How Easy Is A Tailgate Conversion?- VW T5 Camper Project 

Iv decided to build a T5 after years of deliberation. I have watched your vids since you pritty much started, so im re watching this series as a verry good tutorial rather then insparation haha i know your on a different path at the moment pal and i appreciate the cool new content!! Just wanted to comment n say that really!! 😂😂

Nice conversion but I prefer the 2 doors version

I actually like the barn doors on a van . You could make a cover that covers the gap in between then you have a wind brake either side and a roof in case it rains . Good work 👍

Great work looks so much better with a tailgate over the twin doors. I would switch the key barrel over from the old doors just so if you ever need to use a key to get in you have it.

That's an awesome transformation Dan. Looks miles better in my onion. I know that the tailgate is something I really like having on my T5. And Audio in the next video, sound interesting. Cheers mate, Al. 😉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤘🙏

Loved the conversion workshop....brilliant....I used to mess with the old air cooled type 2's but still interested in this like I am with all VW's........look forward to your next videos

Definitely looks class with the tailgate 👌👌👌

Another cracking video Dan 👍 we have the up and over tailgate on our T4, has saved us many times when the heavens have opened 😉

Great work again Dan

Always enjoy your videos!!!

Makes it look so much better. 😍

Mechanically it’s a really straight forward swap. I did 2011 T5.1 with barn doors to T6 tailgate (T6.1 Facelift to follow). The real fun starts with the wiring as the T6 tailgate is opened by an electric contact switch that triggers a motorised actuator instead of a manual mechanical lever. Wired everything up correctly according to factory, but hit a brick wall with coding as my BCM didn't have required options to activate. Had to make a custom loom with a 4pin relay to activate contact switch and actuator all triggered by the interior light at press of key-fob. When lights go off tailgate locks. Was the only way I could figure out how to sync it with central locking. Was actually a very simple work around. The rear wash-wipe is very straight forward: Swap out the single output pump for a twin output pump (attached to washer bottle behind nearside wheel arch cover) and run silicone hose from the pump through bulkhead, up A-Pillar and along roof line to Tailgate connection. Swap Steering Column Stalks for one with rear wash wipe. No coding or electrical work required. Rear heated screen is another matter: HVAC controller, Coding and wiring done, but it's not working yet and getting a fault code that indicates broken connection, but will figure it out eventually., so if you decide to do that I'll be watching with interest... All fun and games. If you want to clunk heads at any time find me on Insta: @VWT5.1project

That looks fantastic Dan much prefer the tailgate 👍👍

The T5 looks so much better with the tailgate conversion, it looks more like a camper now compared to the commercial type barn doors. You did well to do that on your own Dan as the tailgate looked rather heavy😬😂👍

Great work on the tailgate conversion, prefer the tailgate looks cleaner.look forward to the next video on the camper.🔥👍✌️🤛

I’d look to keep the heated rear window & rear wiper , but it’s down to you dude. It’s all time as you say 🙂👍🏻

Fantastic as usual.

nice job ,looks great !

That is some sweet work dude. My van came with barn doors which I wish I had a tail as could have a shower built in.

Quality as usual 🙌

The van is Looking good fella

Brilliant conversion Dan, nothing seems to phase you working on VW's.

You should have got in touch! T5 owner for 8 years and the one thing I've always wanted rid of is the tailgate as I much prefer the practicality of barn doors. Seeing the comments below it looks like I'm in a minority though .

Great work as usual. A tailgate is far better for a camper in my opinion 👌🏽👌🏽

Awesome bro! 👌🏽

Looks OEM brilliant 😊

They do look so much better with a tailgate as apposed they barn doors. They only issues I can think of is, and it comes with a IF, is gaining access to the rear when backed in to a spot that you can't open the tailgate enough to gain access. Cracking match on the Colour as they can be a few shades out depending on age and where that van has been keep they you have the parts from.

Great job on the door 💯👍

Top job 😎👍🏻 Well done 😎👍🏻

Amazing job

Another job well done 👌🏻 I know where the switch is for my latch now so cheers 👍🏻 (my tailgate light won’t go out on the dash)

Loving we're this is going!! Jist noticed its a Essex reg on the van.. my neck of the woods

Great video and really interesting, I think it’s time that this should be a service for transporter owners, you can find companies that offer facelifts or the parts with instructions for the front but very hard to find for facelift kit for the rear or just to tailgate conversion specialist, I had a t5.1 but with barn doors which I really wanted to convert to tailgate but I never had the time to do it myself, I now have a t5 tailgate which I’d love to convert to t6 tailgate but I know I won’t have the time to do myself, I could have the front done quite easily but I think a t6 with a t5 tailgate would look daft.

looks amazing

what don't understand is the need to replace the barn doors with a tailgate! I have a T5 with a tailgate and my dad has a T5 with barn doors. While there are advantages to each, I really don't think I would go to any trouble to change from one to the other...

nice work 👍

Hi Dan, another inspirational vid, do you know if tailgate conversation can be done on caddy?

Looks so much better with a tailgate imo, makes me want to do it to my caddy 🤣

The hook on the gearbox plastic if it's on passenger side its probably to hold a shopping bag as I have two in the boot of my mark 6 golf that look exactly the same and that's what there for

Hello Dan perfect 👍👍👍 greetings from Germany 🇩🇪 👋👋👋 Kai 🙏🛠🔊

Nice build. With the amount of work and kind of projects you do i can't help myself thinking why you didn't build a t25 with tdi conversion 😏

welded in a backup cam in my t3 camper bus... cam from golf.. cut out the camera suround metal frame from golf hatch cam always cleen and pops att demand.. best mod..

Nice. You have a bulb out in the high level brake light though

Nice work mate. How’s the new workshop coming along?

Hi Dan, thinking of the tailgate swap so great video, does the original bumper work ? As most kits include it. Thanks

Hi Dan great job. I'm just about to tackle same.What socket did you use for the extra long hinge bolts ?

Just need to find a tail gate now

Amazing stuff Dan, I follow you on Instagram and I have a mk1 golf GTi I’ve been thinking for a while of doing a full resto video series, I was just wondering what camera you use for these videos? If that’s not a cheeky question. ✌️

Loads cleaner 🤙🏻 Did you have to modify the barn door tail lights? Tail lights are different between barn door and tailgate as far as I’m aware?

Hi Dan, really enjoyed this episode, nicely presented and made perfect sense. However, I think you said you intend to delete the rear windscreen wiper and heater elements and that seems counter-intuitive for a practical person. Please just explain why. Thanks Buddy and best wishes to you and Abigail for a lovely Christmas 🙏🎅🏼

Hi, cool work, this is my project too. Do you have a part number for the gas strut mounting plates? Thank you and keep it up

Some LEDs on the third brake light has gone out.

Hope you swapped the lock barrel from the old doors onto the new one as it could be interesting if u haven’t and you need to open that door with a flat battery

Have you refitted the fancy inconel exhaust yet?

If you change the barrels over on the lock, any chance you could do a video on that

Ace! 👌💯🤙

Did you change the key barrel from the old doors to the new tailgate?

Can this be done in a caddy Dan? I’ve got twin door but would love a tailgate

Understand why people want the tailgate but much prefer the barn doors. Find it funny seeing the comments, people seem to love one and hate the other 50/50, lol

👍👍👍, Does anyone have a video for the reverse operation?

Sick 👍👍🇬🇧

Get on fella.

Looks so much cleaner with the tailgate conversion, Dan. I might be wrong, but have a couple of led’s blown in your high level brake light? Great episode😎

At a guess, I can't use the barn door lock actuator. or lower catch, Is that correct?

You have a very bad LED lamp, it is blinking on camera. It is always a sing of low Hz lamp. Osram or Philips always the best choice. As for the tailgate - you can even modify it to electric ones. Also if you gonna add a keyless entry, an electric tailgate will be a killer feature to your wan.

Hiya Dan I’ve been looking to see if I can fit a t6.1 rear bumper to a t5 is it possible thank again

Could you do the same for a Caddy Maxi?

Can this be done on transit custom ?

Where do u get the tail lights?

Can you change the locks barrels pver

Looks so easy when you do it but i know it's far from that, well don Dan

Yes hate barn doors got to be tailgate I've got a mk1 transit that I've also changed to tailgate that involved fitting a different panel below gutter, Barn doors are always in the way Tailgate press button lifts up out the way, you also get a bit of protection from the rain, But come on grow up and lift that suspension 😂

I fitted a tailgate conversion before but the door was rattling where the doors fixed at the top does it not need reinforcing ? I never managed to sort it and had to go back to bar doors

Dan is the barn doors back of the van strong enough to support a tailgate the same as tailgate model as I was told that the tailgates have extra strength at the rear

Where did you buy the hinges from?

Can you do this on a caddy

Yes doors that are an awning...one simple tailgate does both 😎

When Front side t5 to t6.0 ?

easy to install

To bad it's not as easy to do the opposite conversion. would love barndoors on my tailgated t5.1

How about tailgate to barndoors?

You can weld the doors together and move the hinges if you want to save money

T5

Learnt alot in this video...but are you really 6ft..? FFS sake I wouldn't even be in camera shot in this one...

Barn doors make more sense

Simple?

wants a holiday….builds a 25 grand van rather than book £90 hotel room

You speak more in the video just show How to remove it 😅😂

The most useless conversion ever. You'll change them back soon.

Hi Dan, another inspirational vid, do you know if tailgate conversation can be done on caddy?