TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Sep 19, 2003 7:30 pm

The owner's manual shows a removable table that attaches over the shifter and hooks to the dash. I was planning to get one, but I need to know. Will it still fit in place with an angled shifter extension installed on the shifter?

Fri Sep 19, 2003 8:14 pm

The front table came with the deluxes. If check mine in the morning, I've never used the table (no it is definitely not for sale), but I do have an angled shifter extension.

Fri Sep 19, 2003 8:33 pm

Bajatacoma, Thanks. Let me know. How does it attach? a couple clips under the dash?

Fri Sep 19, 2003 10:42 pm

The table is level with the top of the ashtray where the brackets are. You might get an L-shaped extension to fit it you left it in 2nd gear but the z-shaped one I would bet not.

Sat Sep 20, 2003 6:48 am

Mine is the "L" shaped extension.

Sat Sep 20, 2003 12:14 pm

The table attaches with two black plastic footman's loops- one on either side of the ashtray and has a leg that goes under it. They measure 25" from the floorboard. I have the angled shifter, I can use the table with the tranny in 2nd, 4th, & reverse. I don't think you could safely drive with it in place.

Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:37 pm

Thanks for the info. I was planning to get one to put a tv on for when we go camping. I'd hate to buy it, then not be able to use it.

Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:05 pm

You could always put the TV on the child's cot or make a table that had one end resting on the dash and a leg in the front. You could also put some hooks in the ceiling and suspend it.

This isn't a slam on you or anybody else, just an observation- It trips me out how many people go camping and when you walk by their campsite at night, the RV is lit up by the glow of the neon god. Personally I don't watch TV, but I obviously spend waaaaayyyy too much time on the computer. :roll:

Sat Sep 20, 2003 4:57 pm

I bring it so it keeps the little brats quiet. Long live Nintendo! Also, the table would look neat at shows with a tv setting on it.

I don't have the kids cot yet, the brackets are already in my bus.

Mon Sep 22, 2003 1:31 pm

I want to make a drink holder/cell phone holder that fits where the table goes. I want to use the same hangers and somehow make it stay flat. Maybe 4 by 6-8 inches across. I want it to be removable so I can use the table when I want to. Has anyone seen it done before? Oh well, just a thought.

Mon Sep 22, 2003 3:59 pm

AJ I made a cot for my bus, using 1/2 inch electrical conduit, one ten foot length is enough. I used a piece of denim for the actual cot, just folded it over to make the sleeves, and quadruple stitched them. The denim is stretching a bit, but that helps keep the kid in the middle, and won't let him roll out in his sleep. I expect it to shrink back a bit when it gets washed too. The conduit bows slightly with my 6 yr old in the cot, so I may go get some with an I.D. just big enough to slide these 1/2 inch ones inside for extra stiffness. I will also use duct tape to wrap the tabs I made to fit in the brackets, to help protect the paint on the door posts near the brackets. As for a drink holder & what not, we have the stool that fits between the front seats, with a hinged lid, great for hiding stuff in, and we have two cup holders that hook onto the rim of the box. Jeremy

Mon Sep 22, 2003 6:00 pm

jeremysmithatshawdotca

I'd love to see pics of your cot. I want to make one.

Anyone else made their own cot or table?

Mon Sep 22, 2003 6:24 pm

Jer, I'd love to see photos of that too.. It could give me some good ideas for the front.

Mon Sep 22, 2003 10:00 pm

OK, I'll get some pics tomorrow, my crappy digital camera is severely over exposing shots right now, I'll get a fresh battery and better light. Jeremy

Mon Sep 22, 2003 10:10 pm

Jeremy, I read something before about you making your own cot and was curious about the strentgh of the conduit. How well do you think a narrow t-post slid inside of 3/4 inch conduit would do? Also, to keep the ends from scratching the paint, do you think tool dip would hold up?

Mon Sep 22, 2003 10:52 pm

I think the tool dip would do for a while, but it would get worn through, or flake off, probably sooner than later. That's why I'm just going to use a little bit of duct tape, it'll do the same job, and when it wears out, I just tape it again, I usually try to have a roll handy in the van! I think a t inside the conduit might work, if you aligned it the right way. The 1/2 I used is bowed a little after a few sleeps in there by my 6 yr old, and he's just over 40lbs if he's soaking wet! I think if the 1/2 will fit inside the 3/4 inch, that will be stiff enough, and the conduit is pretty inexpensive! Jeremy

Oh and I might as well describe what I did to the conduit. It comes in 10' lenghths, I got one, and cut it in half. I used a saw to cut just over half way through the conduit about 3/4 of an inch from the end, then to saw lengthwise to take 1/2 of the tube off. I hammered the remainder flat first, the bent it across the opening of the conduit, around a bolt to make a nice curve, and keep a 1/4" gap. The bolt is just to provide some thing solid for the shape. One pole is longer than the other, by a 1/2", so one is 57" between the end hooks, and the other is 57.5", and you have to be careful to get the hooks lined up in the same direction. The half inch is sagging a bit, so I'll probably end up cutting both bars in half, and sliding them inside a larger piece of conduit cut to 57" and securing them with a couple of short screws, to stiffen up the poles.

Mon Sep 22, 2003 11:33 pm

I was curious about the strength of the conduit because I'd like it to be able to handle my 10-year-old stepson. He's a little guy, quite a bit smaller than my 10 year-old (that's 5 mos younger), and probably weighs in at about 60 lbs. soaking wet with full pockets. I know the width of the cab would be no problem because of his size, but he is often restless in his sleep and I wouldn't want him waking up with a shifter occupying his rectal cavity. Not that he doesn't deserve it every now and again, but wouldn't want to hurt my shifter.

Tue Sep 23, 2003 1:15 am

Quote: he is often restless in his sleep and I wouldn't want him waking up with a shifter occupying his rectal cavity

Geez...if you do decide to use the cot, at least promise us you won't use an angled extension on your gearshift (for your stepson's sake!) :lol:

Tue Sep 23, 2003 5:28 pm

What you really need is a gin- u- ine! VW child's cot to put up there. I happen to have one that is in perfect shape- it comes with some extra stuff too- namely a 1977 parts Westy.

This fabulous item will make a great trailer to tote you new treasures home and then you can do like I did and use it as a storage building in the back yard (covered with a big blue tarp no less). It's lovely orange (and blue tarp) color will make you the envy of all of the neighbors. With the top up it makes a cool club house for the young uns and it has none of that "dangerous" glass that could break and injure little ones.

Imagine all the wonderful goodies you could find inside including extra glass, seat frames, functional z-bed (that needs cleaning), nice top mattress fabric for recovering those front seat frames, all interior cabinets, a box-o- engine (parts), nice fiberglass pop-top, four dry rotted tires (hey why change them, they still hold air for six months), rear mosquito net, etc. I am not ready to part this gem out, but I would let you steal the whole thing from me. Actually, it's a very restorable bus with some rust below the windshield and near the battery pan, The rear was struck sometime in the past and some goober filled it with Bondo but looking at it from the underside I feel sure a decent body guy could fix it right. All for slightly more than you'd pay for the parts to make the bunk yourself. I'm in SC not too far from the highways and can even tell you where to rent a tow dolly- interested?

Tue Sep 23, 2003 5:50 pm

Quote: As for a drink holder & what not, we have the stool that fits between the front seats, with a hinged lid, great for hiding stuff in, and we have two cup holders that hook onto the rim of the box.

I also have the original stool, but what I did was buy the cup holders that are made for Vanagons and use those. I put 2 in front and one in the back, as you can see.

Front stool (one closed):

Back by fridge: