Child Cot

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

Okay, for you parents out there who may be interested, I recently purchased and installed one of these front cots for my kids. It really is a slick set-up, and very well built. Some of you with good fabbing/welding skills could build one relatively quickly, though for me this was the ticket. Once installed, it literally sets up in seconds and holds both my three and five year old boys (about 85 pounds total while they're stationary--yeah right) without any sign of failing. With another boy due anyday now, we realized that having an extra bed that folds away in a moment and stores easily was necessary. Thus, we tried it out. In case you were curious, it is well worth it. You can see pictures by following this link: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/frontbed/frontbed.htm.

Lundy

lovedavdubs · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:19 am Post subject:

Hmm

Pretty cool. Just like the Buses. No kids for me yet. But who knows what the future will bring.
_________________
82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway.

Envious · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:41 am Post subject:

Did you just buy some brackets out of a bay window are did you make them? Do yo have any close up pics of the brackets installed?
_________________
71 Type 1302 Custom
64 Type 151
63 Type 117 L469 Anthracite
64 Type 361 L575 Nutria
64 Porsche 356c
56 Type 113 L227 Strato Silver
52 BSA C11G
59 Heilite Single Wheel Camping Trailer
56 Allstate Single Wheel
84 Vanagon Westfalia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=388225

cnskate · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:47 am Post subject:

My daughter is just now turning two, and we needed something a little safer than the cot. I bought something called the Peapod, which is a little mini tent that pops out and has an air mattress that goes inside. I turn the front seats so they both face each other and then put a plank between the two seats and the Peapod on top of the plank. Works great. She should be able to use it for another year at least and she thinks it's great fun.
_________________
"Wherever you go, there you are."

Volksaholic · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:18 am Post subject:

I've got a Vanagon GL that looks about like yours and I was intending to see if a '70s vintage cot would fit. As someone else asked, do you have pics of the brackets? I'm wondering if they're the same as the bay window bus brackets, and curious whether the rod length is about the same.

My daughter loved sleeping on the cot in our '73 when she was small enough... she's only about 55 lbs now at 11 years so I might be able to rig something she can use.

For those of you w/o kids this is still a handy place to park stuff when you're camping. When we were driving the duffles of clothes, the musical instruments, and various other stuff would ride behind the rear bench. When setting up camp the "utilitarian" things would go on the front floor, instruments went on the front bucket seats, and clothes, blankets, pillows, and the like went on the cot.

Paul

EDIT: Here's a TheSamba ad showing the bay window brackets for comparison or those who don't know what they looked like. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=398854
FWIW: this isn't my ad and I have no personal or financial interest in the sale.

moogster · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:58 am Post subject:

Hello all. Westfalia did make a cab area child cot for vanagons as an extra we have one. it was available in Germany for the westfalia jokers (outside of germany i have no idea). The westfalia part number is 216 010 237 001. We also have the original instructions from westfalia for the joker showing where and how to fit, dated August 10/84. It uses the same telescopic poles & fixings as a friends late baywindow westfalia berlin. If i can scan the instructions onto an email would one of you be able to post them on here? im not to good with computers.

Paul

lovedavdubs · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:47 am Post subject:

wbx · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject:

How do you use the front curtains in an early model westy (snaps around the windshield) with that cot in place?

-Damon
_________________
'84 Westy (first owner).......but my daily driver has pedals
My "perspective" mantra:
A Volkswagen Vanagon is just a material thing,
As such, it is of the earth,
And if i need to, I can let my Van go.

Volksaholic · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject:

If I recall correctly, you can snap the curtains into place and then put the cot up. It makes it a private little cave that the kids love!

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

These are the pictures sent to me from the guy who builds them. They are the close ups of the brackets. As for the front window curtain that snaps into place, it works the same. There is no interference at all. The brackets are mounted permanently and the hooked ends on the poles drop into place.

I don't think the bay window version would work for the Vanagon due to interior dimensions. There are really tight tolerances for making everything fit properly and I think the differences between vehicle models are too great.

As for strength, I wouldn't hesitate to say it would hold at least a hundred pounds. It is much sturdier than what the bay window set-up appears to be from the pictures in the earlier post. Just thought I would pass along another practical, well designed and built idea for our vans.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/frontbed/pics/frontbedpics.htm

Lundy

Volksaholic · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:03 pm Post subject:

From the manufacturer's website:

moogster · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:43 am Post subject:

I have mailed the westfalia joker cab cot instructions to lovedavdubs Smile

so they will be on here soon. They are in German but The diagrams are clear & easy to follow. Hope they are some use to you all.

Paul & Gill

lovedavdubs · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:49 am Post subject:

Here we go. Thanks Moogster Wink

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway.

Captain Pike · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:16 am Post subject:

The 85 project has 1 factory installed, just like the bay. Surprised me big time.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

Alan Brase · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:42 am Post subject:

[quote="Lundy"

I don't think the bay window version would work for the Vanagon due to interior dimensions. There are really tight tolerances for making everything fit properly and I think the differences between vehicle models are too great.

As for strength, I wouldn't hesitate to say it would hold at least a hundred pounds. It is much sturdier than what the bay window set-up appears to be from the pictures in the earlier post. Just thought I would pass along another practical, well designed and built idea for our vans.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/frontbed/pics/frontbedpics.htm

Lundy[/quote]
I wouldn't think bay window stuff would work in a Vanagon. Hell a vanagon is 4-5" wider inside at least. (outside, too!)
That Gary guy makes other racks and stuff. Nice stuff.
Al
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

WestiVan · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:07 am Post subject:

Gonna resurrect this old thread...

Don't the bus depot do one for a lot less now?

We've got a 9 month old Lab cross who will need a place to sleep on our upcoming westiventure.. thoughts anyone?

http://www.busdepot.com/7001

bjrogers86auto · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:50 am Post subject: Cot

You can make one for about $50.

Brian
_________________
2020 T@B 320 Teardrop(Has been van guy)
21 Ford Ranger XLT
19 Honda Civic Hatchback

A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes.

WestiVan · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:53 am Post subject:

Thats very nice, but I'll probably spend the extra $20 and have one sent to me. I have a tendency to **** up that kind of job.
_________________
1982 Vanagon Westfalia 1.6TD - Sold (too much vibration)
1985 Vanagon Weekender Wolfsberg - 1.9 WBX - Going strong
1995 Mercedes E320 Wagon

Kombi///M3 · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 8:14 am Post subject:

JimmyJagged · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Child Cot

My son and I just finished installing the child cot into the Vanagon. Smile

My son used to sleep in the child cot of our 71 Bay window. Now that he has his own Vanagon, and camps in it frequently with his friends, we installed a cot from http://selectvwparts.com/cab-storage-child-cot-for-t25-p-88.html

Strong enough to hold him! He is now 20 years old, 6'0, 150lbs.

It stores easily behind the upstairs mattress.

_________________
Current:
1971 Tin Top Weekender Bus
1973 Squareback
1985 Pop Top Weekender Vanagon (my 19yo son's first car. father/son project)
1985 Pop Top Weekender Vanagon w/ 2.5 Subaru

Past:
1976 Rabbit diesel (my first car). RIP. totaled by drunk driver (not me!)
1973 Pop Top Westfalia Weekender Bus. RIP. Blown engine due to 25yo ignorant of VW maintenance (me).
1986 Vanagon Transporter. RIP. totaled by drunk driver (not me!)
1987 Vanagon Syncro. I never should have sold.


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2

Child Cot
Page: 1, 2 Next