales@vanstyle.co.uk
We apologise for the continued delay and thank you for your patience and understanding at this time.
Thank You
Vanstyle
Update Friday 16th June 2023 – 3pm
As reported earlier this week we have been facing disruption to our delivery services for long-length parcels further to the news of Tuffnells having gone into administration. On Monday 12th June.
Given the volume of parcels we move on a daily basis, the migration of our business to another courier provider raises many logistical challenges.
We have identified another courier partner who we can work with to move our freight, and are in the latter stages of ensuring the necessary measures are in place to be able to move parcels from our warehouse to their depots and out into their network for delivery to your door.
Rest assured this has been a matter of the highest priority for us throughout the week and we are committed to getting normal service resumed as quickly as possible.
We are now just working on the final details to get this implemented and we have been told we can expect to gain confirmation of the service by Monday 19th June.
So long as there are no further stumbling blocks, we will then be in a position to see the first of our large parcels moving into the new network from Tuesday 20th June with the first deliveries arriving with our customers by midweek.
Orders will be dealt with on a first in, first out basis and our warehouse team will be working extra hours to get these orders out as quickly as possible.
We will provide an update on the situation by lunchtime on Monday via our website.
For customers who have parcels that were already in transit at the time of Tuffnells administration, we are now in dialogue with the administrators to try and retrieve these parcels as quickly as possible.
We are unable to get at them immediately but we have vehicles on standby to collect them as soon as we are granted access and then these parcels will be forwarded on – unless you have already contacted us to cancel your order.
If you need to speak to us about your order, we would urge you to contact us by email via sales@vanstyle.co.uk.
Our phone lines remain very busy and we apologise for the delay in answering, but we are getting to you as quickly as possible and we do have new staff members due to join the team very soon to help us with the demand on the phones.
Our customer service team will have no further updates to this message at this time.
Any significant updates will be communicated this page and through our social media channels.
Once again, we would like to reiterate that smaller parcels remain unaffected by this disruption as they are already shipped with a different courier.
We thank you for your business and for your patience and hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the sunshine.
Thank you
Vanstyle
Update Thursday 15th June 2023 – 3.30pm
Thank you for your continued patience whilst we deal with the issues around delivery of our long-length parcels.
As reported below, our services have been disrupted this week further to the announcement of Tuffnells going into administration.
The large majority of our orders continue to be processed as normal.
It is orders which contain long-length items (generally, sidebars, roofbars, front splitters, bonnet deflectors, awning rails and sunvisors) which are experiencing the delay.
Our team has been working incredibly hard to get the necessary transport logistics in place to move these items on and get them delivered to customers as quickly as possible.
We are moving closer to a solution and expect to have further news to share by 5pm on Friday 16th June.
A further update will be provided at that time (or before).
In the meantime, we thank you for your patience and please rest assured we are doing everything possible to get your goods on the move as quickly as we can.
Thank you
Vanstyle
Update 12th June 2023
On Monday 12th June 2023, Tuffnells, the express courier parcel service, went into administration which will have a short-term impact to some of our delivery services.
Tuffnells were our courier provider for deliveries of our longer-length parcels, so typically delivering products such as sidebars, roofbars, front splitters, and bonnet deflectors amongst others.
As a result, some orders placed between Wednesday the 7th June and Monday 12th June will experience delays whilst we deploy the alternative services.
We are now working as fast as possible to put services in place with alternative courier providers who can handle long-length parcels.
A small number of parcels that were already out in Tuffnells depots prior to the announcement are being recalled and we will be in contact with those customers affected as soon as possible.
Further updates will be made via this information page and our social media channels as things progress and we expect only a short-term delay to services.
We are already experiencing a high volume of calls to our sales office due to the high seasonal demand for goods, so if your enquiry is in relation to the delivery of parts, please be patient.
We will keep all customers informed of the service updates as soon as we have more information and our Senior Management team is working on the matter as the highest priority.
Orders for smaller items (typically packages below 1.4m in length) are unaffected by the news from Tuffnells as they are delivered by other courier services.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we thank you for your patience.
Vanstyle
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A guide on why your van might benefit from premium poly bushings
What + Why Polyurethane Bushings.
A bushing is a cushion made of rubber, polyurethane, or other materials. They are installed in various places on your vehicle – control arms, sway bars, ball joints, tie rods, shock absorbers, strut mounts, and other suspension and steering components, as well as in engine and transmission mounts – with the purpose being to absorb road bumps, control movement in joints, reduce noise and vibration.
Bushes wear, and when that happens they begin to allow more movement which puts more stress on the connecting parts, which can allow metal-on-metal contact. Worn control arm bushings can cause your vehicle’s front alignment thus causing extra tire wear.
How do I know if my bushes need replacing?
In general, MOT detects bush play and movement during an inspection. However, you can do some visual checks. Most conventional rubber bushings consist of metal outer and inner parts that are glued in place.
This will loosen over time and disable the bushing. In addition, a visual inspection will allow you to see if the bushes are damaged or cracked. If the rubber is broken, it becomes unusable or noticeably softer. If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be something to do with your bushes – When turning or braking hard, you may feel a shimmy or hear a rattling noise from the front of the vehicle on rough roads. Drivers may also experience poor handling and loose steering. Failure of the rear suspension bushes can be difficult to detect as they do not affect the steering system and are less susceptible to cornering.
If you’re told by your MOT you need new bushes or you think your handling is being affected by old bushes, then it’s the perfect time to upgrade from your nasty standard rubber bushes to new poly bushings, a job you’ll only need to do once in most vehicles’ lifetimes.
Is it dangerous to drive with bad bushings?
Yes, driving with bad bushings is dangerous. Damaged bushings will result in poor steering and handling performance and loss of vehicle control. Also, don’t forget that it increases friction and can damage connected parts.
A lifetime upgrade for your van!
Poly bushings are great for vans as they are built to endure a lot of heavy loads or more rugged use which cars often won’t see, they are also a more durable and long-lasting aftermarket alternative. Throttle response and alignment are other areas where polyurethane shines and while it does transfer more NVH than OE rubber the performance benefits will outweigh the cost for most folks. Still, it is a matter of personal preference.
If you’re looking for better driving performance, direct steering, sharper, more responsive handling, and longer-lasting parts, Poly is your go-to choice when it comes to upgrading your bushings. Don’t worry if you’re taking your vehicle down the rugged path, poly bushings do not suffer, firstly because they are designed to suit the vehicle’s application. They also outperform in off-road conditions to the material’s ability to flex and rotate.
We’ve created a handy diagram below to help you identify the exact pieces you’ll need, or even to help you diagnose a bad bush if you’ve got an unwelcome knocking noise.
COMPETITION CLOSED – Enter our FREE GIVEAWAY to win one of five £100 gift certificates to spend at Vanstyle!
We’re giving away 5x £100 Vanstyle gift certificates to 5 lucky customers!
Here’s how to be in with a chance of winning:
- First, make sure you’re following us on both Instagram & Facebook to see our current and future competition posts. You won’t want to miss out on our upcoming draws!
- Like, share and, most importantly, tag your friends in the comments on our latest pinned post to be entered into the draw.
- We’ll be drawing the winners’ accounts at random next Thursday at 9 am (22/12/2022) so make sure you’ve shared the post with any friends you think would love to be in with a chance of winning.
- Once the five individual accounts are drawn randomly, we’ll contact the lucky winners to arrange delivery of their gift certificates.
Good luck to everyone who enters!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- The host of this giveaway is Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) of Unit 1, Bilsthorpe Business Park, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire, NG22 8ST.
- By entering this giveaway/competition, entrants will be deemed to have accepted the terms of this giveaway/competition for the duration of the event.
- This giveaway/competition is open to all UK residents aged 18 years & over except for employees of Vanstyle/Palm Automotive their families, agencies or any other company directly connected with the administration of this promotion.
- Entrance into this event is FREE and should be done so via Instagram or Facebook in the form of published comments. There is no upper limit to the number of times an individual can enter. Each published comment will be considered an entry.
- This giveaway/competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, or any other Social Media platform.
- Entry into this giveaway/competition is live from when the target post goes live on both Instagram and Facebook and will close on the date and time stated of 09:00 (GTM) on 22/12/2022. The draw will then begin at the times stated bringing the giveaway/competition to a close.
- There will be five individual winners drawn from both comment sections of the posts on each social media platform. Each individual account will be considered an entrant and therefore potential winner at the time of the draw. Should the account fail to communicate or comply with Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) within 48 hours of initial contact, another winner will be drawn at random following the same procedures as the initial draw.
- No cash alternative will be offered for the prize.
- Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) reserves the right to vary, cancel or modify the prize draw and/or the terms and conditions at any time and for whatever reason and/or amend or withdraw the prize draw (and/or any related prize) in whole or in part at any time due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) is also entitled to vary the prize if, due to unforeseen circumstances it becomes impossible to provide the prize as described or in its opinion, it would be inappropriate in any way.
- Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) at its sole discretion and at any time has the right to remove a participant from the prize draw if it has reasonable cause to believe that the participant has acted or is acting fraudulently, illegally or in an unauthorised manner.
- Any personal data relating to the competition entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the individual’s prior consent.
- The decision of Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Our 2022 December Holiday Opening Hours & Festive Period Delivery Guarantees
With 2023 just around the corner, it’s that time of year to share our Christmas & New Year customer service opening hours.
Our offices and phone lines will be closed for a few days around the festive period, with an early closing time of 1 pm the Friday before Christmas. Please see our opening hours below with further information about orders and delivery times. From all of us at Vanstyle, we’d like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season. We hope to see you again in the new year!
Vanstyle’s 2022 December Opening Hours
Order before 15/12/2022 for guaranteed Christmas despatch
We’ll be working throughout the holiday period with the aim of getting all of your parcels delivered in our usual timely fashion.
We guarantee pre-Christmas despatch of all orders placed before 3 pm on Thursday the 15th of December for in-stock items. Any orders placed following this time on the 15th of December will still be processed and may still be despatched before Christmas.
Our courier partners will be collecting orders up until the 22nd of December, and then again in the 28th – 30th of December period.
From all of us at Vanstyle, we’d like to wish you a happy & safe holiday season.
Orders must be received before 15:00 GMT to qualify for our pre-Christmas despatch guarantee. We cannot, however, make the same guarantee on behalf of our courier partners that these orders will be delivered prior to the 25th of December.
During this busy festive period, Vanstyle cannot guarantee any specific delivery dates or times and we will not be able to advise customers on any impending deliveries with absolute certainty. You will still be able to use the usual courier tracking services if applicable.
Any orders placed against out-of-stock items will be processed upon the re-stocking of said items. As per our usual terms, payment will not be taken until those items are in stock at vanstyle.co.uk. We cannot guarantee pre-Christmas despatch for any items showing out-of-stock.
It is more important than ever to stipulate any and all delivery notes when placing an order to best eliminate any chance of missed deliveries.
We hope you understand that we cannot guarantee the same delivery times for regions outside of the UK mainland. Orders placed by customers in Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands, and the Islands. These orders will be processed as normal and subject to our usual quoted delivery times.
COMPETITION CLOSED – Spend £200 or more with Vanstyle for the chance to win a set of B14 coilovers
We’re giving away a set of Bilstein B14 coilovers from the current
Vanstyle range. Here’s how to be in with a chance of winning:
- For every £200 spent on our website, you’ll earn 1 ticket/entry.
The more you spend the more tickets you’ll earn – meaning more chances of winning! For example £400 spend = 2 tickets, £600 spent = 3 tickets - The competition will run from 07.09.22 9am to 04.10.22 midnight.
- Once the individual account is drawn at random, we’ll make contact with the
lucky winner to arrange prize selection and delivery.
(We can also offer a free fitting service of their coilovers*)
Good luck to everyone who enters!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- The host of this giveaway is Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) of Unit 1, Bilsthorpe Business Park, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire, NG22 8ST. By entering this giveaway/competition, entrants will be deemed to have accepted the terms of this giveaway/competition for the duration of the event.
- This giveaway/competition is open to all UK mainland residents aged 18 years & over except for employees of Vanstyle/Palm Automotive, plus any live trade accounts on our system. This competition is for retail customers only.
- Customers will be automatically entered into this competition with all purchases at www.vanstyle.co.uk with a gross order value in excess of £200 (TWO HUNDRED POUNDS). In the event that the order value does not divide down by 200 to equal a round number, we will automatically round down to the nearest whole number. As an example, an order value of £450 will equal a ticket total of 2.
- There is no upper limit to the number of times an individual can enter, but the order value will not be totalled up to generate ticket quantity. Tickets are generated per individual order.
- This giveaway/competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, or any other Social Media platform.
- Entry into this giveaway/competition is live from 09:00 (BST) 07/09/22 and will close on the date and time stated of 11:59 (BST) on 04/10/2022. The draw will then take place on 05/10/22 at 10:00 (GMT) bringing the giveaway/competition to a close.
- There will be a single winner drawn from all entrants that met the £200 minimum spend criteria. Each individual order will generate a ticket/tickets and be considered an entrant and therefore potential winner at the time of the draw. Should the winner fail to communicate or comply with Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) within 48 hours of initial contact, another winner will be drawn at random following the same procedures as the initial draw.
- *The option of having the winning coilovers fitted to your vehicle is available on request by the competition winner. Fitting will take place at:
- Vanstyle
Unit 1,
Bilsthorpe Business Park,
Bilsthorpe,
Nottinghamshire
NG22 8ST - No payment/cash value is offered for an alternative fitting location.
- This competition is open to UK mainland residents only. Entrants must be over the age of eighteen at the time of participation to enter the prize draw competition.
- This competition is for a prize of 1 set of Bilstein B14 coilovers (value of £1,099.00 Inc Vat as at the time of launch of the competition). If we do not stock a B14 coilover kit in our range to fit your van type a suitable alternative up to the same value will be discussed and agreed upon. No cash alternative prize will be offered.
- Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) reserves the right to vary, cancel or modify the prize draw and/or the terms and conditions at any time and for whatever reason and/or amend or withdraw the prize draw (and/or any related prize) in whole or in part at any time due to unforeseen circumstances. Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) is also entitled to vary the prize if, due to unforeseen circumstances it becomes impossible to provide the prize as described or in its opinion, it would be inappropriate in any way.
- Vanstyle (Palm Automotive) at its sole discretion and at any time has the right to remove a participant from the prize draw if it has reasonable cause to believe that the participant has acted or is acting fraudulently, illegally or in an unauthorised manner.
- Vanstyle takes no responsibility and offers no liability if the coilovers are not fitted by Vanstyle.
- Vanstyle’s decision is final.
How we use Dodo sound deadening & insulation to create the ultimate Kombi
It comes as no surprise that camper conversions have spiked considerably in recent years what with the outbreak of the pandemic and subsequent staycations becoming the norm. I’m sure we can all agree that the home-from-home day van or full-blown camper is more popular than ever and certainly here to stay.
Here’s how you too can turn your ordinary panel van into a thing of luxury and comfort with our range of Dodo sound deadening & thermal insulation products.
Dodo Deadn Hex – Sound deadening mat
With a completely stripped, cleaned, and prepped van before you, the first step is to lay down the sound insulation on the clean, metal panels. This comes in the form of Dodo Deadn Hex. The function of this first application is to reduce, if not eliminate, panel boom and annoying vibrations.
The self-adhesive mat is available in both pre-cut sheets, as well as a 1.8m roll. We like the job as easy as possible so always reach for the pre-cut sheets. With a max coverage of 4.7 square meters, one box will adequately cover the side walls and roof of a large panel van. This can be applied as and where you think you’ll need it most.
The Deadn Hex sound insulation doesn’t need to cover 100% of the van’s panels. We like to apply it to the flatter surfaces as generously as we can without getting too fiddly. The general rule here is to apply the Deadn to no less than 50% of the inner surfaces to achieve the optimum results. Imagine which areas of the van are most likely to resonate causing those annoying vibrations and get them covered first! If you’ve enough sheets, don’t be afraid to cover those inner wheel arches. Just be prepared to cut, however, as the rounded shape can pose a more challenging application of the Deadn Hex.
Don’t panic if you leave some gaps! Vans from the factory come with very sparsely applied sound insulation. As you start to add the other components, they’ll work in harmony to kill almost all rattles and road noise.
Dodo Mat Thermo Liner Pro – Heat insulation roll
Now that you’ve laid down the Deadn Hex, the next step is to add the primary thermal insulation. Our go-to is the Dodo Thermo Van Liner Pro. This closed-cell insulation mat does an incredible job of regulating the internal temperatures of the van in both the summer and winter months. The dense foam also acts as an additional layer of noise cancelling when installed directly on top of the Dodo Deadn Hex.
Like the Deadn Hex, this Dodo product has a strong self-adhesive layer making application a doddle. Simply cut to shape and stick the sheets directly over the top of the Deadn Hex or any bare metal that still needs covering. We advise applying the Thermo Liner Pro to the roof, sides, and rear doors of the van. Get a little more generous with the application of the foam and be sure to cover any and all areas susceptible to heat loss.
The more surface area covered by the shiny stuff, the fewer places the heat has to escape!
Dodo Mat Aluminium Tape – A professional finishing touch
Coming Soon
Aside from giving your conversion a professional appearance, the Dodo aluminium tape works wonders in sealing and finishing all of the previous steps. To get the maximum insulation from the Deadn Hex and the Thermo liner Pro, the areas should be sealed as to reduce air circulation and transfer between the insulation and interior of the van.
Luckily, Dodo’s Aluminium Tape makes this a far easier job than it first sounds. Simply apply the tape in lengths around the perimeter of each insulated area ensuring the tape is well and truly moulded to the metalwork. Don’t forget to seal the seams between lengths of the Thermo Liner Pro. If by some unfortunate circumstances you have holes in your work, the aluminium tape is ideal for patching the affected areas.
A 45m role should be more than enough to seal most medium-sized campers, and likely large campers if applied efficiently.
Dodo Mat Thermo Fleece – The ideal void fill insulation
With all the fiddly applications now complete, your van should have both the side and roof covered in reflective material, closely resembling a tin foil spaceship. Now comes the fun part of working with cotton wool and glue. If you’re not careful here, you’ll end up covered head to toe in the stuff.
The idea of the Dodo Thermo Fleece is to fill any remaining voids and panels to act as one last defence against any heat transfer from inside to out. The reason we love the Dodo version of this insulation so much is mainly due to its incredible thermal properties, but also because it’s made almost entirely of recycled plastic bottles! All the more reason to convert your van if you ask us.
With a full water absorption rating of 0% w/w and an ignition point of 500°C, there should be no doubt in your mind that this Thermo Fleece is the perfect insulation for your van.
The 50mm version we stock comes in a 10m roll. With coverage of 3.9 square meters, we’ve found a generous application might require a little over one roll. However, if you plan on only filling the lower portions of a van, where glass occupies the top half, you may be able to complete the job with only one roll.
Adding the Thermo Fleece can look and feel a bit messy but, with the right spray glue application and a little trimming with a blade, it should start to comply and adhere to the areas you want it to. Luckily, any carpeted panels will eventually cover up these areas so don’t worry too much about an immaculate installation.
Dodo Mat Deadn Duo – The last of the Dodo(s)
The final step in our Dodo sound deadening & insulation journey is to cover the floor in our chosen product… Deadn Duo. We highly recommend leaving this until the end of your conversion simply so you’re not trampling your fine work into the floor while you treat the sides and roof. Trust us, we’ve learnt the hard way to leave the Deadn Duo until last.
This sound deadening/foam insulation roll serves to protect from cold air penetrating the van from beneath as well as eliminate much of the road noise and panel boom.
We love the Deadn Duo for floor applications due to its high malleability over the many ridges and reinforcements found in a stripped van. Not only is it a doddle to apply, but its superior vibration control makes it one of the key contributing factors in the end result.
Vanstyle anti-theft pedal lock. Trust us… you’ll want one of these for your camper.
Designed in-house and manufactured locally, our anti-theft pedal lock is an absolute must-have for any owner serious about their van’s security.
What makes our pedal lock better than the rest?
The Vanstyle pedal lock is manufactured from 4mm UK stainless steel and shaped using the most sophisticated CNC 4-axis press brakes. Before bending, our pedal locks are laser cut with our unmistakable logotype and two perfectly aligned access holes for the locking mechanism. Finished in a bright orange, this essential piece of kit is undoubtedly the sleekest on the market.
How do I fit it and how long does it take?
Securing the pedal lock is far easier than you would imagine. With a bit of practice, you’ll b throwing it down in a matter of seconds.
Simply pull back the bolt on the front side of the lock and position the lock aperture around the brake pedal. Auto or manual, use the brake every time. This will position the system securely over all pedals completely immobilising the vehicle. Yes, it might be a bit fiddly at first but, trust us, you’ll get a feel for it in no time.
Now, rest easy with the knowledge that your van is well and truly un-drivable with this in place.
How can I add increased security alongside my pedal lock?
It’s all well and good having one of our pedal locks sitting pretty in your footwell, but, what if our potential van thief doesn’t see the bright orange deterrent? You still don’t want your window put through for no reason at all!
This is where our Pedal Lock Window Sticker comes in. Let those thieves know early that your van isn’t going to comply!
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