avolve's 2016 Maxi Caddy Crew van camper & MTB build

[avolve]

Starting a thread to document the camper build for my 2016 Caddy Maxi Crew van.



I picked this up in March 2023. I was looking of a Crew van (5 seater, rear sliding doors and windows on both sites), with roof racks, a tow hitch and Apple CarPlay system integration — to save me on doing it myself (and the extra $).

I was hoping for a darker colour, though didn't eventuate.

My wish list/plan will is living and growing one, which I will come back and add to. I am certain I will be taking some inspiration from Mangrovejack's 2012 VW Caddy Maxi Camper build thread — viewtopic.php?t=50069.

Here's my early (short) list

1. sound deadening rear wheel arches and back side not-window panels
2. Rhino Rack Batwing awning, 'with Stow It' mounting kit
3. Drifta LED light kit (perfect fit for the batwing)
4. DIY bard door inside handle. [Currently lanyard and zip tie]
5. Custom fit out behind second row of seats, with kitchen and bike draws — built and installed by Kata in early May 2023 https://www.instagram.com/p/Crsq_l2PhMM/]
6. Window covers from Beeb n Co
7. Blueetti EB70 portable power station
8. Unaka thru axle mounts for bike [T track to be installed]
9. Blueetti 200W solar panels [saving $$$]
10. fly screen/vent for keeping rear side windows open in warmer weather [soon]
11. internal storage [looking for options]
12. Interior lights [future]
13. internal fan [future]

[avolve]

First two build pics:

Sound deadening



Awning (poor pice, first time set-up)

[mangrovejack]

Nice work so far. I like that awning too.

[stu_b]

You've done some nice work already
Coming up a treat
Caddy's registered in NSW where abouts are you located ?
Are u staying with the seats or are they also part of the grand plan ?
Good work

[avolve]

You've done some nice work already
Coming up a treat
Caddy's registered in NSW where abouts are you located ?
Are u staying with the seats or are they also part of the grand plan ?
Good work

Thanks!

The rear seats are staying, and accommodated into the design of the fit out (will form part of the bed). I may in future consider a removable drawer(s)/storage to swap out the seats for some trips

Located in the Illawarra, and looking forward to some trips over the next few months.

[stu_b]

that's great they will fir in your master plan
mine is just a Maxi n no rear seats, would be nice but in the grand scheme of things I plan they prob wouldn't work
Shame your way day Sydney way, MangroveJack and I are planning a catch up (first time) and you would be more than welcome, but its a long drive for a coffee !!!
I am sure there are a few more members down the Sydney way
regardless, nice to see a fellow Aussie here

[avolve]

The first stage of the custom made fit-out was completed and installed today, by Kata (Mattraville, NSW)

The design was developed over 3 weeks. It was initially based on Kata's surf box model. It is lower in height and includes a bike drawer/tray on the right. This enables transporting the bike inside the van and also being able to sleep one person with the bike inside.

Next step is to install some 8020 Aluminium rails (or similar) and two thru axle/fork mounts for the bike (by Unaka). My bike will just fit on the tray (it's a longer bike) with both wheels off. I can fold up the single/driver side rear seat and leave the back wheel on. There is an extension on the bike drawer for this (still deciding how I will secure the bike's back wheel to this.

As a single bed (bike drawer on the right)


As a full width bed


The kitchen & Cooking drawer


The kitchen & Cooking drawer opened up


The bike drawer


The bike drawer with the extension


The bike drawer inside, with the extension and the seat up

[stu_b]

WOW Avolve
nice work mate
The lads at Kata do some amazing work, looks like you ha a fair bit of input
U must be chuffed
do you happen to know all the dimensions ??
How long is the single bed - assume you'll sleep from barn door to rear seats in terms of length
But if your leaving the bike at home and taking a 2nd person you can either sleep the same way side by side or flip around and sleep Left to Right
Does the small wheel chock (RHS behind drivers seat) extend in both directions ?
Where does the wood for the collapsible sink come from / hide / store ?

[au123]

Looks mint! Just looking for inspo for my one. How much was it, do you mind me asking? Ball park?

[avolve]

WOW Avolve
nice work mate
The lads at Kata do some amazing work, looks like you ha a fair bit of input
U must be chuffed
do you happen to know all the dimensions ??
How long is the single bed - assume you'll sleep from barn door to rear seats in terms of length
But if your leaving the bike at home and taking a 2nd person you can either sleep the same way side by side or flip around and sleep Left to Right
Does the small wheel chock (RHS behind drivers seat) extend in both directions ?
Where does the wood for the collapsible sink come from / hide / store ?

I’m very happy with it, thanks.

I looked at many options before I found Kata. Gus and I had many conversations to iterate the design over close to a month (gave me time to think and save some money). He provided 3d renderings, which helped in thinking through it all..

Length is 1235mm, and with the back seats folded down, it’s 1800mm+. Putting the platform over the bike tray it becomes a bed for two (or just a roomier one), lengthways.

The height of the standard kitchen drawer was lowered so there was no need for a frame/fold out above the seats. It also means I can add a front section (drawers on each side, coming out the doors, power box) if I decide to remove the seats in the future

The extension on the bike platform closes to be flush (and locks).

There is some storage in the kitchen drawer. Both n the back section, and underneath the cooking shelf. The full height version Kata offers includes a drawer. Mine has a small space with access from both sides, and I can remove the top cover..

Still a few things to do. There’s enough to camp in it now whilst I save some more $$ and think through next steps.

[avolve]

Looks mint! Just looking for inspo for my one. How much was it, do you mind me asking? Ball park?

With all the customisation, it was ~$4k installed. Not cheap, but the quality is much better than I could do myself.

[stu_b]

Hi Avolve
thanks for the reply
Are u going to add more to this camper as time and money permits ?
I have heard good things from team Kata
I'm slightly confused .... 1235 in length ?
then with the seats folded up its 1800+ ?
but I didnt see any extension for the bed to be lengthened ......
of did you mean its 1235 wide ?

sorry for the dumb question

would love to see some more pics
shame your not a 30+ member so U could PM me instead of posting here ....

I’m very happy with it, thanks.

I looked at many options before I found Kata. Gus and I had many conversations to iterate the design over close to a month (gave me time to think and save some money). He provided 3d renderings, which helped in thinking through it all..

Length is 1235mm, and with the back seats folded down, it’s 1800mm+. Putting the platform over the bike tray it becomes a bed for two (or just a roomier one), lengthways.

The height of the standard kitchen drawer was lowered so there was no need for a frame/fold out above the seats. It also means I can add a front section (drawers on each side, coming out the doors, power box) if I decide to remove the seats in the future

The extension on the bike platform closes to be flush (and locks).

There is some storage in the kitchen drawer. Both n the back section, and underneath the cooking shelf. The full height version Kata offers includes a drawer. Mine has a small space with access from both sides, and I can remove the top cover..

Still a few things to do. There’s enough to camp in it now whilst I save some more $$ and think through next steps.

[au123]

With all the customisation, it was ~$4k installed. Not cheap, but the quality is much better than I could do myself.

Nice! Thanks. Will take a look

[avolve]

Hi Avolve
thanks for the reply
Are u going to add more to this camper as time and money permits ?
I have heard good things from team Kata
I'm slightly confused .... 1235 in length ?
then with the seats folded up its 1800+ ?
but I didnt see any extension for the bed to be lengthened ......
of did you mean its 1235 wide ?

sorry for the dumb question

would love to see some more pics
shame your not a 30+ member so U could PM me instead of posting here ....

All is good, and happy to answer Q’s. I will have more of my own as a navigate the threads here (I am still working out where to post some of my Qs).

The kitchen drawer is lower in height so the folded down back seats become the bed extension. Rather than having extra timber and a folding extension to store/manage — which would have also complicated design much further given the bike tray (a platform over the back seats would have been in at least two pieces)

There will be more to the conversion as save money, and work out a few more things.

The short list (I will be updating the OP) includes

• Portable power (currently looking at the Blueetti EB70, and will add portable solar at some point - when i start doing longer trips)
• Beebnco wind over covers, likely a full set
• way to mount my bike inside (unaka thru axle mounts, and likely rocky mounts VanTrack)
• Some kind of fly screen for the sliding door windows (can’t wait until closer summer) — the Reimo metal vents look good, but $$$

[stu_b]

Hi Avolve

Just out of interest, where are u located ?

Yes I think the extra wood is probably harder to find a home than it is weight wise for storage, but what ever works in your plan is what works for u (there is no one shop stop that works for everyone)

Once u get access to more pages you can post things in the right places + a build thread is possibly best but there are individual sections

Just a note, once u hit your 6 n 30 posts go to the page n COPY the wording n ask for access permission
Doc usually approves it {I believe} and he is a busy man so it's not instant, just me patient is all I can say
Once the forum access opens up there is so much reading n admiration for what others have done

Would be good to see your progress as I am planning something similar