Volkswagen T4 Transporter Auto-Sleeper Trident Camper Model History
Circa 1990 Volkswagen phased out the rear engined T25 / T3 Transporter. The replacement for the T25 was the front engined T4 Transporter. Auto-Sleepers used the new T4 Transporter as the base vehicle for their latest version of the Autosleeper Trident Camper released circa Sept 1991. It had a solid high top roof and the interior layout was similar in design to the earlier VW T25 Autosleeper Trident but with updated upholstery and improved specification. The interior had cupboards along the side behind the drivers seat and the rear seat converted into a 3/4 width double bed. Note that during the production period of this model various changes were made to the specification including changes to cupboard door handles, upholstery materials, electrical control panels, furniture design etc. Where possible I will try and show examples of any updates and the approximate date of any change in the descriptions below.
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1) VW T4 Autosleeper Trident hightop roof version engine options and approx price (inclusive road tax and VAT when new in standard form):
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Petrol Watercooled 2.0 Litre, 4 Cylinder, AAC Otto Motor (1968cc), 62 Kw 84 PS, 5 speed manual gearbox, wheelbase 2920 mm, £?
Petrol Watercooled 2.5 Litre, 5 Cylinder, AAF / ACU 1993 onwards / AEN 1995 onwards Otto Motor (2461cc), 81 Kw 110 PS, 5 speed manual gearbox, wheelbase 2920 mm, £?
Diesel Watercooled 1.9 Litre, 4 Cylinder, 1X (1896cc) 45 Kw 61 PS 5 speed manual gearbox, wheelbase 2920 mm, £?
Turbo Diesel Watercooled 1.9 Litre TD, 4 Cylinder, ABL 1993 onwards (1896cc), 50 Kw 68 PS, 5 speed manual gearbox, wheelbase 2920 mm, £?
Diesel Watercooled 2.4 Litre, 5 Cylinder, AAB (2370cc) 57 Kw 78 PS 5 speed manual gearbox, wheelbase 2920 mm, £?
Turbo Diesel Watercooled TDI 2.5 Litre, 5 Cylinder, ACV 1995 onwards (2461cc) 75 Kw 102 PS 5 speed manual gearbox, wheelbase 2920 mm, £?
2) Dimensions
Length 4705 mm
Height 2489 mm
Width (excl mirrors) 1841 mm
Width (incl mirrors) 2178 mm
3) Volkswagen T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Colour Options
As far as I know the VW Autosleeper Trident was initially available in 1 colour.
T7T7 Grey White R902 (Grauweiß) (with white roof)
I have also seen early vans in the colour.
J5J5 Medium Blue LH5G (MediumBlauß) (with white roof)
Maybe this was available as an option
Circa 1996 four new colours were available:
E2E2 Nebio Blue Metallic (LL5Y) (Nebioblau Metallic)
X8X8 Friesian Green (LL6T) (Friesengrün)
W7W7 Dragon Green Pearl Effect (LC6P) (Dragongreen Perleffekt)
H7H7 Paprika Red (LK3A) (Paprikarot) (with white roof)
Circa 1997 another colour was available:
N7N7 Elegance Green Metallic (LB6N) (Elegancegrün Metallic)
Circa 2000 another colour was available:
F3F3 Indian Blue (LL5M) (IndienBlau)
Circa 2001 another colour was available:
8E8E Reflex Silver Metallic (LA7W) (Reflexsilber Metallic)
Circa 2002 another colour was available:
Wheat Beige Metallic (LD1W) (Wheatbeige Metallic)
4) Volkswagen T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Furniture Specification
The Volkswagen T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident layout consisted of:
Materials Used:
Initially in 1991 there were 2 options available for the interior trim.
Option 1:
Cushions - Anthony Brown (Blue Colour?)
Curtains - Blue Lined Chatres
Carpets - Dalmation II Hudson Grey
Lining Material - Cockroft Blue Mist / Gaskell A/S Blue/Cloud
Units - Light European Oak
Unit Work Surfaces - Light European Oak
Option 2:
Cushions - Anthony 15MF Mele Rose
Curtains - Rust Lined Chatres
Carpets - Dalmation II Red Crimes
Lining Material - Cockroft Beige / Gaskell Mid Coral / Wheat
Units - Light European Oak
Unit Work Surfaces - Light European Oak
A) Fully adjustable luxury drivers cab seat upholstered in same material as rear seats. Initially the upholstery specified for camper could be either pink or blue stripe.
B) Fully adjustable swivelling passenger cab seat upholstered in same material as rear seats.
C) Offset dinette small front table. Table is stored in drawer under rear seat when not in use.
Storage locker and china tableware crockery and wine glass cupboards above cab.
D) Two burner Spinflo stainless steel cooker and grill (with specially designed heat resistant laminated lid so that it can be folded away when not in use) and cupboard below. Also Electrolux RM 212 F three way (gas / 12 volt / 240 volt operated) refrigerator (with electronic ignition system) below. Fridge has internal freezer compartment. Later models had Electrolux RM 4201S fridge.
E) Stainless steel sink (with specially designed heat resistant laminated lid so that it can be folded away when not in use) and cupboards below. Below the sink is a small hinged flap which gives access to the cutlery drawer as well as to a useful area for stores and utensils.
F) Large storage locker with removable trays.
G) Dual access wardrobe (with hanging rail) and gas locker below.
H) Parcel shelf with storage below.
I) Dinette seat designed to sit two adults in comfort with drawer below.
Over the production cycle of the Autosleeper Trident various different upholstery materials were used including:
Circa 1995 onwards:
Circa 1997 onwards:
Circa 1999 onwards:
H and I) Rear seat converts into a large double bed (1905 mm x 1118 mm).
J) Removable rear table (stored behind drivers seat when not in use).
K) Chemical porta potti Elsan Visa Potty 238 (Thetford 235 / 335 used in later models) toilet in special cupboard under sink.
L) Side sliding door.
M) Stainless steel ladder with roof rack.
Other features include:
Full carpeting throughout.
CEC 225 (Plug In Systems) mains electric hook up with safety protection via RCCD circuit breaker and two MCB’s.
Zig MC 2000 electrical control panel with water level gauge, individual fuses for each electrical appliance, master switches for 12 volt lighting system and water pump, a 12 volt outlet socket and a light indicating when fridge is operating on 12 volts.
Circa 1997 a different Zig contol panel was used. Mounted on the front face of the rear wardrobe this also enabled a small window to be added on the side wall of the van.
Circa 2000 a different Auto-sleepers control panel was used:
77.7 litre (17 gallon) fresh water tank for pressurised water system with electrically pumped water tap via a triple diaphragm Shureflo water pump.
Opening sliding window with intermediate locking position (thus allowing ventilation with security) behind sink and cooker.
Roller type fly screens fitted to sliding window, the side sliding door window and the near side rear window, thus ensuring privacy when required.
Three 16 watt twin fluorescent lights, one 13 watt single fluorescent light.
Adjacent to the fridge was a further storage locker with two drawers below. Circa 1997 the layout of this furniture unit changed to a four locker unit.
Note: That circa 1993 the furniture handles changed from square to more modern round type.
Rear seat restraint straps.
Head rests on both cab seats.
Fire extinguisher.
Intermittent wipe and two speed wipers.
Padded steering wheel.
Two courtesy lights.
Thermally lined curtains.
Specially selected seat fabrics with fire retardant foam.
Handcrafted edging on all cabinet work.
Tableware for four.
Heated rear window with wash wipe.
Wheel trims.
5) Options available at extra cost included:
Carver Cascade 2GE water heater with mains hook up facility.
Omnivent Electric Extractor Fan.
Thermostatically controlled Propex blown air heating system which is flued to exterior of vehicle.
Heater is installed in base of side locker unit as can be seen in photo below where the vent and outlet holes can be seen forward of the seat front.
In later models (circa 1997) a Carver P4 heater was used in place of the Propex.
Earlier models could have an optional extra 29.7 Litre (6.5 gallon) wastewater tank. Later models had a 74 litre waste water tank fitted as standard.
Fly screens for opening roof windows.
12 Volt 60 Amp/Hour second auxiliary equipment battery.
Zig DCU 3 Battery charger (available only if second battery is specified). On later models a Zig X-7 / Zig X70 / CEC Plug In Systems Inter Power battery charger may have been used depending on year.
6) Volkswagen T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Hightop Roof Specification
Fully insulated roof.
Opening roof vent for fresh air
Fully upholstered bed (1740 mm x 1143 mm) in roof. When not in use this may be converted into a multi position storage area.
7) Volkswagen T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Side Stripes and Logos
There was normally a small blue or burgundy (or white on some colour vans) AS logo on the front of the vehicle and a burgundy Trident logo on the side of the front wings. Also there was a burgundy Auto-sleeper logo on the rear tailgate.
The coachline stripes on the side were painted on and for the early model VW T4 Trident they were Honda New Dark Grey Metallic (Paint Code NH 91M3).
The main thick painted stripes were then decorated using stick on coloured pinstripes. The pinstripes above & below the thick stripe were 6mm gold, 6mm blue stripes (or grey stripe in place of blue if option 2 pink interior was specified) and there was also a 6mm white/red pinstripe down the centre.
Later models had different coloured stripes and I will try and add more information when it becomes available.
The roof had stripes at the front, rear and side and an auto-sleeper logo on the front and Trident logo on the rear as shown below:
The stripes on the roof where 19 mm metallic grey with 6 mm blue and 6 mm gold.
8) Links to Volkswagen T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Owners Instruction Manuals, Sales Brochures and Price Lists
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VW Volkswagen T4 Autosleeper Trident Sales Brochures Prospekt Download
1991 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Model Range (Includes Autosleeper Trident, Trooper, Trophy and Clubman models) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
1991 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident and Trooper Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
1994 VW T4 Transporter Volkswagen Motorcaravan Model Range (Includes Autotrail, Autosleeper, Autohomes, Holdsworth, Swift and Compass ) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
1995 VW T4 Transporter Volkswagen Motorcaravan Model Range (Includes Autotrail, Autosleeper, Autohomes, Holdsworth, Swift and Compass ) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
1996 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Model Range (Includes Autosleeper Trident, Trooper, Topaz, Clubman and Medallion models) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
1996 VW T4 Transporter Volkswagen Motorcaravan Model Range (Includes Autotrail, Autosleeper, Autohomes, Cockburn Holdsworth, Swift and Compass ) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
2001 VW T4 Transporter Volkswagen Motorcaravan Model Range (Includes Auto-sleeper, Bilbos, Reimo and Compass ) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
2002 VW T4 Transporter Volkswagen Motorcaravan Model Range (Includes Auto-sleeper, Bilbos, Reimo and Compass ) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
Nov 2002 Autosleeper Model Range Weights and Dimensional Date Brochure including VW, Ford and Peugeot (PDF Format)
2003 VW T4 Transporter Volkswagen Motorcaravan Model Range (Includes Auto-sleeper, Bilbos, Reimo and Compass) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
March 2003 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Model Range (Includes Autosleeper Trident LE, Trooper LE, Topaz LE, Clubman Anniversary LE and Gatcombe LE models) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
VW Volkswagen T4 Autosleeper Trident Price Lists Download
Download Nov 2002 Autosleeper Model Range Price List including VW, Ford and Peugeot (PDF Format)
Download Feb 2003 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Model Range Price List (PDF Format)
VW Volkswagen T4 Autosleeper Trident Owners Instruction Manual Handbook Download
1991 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Owners Instruction User Manual and Wiring Diagram (PDF Format)
2001 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Owners Instruction User Manual and Wiring Diagram (PDF Format)
VW Volkswagen T4 Autosleeper Trident Magazine Review / Magazine Article / Magazine Advert Download
Oct 1991 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Magazine Advert
Nov 1991 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trooper and Autosleeper Trident Magazine Review compares to Holdsworth Villa and Vision and Autohomes Koncord and Kompact
Jan 1992 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Magazine Review (PDF Format)
Feb 1992 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Magazine Advert
Download August 1993 Autosleeper Magazine Advert Featuring VW T4 Clubman & Trident (And Talbot Harmony & Executive and Renault Recro)
Download 1993 VW T4 Autosleeper Magazine (Includes VW Trident, VW Trooper and VW Clubman GL (as well as other non VW models such as Ford Frisky and Flair, Renault Rimini, Rapport and Recro, Talbot Harmony, Rambler GL, Talbot Symphony, Talbot Talisman GL and Talbot Executive (PDF Format)
1994 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Trident Magazine Review
May 1994 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Magazine Advert Featuring Trident, Trooper, Trophy and Clubman GL
Download 1995 VW T4 Autosleeper Magazine (Includes VW Trident, VW Trooper, VW Topaz, VW Clubman and VW Trophy (as well as other non VW models such as Peugeot Leisure, Harmony, Symphony and Executive, Ford Duetto, Ameythst and Omega, Renault Rimini, Rapport and Recro (PDF Format)
Download 1998 VW T4 Autosleeper Magazine (Includes VW Trident, VW Trooper, VW Topaz, VW Clubman and VW Medallion (as well as other non VW models such as Peugeot Harmony, Symphony, Pescara, Pollensa, Executive and Talisman, Ford Flair, Duetto, Ameythst, Excelsior and Legend, Mercedes-Benz Montana and Medallion (PDF Format)
Download 1999 VW T4 Autosleeper Magazine (Includes VW Trident, VW Trooper, VW Topaz, VW Clubman and VW Medallion (as well as other non VW models such as Peugeot Harmony, Symphony, Symbol, Pescara, Pollensa, Ravenna, Executive and Talisman GX, Ford Duetto, Ameythst, Excelsior, Legend, Pollensa, Pescara and Ravenna, Mercedes-Benz Montana and Medallion (PDF Format)
2000 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper Magazine Advert Featuring Autosleeper Trident and Autosleeper Sherbourne (PDF Format)
Download May 2002 Autosleeper Trident Magazine Article Featuring The History Of The Autosleeper Trident Model including both VW T25 and VW T4 Variants (PDF Format)
Download May 2002 Magazine Review of 1997 Autosleeper Trident (PDF Format)
Download May 2002 Magazine Review of 1999 Autosleeper Trident (PDF Format)
Download 2003 VW T4 Transporter Volkswagen Motorcaravan Model Range (Includes Auto-sleeper, Bilbos, Reimo and Compass) Sales Brochure (PDF Format)
Download July 2003 VW T4 Transporter Autosleeper New Limited Edition Model - Trident LE, Trooper LE, Topaz LE, Clubman Anniversary LE and Gatcombe LE Magazine Aricle with Prices (PDF Format)
For loads more VW Volkswagen T4 Autosleeper Trident downloads CLICK HERE
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