Chasing Lows
VW Bus T4&5+|Issue 95
If you have a van that’s used for family camping trips, but you like the look of lowered vans, then the best thing your missus can say is “Hydro”
Steve “Autoholic” Edwards
Chasing Lows

As a fan of lowered vehicles, Waren Fells has reduced the ride heights of pretty much every vehicle he has ever owned. His understanding partner, Soniya, has put up with them all. After the many issues Waren faced with his vertical challenges she suggested he finally solve them once and for all on this vehicle, with a hydraulic suspension set up. The search for lows on the van began when, after seeing T4s around and thinking that one would be the perfect vehicle for his growing family, he sold his 1972 Beetle.

This 1998 short wheelbase bus had been used to deliver hired bouncy castles to and from their destinations. Consequently, it had received a fair number of dings and dents in the course of its previous occupation. The first thing Waren did on getting the bus home, was to lower it a little. His brother in law, Richard, had coincidentally bought a T4 too. Waren gave him a lift to collect his, in exchange for a helping hand when they both fitted some Apex springs and wound their front torsion bars down. For Waren that lasted all of two weeks, before he installed a set of five-inch Faulkner springs. These lasted a little longer, but eventually became four-inch versions from the same manufacturer. After damaging his gearbox on some raised ironworks, in the form of a manhole cover, it was decided that the box needed to be lifted. Sadly, the sump then suffered an injury caused by a particularly ferocious cat’s eye, it seems the bus was sufficiently lowered for all the road surface furniture to be an issue. Some careful driving was required. After a further incident, Waren decided that additional action was required. So, he dispatched the bus to Spence at The Old Dub Shop, where the engine and gearbox were raised by an inch. At that time Waren was adamant that he wanted to stay static and so he and his mate, Neil, notched the front chassis.

This story is from the Issue 95 edition of VW Bus T4&5+.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Issue 95 edition of VW Bus T4&5+.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM VW BUS T4&5+View All
The Evolution of Van
VW Bus T4&5+

The Evolution of Van

To mark 100 issues of VWBus, David takes a look back at how updating the humble ‘Box on Wheels’ has gone from concept to reality

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 100
Wild Times
VW Bus T4&5+

Wild Times

Perhaps a sign of the wild times we’re in and a telling sign of how fast we’re adapting to the ‘new normal’. I decide to take a U-turn and zoom out on how things looked as that ‘new normal’ was taking hold, along with how that’s effecting our little sector

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 100
Story's Story
VW Bus T4&5+

Story's Story

With The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden under our belts and barely two weeks on the road, we were heading to the ultimate van life destination; Norway…

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 100
Karmann-Go
VW Bus T4&5+

Karmann-Go

When you own ‘The fastest motorhome in the world’,getting to the campsite on time shouldn’t be a problem

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 100
Gran Tourettesmo
VW Bus T4&5+

Gran Tourettesmo

This is a very cool and interesting project, but the question is,is this the ultimate eBay build?

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 100
CBBA
VW Bus T4&5+

CBBA

If there was such a thing as Cool Bus Builders Anonymous, then each meet in Leicestershire would start with the words. “Hello, my name’s Andy Stretton and I can’t stop building seriously cool buses.”

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 100
Honey I Shrunk My Bus
VW Bus T4&5+

Honey I Shrunk My Bus

When Grant Gwyn walked into a VW dealership to buy a Viper green Caddy, little did he know his future was about to be very orange...

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 100
Milk Float Influence
VW Bus T4&5+

Milk Float Influence

Nicknamed Ernie, we discover this custom-created T5 pickup won’t be doing the early morning milk round any time soon

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 100
Impossible Solved
VW Bus T4&5+

Impossible Solved

A while back we brought you a basic sketch of a proposed project, it was both wild and eminently practical. Well it’s finished now and already in service as a daily driver for a very special lad

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 100
An Alpine Summer
VW Bus T4&5+

An Alpine Summer

In the concluding instalment we pick up Richard and Jackie Pickles’ story of their eight-country Alpine summer adventure on the shore of Lake Como in Italy

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 100