TheSamba.com :: View topic - Rear hatch curtains? How were they mounted? 70 bus

Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:01 pm

I just bought a curtain kit and my bus is missing curtain rod/rail parts. I've read a gazzilion curtain threads and figured out everything but how the rear curtains were mounted on a 1970 Westfalia bus. I don't see any holes on the hatch but saw several holes above the rear hatch opening.

Was there a rod or a bungee cord holding them on? I also searched the gallery and couldn't find a picture of an original set up.

Anyone have a picture they could share and or tell me what is suppose to be there?

Thanks for any help fellas!

Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:23 pm

If you like, I can post a picture of my rear hatch curtains in the 1977 CE-1. I am pretty sure they are dealer installed or factory (except the cloth, which I re-made). Don't know how much of a difference that would be between the years/model...?

Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:57 pm

Wasted youth/adulthood wrote: If you like, I can post a picture of my rear hatch curtains in the 1977 CE-1. I am pretty sure they are dealer installed or factory (except the cloth, which I re-made). Don't know how much of a difference that would be between the years/model...?

Yes please! Reading thru ton's of old threads, I can't tell if the curtains were on the hatch or where mounted at the rear of bus above the head banger cabinet which I don't have.

thanks!

Thu Aug 21, 2014 3:13 pm

The curtain rods are mounted to the hatch, one on the top and one on the bottom of the window.

Thu Aug 21, 2014 3:31 pm

Mine are slightly different, but I like Busdaddy's better. I don't really like the paracord mine have...didn't know they were available with the bottom rod!

All my curtains are the same as the back hatch shown. The middle anchor divides each side. The more I thought about it, I conclude that it's possible in the 1970's you could probably buy window curtain kits from any number of vendors/mail order, so there are likely a few styles.

Thu Aug 21, 2014 6:01 pm

Mine is a 1971 campmobile 70. It has two aluminum flat rods. One small screw at the end of each curtain rod.

Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:37 pm

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to post your pictures! It really helped! I did find the small holes in the same location on the hatch.

After seeing these pictures, I went to Ace and bought a thin piece of aluminum flat stock and bent the ends just a bit to allow the curtains to slide. I'm going to run the bungee cord for the bottom and see how that works.

I wish I could find those clips for the ends of the bungee cords with the circle ends.

Thanks again all!

Thu Aug 21, 2014 9:18 pm

Nice! That's exactly what I did. It took going to a few Aces to find enough pieces. I didn't use a center hole on the rear hatch rods, I think the curtains close better without it. GoWesty sells pre-measured and pre-cut elastic lower hangers with bands, eyelets, and screws. Get them at the same time you order the plastic clip sliders for your sliding door curtain track.

Robbie

Thu Aug 21, 2014 9:18 pm

wcfvw69 wrote: I wish I could find those clips for the ends of the bungee cords with the circle ends.
I ran some 1/8" shock (bungee) cord under my side windows to tuck the bottom of the curtains under, and faked those clips with a couple loops of bailing wire squashed with pliers. Doesn't look completely correct but does the job, and if you make the loops small enough the washer hides it all.

Thu Aug 21, 2014 9:29 pm

tristessa wrote: wcfvw69 wrote: I wish I could find those clips for the ends of the bungee cords with the circle ends.
I ran some 1/8" shock (bungee) cord under my side windows to tuck the bottom of the curtains under, and faked those clips with a couple loops of bailing wire squashed with pliers. Doesn't look completely correct but does the job, and if you make the loops small enough the washer hides it all.

Thanks for the suggestion. I was thinking about trying it with some round hole crimp electrical connectors. I like your idea as well.

Thu Aug 21, 2014 10:07 pm

I know that Home Depot carries those clips in the larger sizes, but can't say if they do the small stuff. They are in the rope/chain/clips and shackles section of Hardware.

Thu Aug 21, 2014 10:34 pm

asiab3 wrote: Nice! That's exactly what I did. It took going to a few Aces to find enough pieces. I didn't use a center hole on the rear hatch rods, I think the curtains close better without it. GoWesty sells pre-measured and pre-cut elastic lower hangers with bands, eyelets, and screws. Get them at the same time you order the plastic clip sliders for your sliding door curtain track.

Robbie

Thanks for the picture Robbie. I bought a 8' piece that looks just like that for my drivers side windows behind the drivers seat. My bus is missing that channel as well. I like the way you bent yours and will copy it!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1561202

I bought this curtain kit and it has all those slides and clips in it. It's a very nice kit and looks good so far.

Thu Aug 21, 2014 11:25 pm

Very cool kit. I just made my rod bend like the Germans did.

:wink: