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Cheap Child's Cot Alternative
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bac914
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PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 5:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I also like the idea of the bed above the rear bed...I can see that would be very useful. If we have a 4th kid, I'll have to build one of those as that is the last location for another bed. I guess I could do the same pvc cot kind of construction and then figure out how to mount it between the closet and the window....probably not that challenging.

My 3 year old hasn't slept in it yet, but the 6 year old has a number of times. My kids will sleep anywhere if you describe how cool it is...and how it isn't their bed. But each one is different.

Brian.
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joetiger Premium Member
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 6:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got to see bac914's hammock firsthand yesterday at VWOTG. Coolest mod I saw all day. Mrs. bac914 was nice enough to show me how it was built, and the kids demonstrated. It was good to see it in action; I had one of my daughters with me and wanted to see if she'd be okay with sleeping on one. She loved it. Thanks!
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The Salt
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PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 8:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you have the dimensions for this? What a great idea!

I saw these.... Do you think they are related? http://www.justkampers.com/shop/type_25/mounting-b...12578.html
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Classicvibe
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PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am not sure why people are not freaking over that rear elevated bed, cuz I think that is just amazing and ingenious. Need to rework my cabinet a bit, but it blows anyway. Can you convert that space on the fly once you arrive, store it easily and safely, not feel clustered...need to think more, but massive props on that!
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The Salt
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PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2010 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wonder if regular Closet hangers would work...

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The Salt
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PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2010 6:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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guavajelly
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PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2010 9:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Classicvibe wrote:
I am not sure why people are not freaking over that rear elevated bed, cuz I think that is just amazing and ingenious. Need to rework my cabinet a bit, but it blows anyway. Can you convert that space on the fly once you arrive, store it easily and safely, not feel clustered...need to think more, but massive props on that!


yes!

finally a sleep space for our 5 month old.
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The Salt
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PostPosted: Sun May 30, 2010 7:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

All done. Project total was about $20.

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ashafer
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I decided to go ahead and make one of these as well! My total costs ran around $35, as I didn't have spare fabric laying around. I decided to use some canvas/duck cloth material I picked up at the fabric store. I also made mine a little less heavy-duty, as I don't have kids and will mostly be using it as a gear loft when camping for a few days. I usually end up piling the seats full of stuff - this will be much better!

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We've got 4 dogs, and I also figured the smaller two might even like to sleep up there...a little dog hammock. Here's Oscar trying it out...

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After setting it up for the first time, I realized I had some spare fabric leftover and decided to make a little pocket that hangs down from the middle. It should be great for holding the ole' iPod, sunglasses, knife, etc...

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The best part of the project was breaking out the GF's sewing machine, ha. Never thought I'd be sewing on the weekend....

Cheers for the great idea!
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TopBud
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a child's cot in my 74. I do not have any kids and my passenger seat spins around, so I never use it. I once camped with my brother, his 2 kids, my lady and 2 dogs. I set up the hammock and had the front curtains all set up. My nephew slept up there and loved it, it was like his little "fort."
I love the little bed by mikey9.
The Salt- the bay windows use those clamps. you can find them in the classified section for bays.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?...ton=Search
Great ideas. Keep them coming
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mmmdiesel
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's some pics of mine in use.
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The only problem is deciding who gets to sleep in the cot.
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mmmdiesel wrote:
Here's some pics of mine in use.
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The only problem is deciding who gets to sleep in the cot.
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Those pics are priceless - made me smile! (Both mine are teenagers...seems like a looooong time ago...) Good for you for starting the van years early!
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mmmdiesel wrote:
Here's some pics of mine in use.
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The only problem is deciding who gets to sleep in the cot.
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I love it, but, like someone else said, I love the swivel seat more than the space. I am looking into the rear shelf idea (brilliant Mikey9!) but the kids are growing quick and next summer they will be relegated to the top bunk! Cool Once they are up there, there will still be several years of the ability to store the extra "in the way" gear up top as they are short. With the rear shelf idea though, it would still be useable as a cargo shelf and especially, guitar shelf as I always bring one or two of those and they tend to get in the way lots, especially when the rains come Razz I also like the idea of the tent to put the extra stuff in at camp proposed by 1621 in another thread.... Idea
Beautiful kids!
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Volksaholic
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DAIZEE wrote:
Way way way way back in the bus days they had a cot for the front. I don't know what it looked like but I've heard about it. Yours is marvelous and innovative


I had one of those in my '73 Weekender. It was 2 pieces of galvanized channel steel, about 1/2" by 1/2" if memory serves, with the ends flattened out and made into hooks. These fit into little metal brackets that were screwed to the A and B pillars. The canvas slipped over the two long bars, just like this PVC design, but there was no bar running side to side. It was just a snug enough fit to keep it taught.

Quote:
How hard is it to convince your 3 year old to sleep in it?
I'd make one if I knew he would take to it.


My kids LOVED to sleep in the Weekender cot, and as Bac says, it makes great day storage (not to mention you've got all the storage on the seats and floor underneath. When we weren't using ours for kids I would stuff the clothes bags and pillows & such on top to get them out of the way during the day. Guitars, mandolins, banjos, & fiddles went underneath... provided insulation and kept them out of the sun.

Nice design... looks like your little girl is a happy camper!


Paul
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WW_Victoria
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are some AWESOME setups here... here is my simple set up.
1/2 inch ply, plenty strong, with ~1 1/2 inch foam on top - covered in fabric. the length of the bed is the same as the width of the rear bed so it can be stored there.. Simple screw in leg to give it support - that and sitting on the seats. only trick part was the notch around the gear shift - not hard to cut and my partner did the sewing... Kid loves his VW bed... lots of head room so he hangs out there quite a bit, reading and playing.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"mmmdiesel", Your example of the cot in use is why we all go camping and have for all of our lives. To see the little ones truly enjoy themselves. They look so peaceful looking through the Sun roof. Ok, I give props back to "bac914" for inventing this thing?. When I saw this I had to make one and it has become one of the most valuable items that we carry. Our dogs and guitars sleep on it and make life very simple with them there.,,, I made mine out of parachute nylon and added a little something to hold the cot up so I you can open the doors and the cot stays in place. Simple rope harness going across the top to each end piece holding them up.
I now sell this after market "Rope Harness" for only $19.95. Please let me know if you need them ,, free shipping. Ne 1? Ne1? Laughing
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We also use small bungies to tie the ropes to the head rest to stabilize it for the dogs Very Happy
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ashafer
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only negative I've found from using this setup is horrible access to the stereo and cigarette lighter. It was frustrating to try and reach under the thing over and over again!

Looks like yet another reason I need that nice new shiny stereo with a remote and maybe a few extra 12V receptacles. Idea

Kudos on the trick to keep the doors open BTW. Very Happy
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thewump
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw the hammock at the start of this thread in a Colorado show, and was inspired to build one, but modify so that it is stowable. I have another thread on here.. didn't realize that this one existed so this is a bit of a repost, but good to have everything in one place.

By building 54 inches long when broken down, this tucks neatly in the pop top housing when not being used and is completely out of the way.

Here's a couple of pics, but more pics and dimensions and basic instructions along with more pics here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gnoshmepics/VanagonProjects#

In testing:

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Stored:

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In a nutshell:

1.25 inch Schedule 40 pipe
2x 50 inch sides
2x 24 inch ends
Corners made out of Ts with one leg cut off, and a slice for the strap to go through
Corners attached to long sides with screws to allow canvas removal for laundry
Routing of straps done so weight on hammock holds end pieces in place
Hang heigth 13 inches.
Hanger "ends" are 3/4 inch pipe with slits cut in them for the straps - then a knot inside.

Cost $25.
Time taken 3 hours.
Time it would take me again 90 minutes assuming the sewing machine is in a good mood.

Best

K
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abacus1980
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the great idea! this really made our holiday in temagami ontario canada. Consider it 6 month old approved! Elliott slept better in the cot than at home, he let us sleep in regularly. a wool blanket underneath him kept him warm in 7 deg Celcius nights.

now i want to replace the crib Shocked

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r1100rta
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:00 am    Post subject: Kudos Reply with quote

Well done? I am thinking bunk bed with the cot on top and the half inch plywood bed on the bottom? Anyone have issues with paint or torn door rubber? I am thinking the cargo strap material would be a little more gentle on the van. Thoughts?
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