New Lifted VW Transporter T7 Off road Minivan Build
The VW Transporter or the “bus” as it’s often referred to in Europe, has been a popular platform for travelers and adventure seekerson the European scene thanks to the bulletproof reliability and a huge interior space that offers freedom of transpormation, plus it allows you to park in a regular car parking sport.
Previous generations with the Syncro and 4Motion AWD system have proven to be capale enough to make there and back safely even on th emost challenging trips. While not as hardcore as the 4x4s like G-Wagon or Defender, the Transporter offers that sweet spot of practicality and weekend adventure capability.
When I spotted this brand new lifted VW Transporter T7 built by Lifted Customs 4×4 Works from Istanbul, I knew it’s a perfect candidate for a feature – it’s literally the world’s first new generation T7 built for off-roading and some light overlanding.
Key Modifications:
- 2″ spacer lift kit
- 255/65R16 General AT tires on DirtyLife wheels
- Full underbody protection and skid plates
The Build
The guys over at Lifted Customs 34 are no strangers to all things off-road (check out their sick Ford Rangers we featured before), and they’ve taken this sleek, VW bus from a boring commercial van to a cool adventure rig that somehow looks both aggressive and refined.
Despite the T7’s more road-focused design language, the combination of lifted stance and beefy tires gives it that unmistakable 4×4 minivan vibe that just works.
Suspension
Becuase of the pretty modest ground clearance of 6″ inches, first order of business was getting this van to sit higher. The team installed a 2″ spacer lift that provided enough clearance for the larger tires without dramatically changing the suspension geometry.
It’s not a massive lift, but on a van like this, you don’t need to go crazy – just enough to clear bigger rubber and avoid rubbing on mild trails.
Wheels & Tires
This sleek van sits on a set of 16″ DirtyLife Offroad wheels wrapped in 255/65R16 General AT tires which equals to about 29″ in the overal diameter. These aren’t massive by 4×4 standards, but on this van they make a huge difference in both looks and off-road performance.
Body Armor
Lots of attention was dedicated to the side guards and protection of the bumpers because they do hang pretty low above the ground. Though the metal bars are eating up the so much needed ground clearance as a trade off.
The van received a full set of skid plates underneath the body, including the front skidplate, which is quite important given the ride height.
Lighting
Night driving and camp setup got a major upgrade with a full LED package. Up on top is the 38″ Strands Siberia DR LED bar, flanked by Strands Siberia Qube hood-mounted LEDs.
Three 7″ Strands Siberia driving lights round out the setup, turning night into day when you need it.
List of Modifications
Suspension
- 2″ Lift Kit
Wheels & Tires
- 255/65 R16 General AT Tire Set
- 16″ DirtyLife Offroad Wheel Set
Protection
- Front Skid plate
- Front Protection Bar
- Side Protection Bar
- Rear Protection Bar
- Front Fog Shield
Lighting
- 38″ Strands Siberia DR LED Bar
- Strands Siberia Qube Hood LEDs
- Hood LED Brackets
- 3 x 7″ Strands Siberia Driving Light LEDs
Other
- Roof Bar
- Cockpit Key Set
- Car Radio
- Fomoco Original Tow Bar
- Spoiler
- Body Color Paint Details
Conclusion
This VW Transporter T7 off-road build proves that VW adventure bus spirit lives through the generation. The guys at Lifted Customs have put together a solid van for camping trips and backcountry exploration. Based on our rating system, this build scores 35 out of 70 points – AWD with lift and oversized AT tires gets it 25 points, plus 5 for the advanced 4Motion traction system and another 5 for the comprehensive skid plates and protection bars.
Watch the progress and find out more about this VW Transporter T7 off-road build by visiting the Instagram profile of the builder: @liftedcustoms34
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