2018 VW T6 Transporter DSG Auto LWB - Ply Guys Interior & Skyline Poptop

I converted the van with a mix of my own work and trusted professionals, always choosing good brands and proper kit rather than the cheapest option. The roof is a Skyline Aurora, the furniture is all The Ply Guys, the heater is an Eberspacher and the fridge is a Dometic CRX50S. Electrics were designed by Roamer and built around Victron gear and a Roamer lithium battery.
The idea was to end up with a high-spec, long-wheel-base camper that feels spacious, solid and comfortable all year round, and that’s exactly how it’s turned out.
The van has only been used three times since the conversion was finished, so everything still feels fresh and almost new.
——————————————————————-

Space & feel inside

The LWB body and the way the interior is laid out means the van feels genuinely spacious.
Two big things help with this:
1. Long wheel base – only ~30cm extra to drive, but that extra length lets you have:
– A full-width bed
– A proper kitchen unit
– Plenty of floor space to move about
2. Bi-fold bed base in the pop-top – I specifically chose a bi-folding bed base in the SkylIne Aurora roof. In day mode, the bed base folds up and the sliding cover panel moves away so you get a high ceiling over most of the van. It feels light and open rather than cramped, especially with the scenic canvas unzipped.
Between the LWB chassis, the pop-top headroom and the Ply Guys Assynt layout (two sofas / U-shaped lounge / full-width bed), the van feels much bigger inside than a standard SWB “rock & roll bed and side unit” conversion.
3. Cult Surfing seat covers on drivers and the double bench, including armrest covers for the drivers captain seat. This was a really cool addition that really improves the quality feel while sat in the front.
——————————————————————-

Pop-top roof

– Skyline Aurora pop-top, white polished shell
– Scenic / removable canvas in “Moonrock” – brilliant for airflow and views when you want it open
– Bi-fold bed base with sliding cover panel for big standing height in the daytime
– Thermal wrap for the pop-top
– Trimmed metalwork inside so it looks neat and finished
– Skyline mattress in the roof bed (never used)
– Map light with USB port in the pop-top
The roof was supplied and fitted by Skyline, who are one of the better-known UK pop-top manufacturers for VW Transporters.
——————————————————————-

Windows, blinds & privacy

Windows (Camper Glass)
– 2 × Safari-style opening windows in privacy glass:
– – 1 in the sliding door
– – 1 behind the driver
– Tailgate fixed window in matching privacy glass
– All fitted by P Roberts & Son Camper Conversions
Rear blinds (Vanshades)
– 3 × Vanshades blackout “Window Pods”
– Pods carpeted in Mega Van Mats “Silver” (same as the rest of the van)
– Blinds in “Slate”
– Fly screens on both side windows, which is a big bonus in midge season in Scotland’s summer
Cab blinds (Fuel Lagoon)
– 3-piece thermal blind set – front screen, passenger and driver windows
– UK-made blinds with five layers of insulating foil and a fleece inner layer for comfort
– Thicker and more robust than many generic sets, so they don’t sag
– Give complete privacy and darkness, day and night
Together with the insulation, it’s very easy to make the van fully dark and private at night, and it’s noticeably quieter inside too.
——————————————————————-

Sound deadening, insulation, walls & flooring

I didn’t skimp on insulation or sound-deadening – it makes a huge difference to both driving and sleeping.
Sound deadening & insulation:
– Sound deadening:
– – Dodo DEADN Hex on panels
– Wall insulation:
– – Dodo Thermo Liner V3 6mm
– – Dodo Fleece EVO 50mm
– Floor insulation:
– – Dodo DEADN Duo Pro
Walls & lining:
– Ply panelling: 3.6mm ply panels from CustomShopDesigns, fixed with hidden clips (so you don’t see big screw heads everywhere)
– Carpet lining:
– – Mega Van Mats four-way stretch carpet in Silver
– – Done on all walls and the tailgate, with no exposed metal
Flooring:
– Floor structure built with Coolwhip Campers floor battens and a CustomShopDesigns 9mm 3-piece floor
– Finished with Lifestyle Floors “Herringbone oak” vinyl, which gives a homely, modern feel
– Van-X deeper side step and rear threshold, chosen to work with the extra depth of the insulated floor
The result is a van that feels warm, solid and much more “finished” than an average panel van conversion.
——————————————————————-

Heating – Eberspacher diesel heater

For heating I wanted something safe and proven, so I went for an Eberspacher rather than a cheap Chinese diesel heater.
– Eberspacher Airtronic D2L Volkswagen 2kW diesel heater
– Externally mounted (underslung) unit
– Heater outlet under the passenger seat, which spreads warm air through the living area
– 7-day Pro Timer for scheduling heat on/off
– Plumbed into the van’s own diesel fuel tank, so no separate jerry cans
The heater was supplied and fitted by PF Jones and comes with a warranty. It warms the van up quickly and is happy running off-grid using the Roamer/Victron electrical system.
——————————————————————-

Electrics & off-grid setup

The electrics were designed by Roamer, and I’ll pass the full electrical schematic to the new owner.
The idea was to over-spec the system so it works all year round, even in winter, while staying simple to use.
Core components:
– Leisure battery:
– – Roamer 160 Smart4 lithium battery, mounted under the driver’s seat
– Solar:
– – Sunman EArc 310W flexible mono solar panel, fixed to the roof of the pop-top
– – Controlled by a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/20 charge controller
– Charging from mains & alternator:
– – Victron Blue Smart IP22 12/20 mains charger (for when you’re on electric hook-up)
– – Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A DC-DC charger (charges the leisure battery from the van’s alternator while driving)
– Distribution & protection:
– – Victron 150A 6P bus bar
– – 12-way automatic dual fuse board with LED indicators
– – Mega/Midi fuse distribution box plus Victron MIDI fuse holder
– – MCG 16A 30mA DP Bidirectional C Curve Type A RCBO (RCD/MCB)
– – Blue Sea M-Series Mini On-Off battery isolator switch
– Monitoring:
– – Victron Cerbo-S GX & Victron GX Touch 50 – a proper little display showing you what the system is doing

230v & hook-up:
– Electric hook-up port under the bonnet
– CED Axiom ME2 2-way metal enclosure
– A couple of 230v 3-pin sockets inside (black) for when you’re plugged into mains

Everyday summary:
– The van runs primarily on 12v off the Roamer lithium battery, which is charged by the 310W solar panel and the DC-DC charger while driving.
– There’s plenty of capacity for the Dometic CRX50S fridge, lights, USBs, water pump, diesel heater, etc.
– If you’re on a campsite and plug into hook-up, the Victron mains charger looks after the battery and you can use the 230v sockets as normal.
——————————————————————-

Kitchen, sink & water

– Fridge: Dometic CRX50S compressor fridge – the one you see in a lot of professional conversions. It’s efficient, happy on 12v and ideal for running off the Roamer/Victron system.
– Sink: Little Vanporium small campervan sink
– – Terracotta Moroccan hand-painted effect, but made from super lightweight melamine
– – Approx. 31cm diameter x 9cm deep – a neat, compact size that still works well for daily use
– – The melamine keeps the weight down and is very durable and heat-resistant, without the chipping/cracking issues of ceramic sinks
– Tap: Reich Trend S mixer tap
– – Currently plumbed for cold water only, but as it’s a mixer tap it’s ready to be connected to hot water in future if you choose to add it
– Water system
– – 2 × Reimo 12L water containers – one for fresh water, one for grey water
– – Whale Standard Submersible Water Pump GP1002
– Kitchen furniture: The Ply Guys – “Bruich Meadhan”
– – Finished in Osmo Raw Matt with a walnut-stained worktop
– – It’s deeper than standard units, which gives you genuinely useful storage space
– – Layout:
– – Cooker drawer designed to take a Cadac 2 stove, with hidden storage compartment
– – Dometic CRX50S fridge securely mounted underneath
– – On the right:
– – Upper cupboard – houses the fresh and grey Reimo water containers at the back, with spare space in front for food etc
– – Lower pull-out drawer for heavier kitchen bits
– – Worktop extension on the right – a “flippy-uppy” section that extends the top by 210mm when needed
——————————————————————-

Furniture, bed & storage (The Ply Guys)

All the main furniture is by The Ply Guys, using natural birch ply sealed in Osmo Raw Matt. The overall feel is quite Scandi – pale wood, simple lines – warmed up by the walnut worktop and the Harris Tweed upholstery.

Bed system: Ply Guys “Assynt”
– Assynt bed/sofa system
– 1800mm length x 400mm height
– In bed mode, it’s full width of the van, so you get a proper full-width double bed
– In day mode it can be:
– – Two sofas facing each other
– – A U-shaped lounge
– Underneath are twin storage drawers with locker tops and uprated runners
– The front drawer on the left/passenger side uses a locking, load-rated runner, and you can still access the drawer box from above through the lifting locker lid
– In short: loads of storage without sacrificing seating or bed size

Upholstery
– Upholstered by The Ply Guys in black & white Harris Tweed – it looks and feels much more “finished” than standard van cushions.

Table
– Sequoia table leg and fitting kit
– Fitted to one of the Assynt infill panels
– Quick to put up and take down, so you can eat/work at the table, then stow it to keep the space open
——————————————————————-

Lighting

– 4 LED spotlights in the main living area, fitted by Skyline with the pop-top
– Map/reading light with USB port in the pop-top (also fitted by Skyline)
– 2 dimmable rear reading lights with USB ports near the bed area

So there’s plenty of light for cooking, reading and general pottering about, and loads of USB charging points.
——————————————————————-

Conversion spec – quick list

If you prefer a straight list to scan, here’s the lot:
– Pop-top: Skyline Aurora, white polished shell, Moonrock scenic/removable canvas, thermal wrap, bi-fold bed base, sliding cover panel, trimmed metalwork, Skyline mattress, map light + USB, supplied & fitted by Skyline
– Windows: Camper Glass – 2 × safari-style privacy windows (sliding door + behind driver), tailgate privacy window, fitted by P Roberts & Son Camper Conversions
– Rear blinds: Vanshades – 3 x Window Pods, carpeted in Mega Van Mats Silver, blinds in “Slate”, fly screens on both side windows
– Cab blinds: Fuel Lagoon 3-piece thermal screens (front + both doors), five insulating foil layers + fleece inner, thicker construction to prevent sagging, 50mm suckers, full privacy & darkness
– Sound deadening & insulation: Dodo DEADN Hex, Thermo Liner V3 6mm, Fleece EVO 50mm, DEADN Duo Pro on floor
– Walls & lining: CustomShopDesigns 3.6mm ply panels with hidden clips; Mega Van Mats Silver 4-way stretch carpet on all walls & tailgate; no exposed metal
– Floor: Coolwhip Campers floor battens; CustomShopDesigns 9mm 3-piece floor; Lifestyle Floors Herringbone oak vinyl; Van-X deep side step and rear threshold
– Heating: Eberspacher Airtronic D2L Volkswagen 2kW diesel heater, underslung, heater outlet under passenger seat, 7 Day Pro Timer, plumbed into van’s diesel tank, supplied & fitted by PF Jones (with warranty)
– Electrics:
– – Roamer system design + schematic
– – Roamer 160 Smart4 battery (under driver’s seat)
– – Sunman EArc 310W flexible mono solar panel on pop-top
– – Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/20
– – Victron Blue Smart IP22 12/20 mains charger
– – Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A DC-DC charger
– – Victron 150A 6P bus bar
– – Victron Cerbo-S GX & GX Touch 50 monitor
– – MCG 16A 30mA DP Bidirectional C Curve Type A RCBO
– – 12-way circuit automatic dual fuse board with LED
– – Mega/Midi fuse distribution box & Victron MIDI fuse holder
– – Blue Sea M-Series Mini On-Off battery switch
– – Electric hook-up port under bonnet with CED Axiom ME2 2-way metal enclosure
– – 230v black 3-pin sockets inside for use on hook-up
– Kitchen & water: Ply Guys “Bruich Meadhan” kitchen unit; Dometic CRX50S fridge; Little Vanporium terracotta Moroccan effect melamine sink (31cm x 9cm); Reich Trend S mixer tap (cold plumbed, ready for hot); 2 × Reimo 12L water containers (fresh & grey); Whale GP1002 submersible pump
– Furniture: The Ply Guys Assynt bed/sofa system (1800mm L x 400mm H), full width in bed mode, 2 sofas or U-shape lounge; twin drawers with locker tops & uprated runners; locking front drawer on LHS with top access; natural birch ply sealed in Osmo Raw Matt; walnut-stained worktop; upholstery in black & white Harris Tweed; Sequoia table leg & fitting kit
– Lighting: 4 LED spotlights (Skyline), map light with USB in pop-top (Skyline), 2 rear dimmable reading lights with USB