VW T5 Transporter - Sliding Door Side Step - Well Worth Checking

VW T5 Transporter - Sliding Door Side Step - Well Worth Checking
What started out as a 'lock mechanism' issue, turned into a full blown restoration project and something you may want to check on your van too...
#caspervanlife #vanlife #vwcamper
Panel Trim Clips : amzn.to/3Fl7Ehg
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[@aileenl7227]

I'm going to have nightmares tonight. Be checking first thing. 😬🤣 Great job.

[@eDDzguitar]

How do you remove the step panel? Thanks

[@JesterBushcraft]

Brute force and ignorance I’m afraid, but with a bit of care thrown in 👍 it’s just plastic clips on lugs, so just do a bit at a time moving round the edge of the panel…

[@wheredave1983]

watching this video whilst just discovering my step looked similar....

[@helenwebb65]

Thanks for this, there is a lot of rust I've found in the bottom gully for the sliding door just below where you did yours, I've brought some rust treatment so hoping that will help, probably no point me actually painting it as the rollers will no doubt chip it off.

[@JesterBushcraft]

You’re welcome Helen, hope you get yours sorted. Thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated 😁👍

[@thunderchild2237]

Holes are for water to run out surely as its a step from outside to in?

[@markaustinkennedy4361]

Thanks for the video. Are you still going to do the video on the problem unlocking the sliding door? I’ve got the same problem and cannot work it out.

[@paddrivers]

An alternative rust treatment product is "Vactan" no need to wipe it off as it acts as a primer when dry , just paint over job done. Think of foam as a sponge just holds moisture and makes the rust happen quicker.

[@caspervanlife8466]

Great feedback, I perhaps didn’t describe it very well, but not actually foam, it’s a thin plasticy material that doesn’t absorb or hold moisture 👍

[@rogerfern392]

Had exactly the same with mine when they cut out the openings for the windows. I stripped everything thing out of the van and hoovered all of the rusty scarf out a wax oiled it before sound proofing and insulating. God knows how many vans are on the brink of corroding prematurely because of shoddy workmanship… good videos, keep them coming…

[@JesterBushcraft]

Thanks Roger for your feedback and kind words, much appreciated 👍

[@k.h.5520]

Great bit if advice ..,it's suprising what you find by so called experts,had the same problem with the door lock on the 07 T5, after much adjustment & fiddling to try & get it right we eventually changed it for a new one as it had become just too worn ..The door step fortunately was ok...Nice informative little video.👍

[@Billydevito]

Most of these converted camper vans started life out as somebody’s work van. Mine was last owned by a ‘farmer dude’ and was pretty dirty inside. I totally stripped it out and pressure washed it on a hill so the water ran out the back. Now it’s nice and clean even in the hidden spots. 👍

[@daddyfixit5188]

Clean the electrical contacts if your door is not doing as it as should have a look. Little brass contacts both sides 👍👍

[@linjan212]

How the hell do you get the step off in the first place? I’ve tried but it won’t budge. Any tips on which end to start pulling or direction to slide etc. Great video. I bet mine is exactly the same but I’ve never been able to get the bugger off like I say. Cheers. Keep those videos coming as they are so handy. I can see you’re a perfectionist like me, things do bug me. Cheers

[@caspervanlife8466]

Janine, it should only be held by clips on plastic pins, so may have been glued/double sided tape down…😬 might need a bit of extra force to prise it off…good luck

[@stevehillyer7597]

Great videos ! Is the hole for cable access for the step light? I need to remove my step to check as soon as we get a dry day. A quick bit of advice, if you need to change the gear selector on top of the gear box, Don't agree to replace both selector cables as I was by Preston VW. The extra tag on the new selector can be ground off and the old cables fit perfectly saving you £250 !

[@caspervanlife8466]

Good point, could well be 🤔 and thanks for the tip 👍

[@RogerMoore-q9m]

great video found it easier to pull out the two top pins a bit push step down then push the step back so the pins go in

[@caspervanlife8466]

Great feedback, thank you…👍

[@robertlee3734]

the foam bad idea will hold water and give you moor rust

[@JesterBushcraft]

Hmmm, good point…it’s not foam that will hold water, but may collect under it 🤔 thanks for the feedback

[@JamieBulloch1]

excellent, i will check mine, thanks for the vid, my little observation might be the cushioning membrane under the step might retain moisture a lot longer, maybe causing accelerated rust damage over time but anyway its good to see you caught the issue, could have been costly if left... top stuff

[@caspervanlife8466]

Thanks Jamie for the great feedback. The foam isn’t absorbent and shouldn’t retain any water 😬 but I will keep an eye on it…👍

[@marks-0-0]

Exactly how i would have done it going the extra mile with the foam 👍

[@caspervanlife8466]

Thanks Mark for your feedback, much appreciated 👍

[@IvorBeatty]

👍

[@rondobson5055]

Hi good video , can I ask where did you get the " pin clips " that locate and retain the step from ?

[@chris5126]

Did you consider putting a bead of silicon where the step meets the vinyl to stop dirt ingress in future?

[@johngracie1960]

Wee update, checked mine on Saturday afternoon and glad to report all fine, small amount of grit/dust but thankfully no rust. Well worth a checking though😁👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

[@trudydootson8476]

Hi mate can you pm with which company did it so I can keep away from them cheers mate

[@KeeleyGibbons]

How did you get the step off? We have just bought a new step and are wondering how to get it off before we just shove a screw driver under it and hope for the best 🤣

[@IvorBeatty]

Please keep them coming

[@kellysean25]

Great video must check my vwt5.1 door steps.

[@PlatisTobbe]

Nice vid... looks like a genuin giood work!!

[@CamperVanya]

😱 how old is the van and who did the conversion? That’s poor! Good job you know what you’re doing and checked.

[@caspervanlife8466]

The van is 2007, the conversion was done in June/July this year. It is shocking and I keep finding little bits I’m not happy with. But I just fix/change/swap to my liking. And I’m learning about the ins and outs of my van 👍

[@daviddebbiewilliams5262]

Hi there, just bought a T5 Campervan, happy days! I'm hoping that you may be able to help me? you were just about to say something about your locking system on your sliding door I'm having trouble with the locking system on the side door as well. After locking the van, then unlocking it with the central locking, I am unable to open the side door from the inside, I can only open it from the outside. All other doors work as they should. Would appreciate any hints and tips that could help. Thanks in advance Dave and Debbie

[@caspervanlife8466]

Hi Debbie, sorry yes, haven’t quite finished that video yet. I removed the door card which reveals the Koch mechanism. I then used silicon grease spray and sprayed in and around the mechanism, also try to get it down the back of the button which kicks the door from the inside, then operate it several times so the grease gets bedded in. After that mine seemed to start working 👍

[@johngracie1960]

Good video, l will be checking mine out at the weekend for sure. FYI, do you know that you can get a wee plastic cover to go on top of the lower sliding bracket, about £10 and it really looks great😁👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

[@caspervanlife8466]

Really !!! Ooh, I might need one of those… cheers 👍

[@josephcrookes193]

did you sort the door lock problem? Im having same issue, was hoping for a solution lol

[@caspervanlife8466]

Hello Joseph, I’m just in the process of putting the video together. If you want to DM me I can explain some options that I’ve come across in sorting my issue…

[@thunderchild2237]

May be worth looking at the actual sliding door gully just below where you painted so its all uniform to how you want it finished

[@helenwebb65]

The bottom gully you mention on mine is showing rust, I've brought rust treatment to hopefully help it.

[@kennethcroll6972]

hi are the holes in the step for applying wax oil in between the two panels?

[@caspervanlife8466]

It’s certainly a thought Kenneth 👍 thanks for the feedback…

[@joea4234]

On some versions of these vans such as the Caravelle & California they have an illuminated door step... maybe this hole allows for routing of the cable?

[@caspervanlife8466]

Could well be Joe, thank you for your feedback 👍

[@Bemo09]

i have one with a light and the wire runs from the front, from beside the driver's seat. not from underneath. I have no hole either in that place on the metal which is shown in the vid 🤷‍♀️

[@paulsayles4929]

😎👍

[@DunkfaeOotnAbootWiUs]

That's one of the reasons we decided to the van ourselves

[@caspervanlife8466]

Was always my intention to do my own, but time wasn’t on my side. You live and learn I suppose…

[@DunkfaeOotnAbootWiUs]

@@caspervanlife8466 we have a Ford Transit custom that we're doing up just now