VW Caddy swb and maxi
iNSTALL PREP INFO
before you arrive
Prior to your install here at the farm, we want to make sure you have all the information available to complete the nessecary prep work.
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please read through all the info below and if you have any questions please drop us an email.
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we've split it up into sections depending on what extent of works your van is being treated to.
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Please take the time to read through the below install prep for your specific van.
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as a general rule of thumb we recommend battons first, sound deadening second, insulation, then carpet work last. this ensures best coverage and prep of all stages.
After you have completed this prep work we ask for some photos of your van so we can breif the intallers prior to your arrival on exactly what to expect.
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If your van isn't quite ready please send images any way with a follow up email stating what works are going to be carried our prior to your arrival at the farm.
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Photo from rear tailgate/barn doors
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Photo from passenger sliding door
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Exterior image (showing the entire van)
You can send us these images by clicking the submit images button
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floor
If you are getting a floor installed by us, please prepare the floor as follows:
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To allow us to properly secure your floor, we ideally need 12mm battens bonded to the floor with Pink Grip, Sikaflex, or a similar adhesive. These should be installed in as many locations as possible, as shown in our example images, and positioned in the troughs of the ribbed van floor.
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We recommend laying strips of 12mm-thick battens bonded to the metal floor (see image below), followed by 2mm Dodo Mat sound deadening between the battens. On top of this, you can layer 7mm Dodo Mat Pro Liner adhesive insulation. When applying the Pro Liner, please mark the positions of the battens with masking tape—this is a huge help to our installers on the day. Some people forget to do this (see the photo example below), so please make a note to remember—it really helps!
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We generally mount our floors on top of the door step trims at the sliding doors, and our floors butt right up to the rear threshold at the back doors.
The very front lip between the rear cab and the front has a slight edge that we do not cover. If you would like to carpet it, now is the time! This area also has D-rings mounted on it, which ideally should be removed. If needed, lashing points can be added or fixed to the floor in better locations later.
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Points to Note:
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For your carpet work on the walls and wheel arches, please extend the carpet approximately 50mm onto the floor. More coverage in these areas is beneficial for our fitting team.
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When carpeting the rear light cluster pillars, extend the carpet where these flow into the wheel arches and onto the floor.
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At the rear on the driver’s side, there is a jack mount. We have provisions to accommodate this, so the jack can either stay in place or be relocated under one of the front seats.
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Rear cupholders can either be left in place for us to fit around or removed. If we are fitting a Clachan Storadh, the cupholders should be removed.
Why Don’t We Do This for You?
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The bonding and sealing process for the battens takes time, which would delay your van fitting. This means we wouldn’t be able to complete your work in just one day.
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Examples and Guidance:
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Check out the images below for examples of the ideal prep work. Battens are fitted, insulation is applied over the top, and tape marks the baton positions. We love seeing prep work like this! We’ve also included images of vans with fully installed floors, walls, and ceilings to show you what will be visible after installation.
For video tutorials on many van jobs we recommend Kiravans YOUTUBE CHANNEL
LINKS
Thermal Fill 35mm van insulation
roof
Here’s the revised version:
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If you are having a ceiling installed by us, please read the following:
To create a clean finish, we recommend extending your carpet work 150mm to 200mm from where the walls meet the ceiling. Our roof panels are designed to fit above the front top plastic moulding at the forward end of the sliding door(s). These mouldings can remain in place and be carpeted.
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Sound Deadening and Insulation:
We mount our ceiling panels directly to the rib structures of your van’s roof. All areas between these ribs can be sound deadened and insulated. However, your ceiling will sit at the lower level of the ribs, so avoid packing excess insulation into these areas. While not essential, you may want to carpet over the ribs for a neater finish.
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Front Section (Cab Headliner):
At the front where the roof meets your cab headliner, we connect this area with a beautifully crafted birch finishing strip.
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Wiring for Lights:
If you are installing wiring for us to connect your new lights, please leave a long tail at the front of the ceiling and route the cables down through the pillar plastic.
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Examples and Guidance:
See our image examples for the ideal amount of prep work, as well as examples of installed roofs. These images will show you what areas will remain exposed and how to achieve the best finish.
For video tutorials on many van jobs we recommend Kiravans YOUTUBE CHANNEL
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LINKS
lining kit from kiravans
walls
If you are getting our walls fitted, please read this section about the prep work we ask from you before you arrive at the farm:
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Sound Deadening and Insulation:
Sound deadening can be applied to all areas of the van’s outer skin. Insulation should be placed in the open areas that will sit beneath our wall panels.
Our walls are fitted to the rib structure of the van, so please avoid over-packing these inner areas. Do not insulate over the inner faces of the ribs—carpeting these areas is fine, but insulation is not.
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Carpet:
There are areas of the walls that will remain visible after our panels are fitted, and these should be carpeted. These areas include:
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B-pillars
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C-pillars
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Window surrounds
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Rear light cluster uprights
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Rear crossbeam above the rear doors
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For the sliding door, our panels are inset-style, meaning the outer shell of the door will remain visible. Whether or not you choose to carpet the sliding doors is up to you. The same applies to the back doors—most customers opt to sound deaden and insulate these areas without adding carpet.
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Examples and Guidance:
Check out our image examples for the ideal prep work, as well as photos of vans fitted with our walls. These will help you see what areas are left exposed at the edges and how to achieve a tidy finish.
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For video tutorials on many van jobs we recommend Kiravans YOUTUBE CHANNEL
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LINKS
lining kit from kiravans
