Conversion of our T6.1 SpaceCamper at Terranger Offroad- und Reisetechnik

When you think of off-road or expedition motorhomes, or sandy, dusty, muddy or rocky terrain, the first thing that comes to mind is certainly not Volkswagen, or the Bulli. For someone like me, who has had his experiences with Land Rover Discovery and Defender, there are few alternatives off-road. Maybe the Mercedes G-Class. - Now I can already hear one or the other talking about the Unimog & Co. Yes, great, certainly unbeatable in the desert, but in small Italian or Portuguese towns? And where is the comfort for all the off-road capabilities?

Bulli for the Sahara

That's why it's not surprising to me that more and more expedition motorhomes are coming from Volkswagen after all. However, these are rarely standard vehicles. Already under VW T1 and T2 there was the one or other expedition vehicle. Under Gustav Mayer, until 1975 head of development Transporter of VW, the Bulli was made fit for the Sahara. The desert fan privately developed the first all-wheel drive Bulli. In 1978, VW built five prototypes in succession. These all-wheel-drive test vehicles based on the T2 had selectable front-wheel drive, plus two differential locks, and 16-inch wheels. - But it wasn't until the T3 Syncro that VW relied on its experienced partner Steyr-Daimler-Puch, a true all-wheel-drive expert.

PanAmericana, Rockton, Aries & Co.

With models from the T5 and T6 series, such as the PanAmericana, Rockton and, last but not least, the VW Widder created for the German Armed Forces, VW has already proven that it can also take up the fight off the road. Syncro becomes 4Motion.

Terranger and Seikel

The offroad specialists from Terranger and Seikel. Both companies enjoy an excellent reputation when it comes to off-road and travel technology. Both offer different offroad versions for suspension raising, underride protection, and winch. Which is the right partner, should depend at the end of the day, where you feel you are in the best hands and from which concept you feel picked up.

We were looking for an underbody protection for the engine and underbody. We deliberately chose Terranger for this. There were several reasons for this: We felt that here at Terranger they simply go the extra mile. With this concept, the underbody is not only protected, but completely closed.

The performance spectrum is greater from our point of view. One offers an absolutely well thought-out rear carrier system. Although we have decided against this Rear carrier decided, but copied this in many details. So thanks for the idea. I don't know yet whether copying also means getting it right. - We will report. But one thing is already clear, without big brother, with a metal construction, I would not have tried this at all.

We have "yet" saved a winch. We hope, in the event, on nice driver/inside with winch 😉 But even here we find the concept of Terranger as more thought out. Do they offer not only one, but optional pulling direction to the front (about 3000 kg) or rear (about 7000 kg). Whereby this system is installed in the trough of the spare wheel. There we have an additional water tank. So if we wanted to retrofit a winch, we would still have to rely on Seikel.

Goldschmitt or VB Airsuspension

Also in the area of the chassis one goes still another step further. Terranger offers, in addition to various height adjustments, the air suspension we favor, alternatively from Goldschmitt and VB Airsuspension an. Because a higher chassis not only provides clearance, but above all protection. We have deliberately chosen VB Airsuspension. The decisive factor here was that we read in various forums that with VB Airsuspension a higher load (up to 3.5 tons) is possible. In addition, Goldschmitt was always talking about "squeaking noises" and "slight rumbling" on the front axle. - We did not want to test this personally.

Otherwise, why did we choose a VB Airsuspension air suspension system with full air springs on the front and rear axles? - This has several reasons:

Delta 4×4 Classic B

• For ten years now, it has also been offered in a modified version with a beadlock look. Here, however, the screwable outer rim serves primarily as collision protection and can be replaced if damaged. The original dates back to the 80s. This wheel-tire combination increases the diameter by almost 5 cm. This results in an increased rolling circumference of almost 16 cm. The wheel clearance is also increased by about 2.5 cm. - Attention: There is a speed deviation of approx. - 7 %. Therefore, a speedometer adjustment was mandatory.

Load increase

• The increase in weight to 3,500 kg (front axle load 1,750 kg / rear 1,950 kg) is urgently needed. Details will follow after we have been on the scales. - One thing is already foreseeable. We will not have a gram less. according to first rough calculations, we should be just under an excess of 3% (105 kg). This is not an issue in Germany, but in France, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland they understand less "fun" in this respect. Here, water and gasoline tanks are at minimum.

Auto level system

• Thanks to the Auto-Level-System (electronic spirit level) we can do without drive-up wedges. At the push of a button, the vehicle "levels" itself. The Auto-Level function allows the vehicle to be levelled even on uneven ground at the touch of a button. Unevenness up to 13 cm can be leveled.

VB Experience

• The experience - Since its foundation, in 1993 VB Airsuspension is specialized in air suspension, is Volkswagen PremiumPartner and has various partners in Europe and overseas. The company has partners in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, as well as Arab Emirates, Australia, India, Canada, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and USA.
• Different driving mode. Thus, the chassis can be driven up in off-road use, down on the track, and extremely down when entering a garage. 

Technical values:

Heights in cm: front axle - rear axle

Theoretical highest position: 53.0 - 52.5

Offroad level (0 ... 25 km/h): 50.0 - 50.5

Normal ride height (unlimited speed): 47,0 - 47,5

Sport level (unlimited speed): 43,5 - 44,0

Parking level (0 ... 25 km/h): 40,0 - 35,5

theoretical lowest position 40.0 - 34.5

This air suspension chassis allows the vehicle to be lowered to a total height of less than two meters even with larger off-road tires and simultaneous installation of a sleeping roof. This helps not only in parking garages, but also on the beach, in parking lots or in smaller towns. Because more and more often you come across height limit barriers.

The vehicle can be completely converted back to a chassis with conventional steel springs. The air suspension chassis can then be reinstalled in another vehicle.

If desired and for all online fans, control via smartphone app via Bluetooth is selectable as an option. We had to save.

Seikel or Terranger

Whether Seikel or Terranger is the right partner in the end is something everyone has to decide for themselves. Even the manufacturers themselves do not seem to see themselves as competitors. As was already the case with Terracamper and SpaceCamper, there was not a bad word to be elicited about the market companions from Seikel and Terranger. On the contrary, they praise each other. Exemplary, with Terranger was pointed out e.g. that one offers an increased engine air intake, but no own snorkel. Here one would be installation partner of Seikel, "there is nothing to improve".

We will report separately on the underbody protection. Let us surprise you.

Attention: The VB Airsuspension air suspension is also offered by SpaceCamper! - Terranger, however, offers a modification for off-road use. - Here, the mounting kit for the VB compressor, not as usual behind the left front wheel, but mounted in the gimbal tunnel. There he is probably better protected from splash water.

If we had not planned any further off-road measures at Terranger, we would have relied on SpaceCamper just as much.

Supplementary links

PS: Here you can find our SpaceCampers Equipment details, our SpaceCamper Expansion, the SpaceCamper Detail equipment "Last Call, as well as SpaceCamper Insider tips.

Here info about the topics Terranger off-road driving training, Energy management, DIY Water tanks, DIY Rear carrier system, Vehicle Security & Anti-Theft, pit stop at delta4x4, Sand sheets, Vehicle foiling and Ceramic sealing.

To round off the topic Product piracy with offroad tuners.

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