Author: rmcom

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Ryan’s T5 – Dubsta #001

Ryan's T5 #001

Here’s where Dubsta began. I had my eye on my neighbour’s van since we moved in. Wasn’t much to look at but I’d always wanted a transporter and I wanted to build one myself. It took me about 6 months to do the deal from first conversation. I’m glad I stuck with it!

As bought

  • VW Transporter T5
  • 1 owner
  • 140K FSH
  • 1.9 TDI 102 HP 5 Speed
  • Reflex Silver Commercial
  • Panel Van
  • Factory Standard
  • Dents

Maintenance

  • Clutch & DMF
  • Stub Shaft
  • Drive Shafts
  • Cam Belt
  • Water Pump
  • Wheel bearings
  • Gearbox bearings

Mods

  • Bilstein B14 Coilovers
  • Machined Top Mounts
  • H&R Anti roll bars
  • Powerflex polybushed arms
  • 18″ Banded Steel Wheels
  • Gearbox rebuilt by Ian Peck
  • Soundproofed
  • Insulated
  • Carpet Lined
  • Backlit rear panels
  • Vinyl tile floor
  • 2KW Inverter
  • Grubsta Kitchen
  • Mountain Bike Garage
  • Heavy Duty slide out draw
  • Recaro Leather seats
  • Lowered seat bases
  • Pioneer handsfree head unit
  • Pendle Remap
  • Tinted Lights
  • Nespresso Machine

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Update October 2020

Well… WTF happened there then?

Last time I wrote a post I was over the moon about getting a fresh lease on new premises. That was January.

Two weeks before the big lockdown, my wife returned from a mini break in Southern Italy. Imagine the joy… Whilst waiting to collect her at the airport, the government changed its advice on returning from this area. The advice was isolate for 14 days. As I was collecting my wife and her friend from the airport, the sensible choice was to isolate with them.

Meanwhile our 16 year old son was advised by his school that if he saw his mum then he would not be allowed into school for 2 weeks. GCSEs looming he knew that taking 2 weeks out just wasn’t good for him. Sensible young man. Little did he know they’d be cancelled subsequently.

We were in a very fortunate situation where I was running my business from our old home. It meant there was still bedrooms set up. This coincided with the imminent move in date at the new premises. We spent the time packing up a house full of stock and office equipment ready for the new unit. Ok we did a lot of it quite drunk….

Basically, April fool’s day I got the keys and the country went into lockdown… What do you do? I started loading up my van and moving in. I wasn’t seeing anyone and the world was a quiet, serene place. It was somewhere around 16 van loads I shifted mostly on my own. I lost a bit of weight and gained some strength! Marvellous.

Sat down at my new set up, looking at the view over the fields out the front window. Van parked up in the back, YES! I’ve got a kick ass man cave. Bloody quiet though…

Hmm what to do?

Project Grubsta happened.

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Dubsta gets ready for new unit

Dubsta has a new home!

Since starting Dubsta in the summer 2019, we’ve been searching high and low for a suitable unit to house us. Although all our merchandise is handled independently from us, carrying out works on vehicles and components needs a decent space.

The owner of Dubsta, Ryan, runs another company too which needs space so finding something that suited both companies was a task. Having been out to see the building a couple of years ago, we already knew of its existence. At the time, it wasn’t going to work.

Since then, Ryan has bought a Volkswagen Transporter and created Dubsta!

Now the game had changed, the unit was perfect in every way. It’s on a farm in a remote location near the A1 in Bedfordshire. The offices look out over fields and the warehouse in the back is large enough to contain all the stock and space required for the services Dubsta is going to be rolling out in 2020.

Ryan’s got tons of experience in design, graphics and industrial coatings. Bring those particular skills together and the service offered becomes pretty niche!

Imagine wheels with the dubsta logo set into the powdercoat.

Dubsta

Imagine refurbished metal containers powdercoated to your spec and even with your own graphics laid into the powder.

Dubsta

Imagine hydrodipping your own design onto components or matching your toys up with hydrodipped patterns.

Dubsta

Imagine side bars, roof rails or even seat bases powdercoated to match your van theme.

Dubsta
Dubstatron

You won’t have to imagine for much longer!

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Dubsta Showcase – Dubsta V.1

Dubsta is the name Ryan has given to his T5. This is his first VW van and something he’s wanted for a long long time. With a very specific set of needs, building this SWB Dubsta Transporter was always going to be challenging but Ryan’s not a guy who likes the sound of the word “no” or the phrase “you can’t do that”.

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Dubsta YouTube Channel goes LIVE!