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theadventureneverends Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2009 Posts: 585 Location: Gig Harbor WA
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 12:24 am Post subject: any reviews or thoughts for the Gowesty cab divider |
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I noticed the GW cab divider is on sale this month, I did not know it existed until I saw the email today. When I do not use the factory front curtain and want a little stealth or quick privacy I generally just put a beach towel or mexican blanket across.
I am tempted to give the cab divider a try but wonder if I will really use it.
Does anyone use one? Any reviews?
Thank you. |
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tjet Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2014 Posts: 3533 Location: CA & NM
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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MayorMcCheese Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2009 Posts: 658 Location: Lancaster PA
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 8:42 am Post subject: |
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I just use 2 spring clamps and whatever blanket is around.
The snaps on your van are originally for the front curtain _________________ wv2yb0252gg092706 |
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theadventureneverends Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2009 Posts: 585 Location: Gig Harbor WA
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 9:02 am Post subject: |
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The gowesty link that tjet provided is what I am referring to (thank you). It snaps in just aft of the front seats. |
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campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4491 Location: Richmond VA
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 9:45 am Post subject: Re: any reviews or thoughts for the Gowesty cab divider |
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theadventureneverends wrote: |
I noticed the GW cab divider is on sale this month, I did not know it existed until I saw the email today. When I do not use the factory front curtain and want a little stealth or quick privacy I generally just put a beach towel or mexican blanket across. |
If you already have the factory front curtain can't you just use it by snapping the front snaps across behind the front seats and let the ends that normally wrap hang down? You might need a spring clamp in the middle to hold that up if there's too much slack for privacy. _________________ '87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17114 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 9:50 am Post subject: |
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The fit in the GW pictures is not so "wonderful" as some of their other products. Another benefit would be to owners with dash AC. I imagine with the curtain installed the dash AC would freeze you out. A walk through would be nice. I may copy their idea for myself. Thank you for sharing. _________________ ☮️ |
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noganav Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2006 Posts: 1236 Location: San Diego CA
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:07 am Post subject: |
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In the daytime I prefer to use a windshield screen so that the passenger seat can be turned around. Covercraft makes a nice one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GF3SQQ/ref=od_aui_detailpages02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When I was stealthing fulltime I would stuff a dark towel between the upper matresses at bedtime and leave the front half of the van curtainless. Curtains behind the front seats like that just scream stealth camping. You'd get busted for sure in SoCal. |
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ThankYouJerry Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2012 Posts: 2271 Location: Shakedown Street
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noganav Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2006 Posts: 1236 Location: San Diego CA
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:35 am Post subject: |
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That is awesome!
I've got a bad feeling about this... |
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Jon_slider Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2007 Posts: 5091 Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:41 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the link to the GW cab divider, it looks useful for privacy.
I tried putting the stock windshield curtain behind the cab. It hangs down too far in the middle, but an extra snap could be added, or a magnet could be used to make it fit tighter.
There are some situations where I would want to seal the cab divider to the roof, and have it go all the way to the floor, when camping in cold country, to block out the cold and reduce the size of the heated space in the sleeping area. The GW divider does not attach flush to the roof it has a gap, but snaps could be added to the roof maybe.. It does not seem to reach the floor though, so cold would still move from the cab into the sleeping area.
I use magnets on my B pillar to hang material in a way that I can still see out the rear view mirror when driving, but people can't see into the sleeping area.
So there are several scenarios that call for slightly different options
1. Privacy, the GW system works, so does a cloth or the stock windshield curtain, attached by magnets or with snaps added.
2. stealth, imo the GW system is less stealthy than a divider that hangs low enough to see out the rearview mirror, but not low enough for people to see into the sleeping area. Cops are good at spotting people sleeping in a van, they look at other things besides curtains.. such as condensation.
3. Heat, roof to floor coverage desired.
Here is another thread about dividers, with some pics
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=20 _________________ My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco |
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MsTaboo Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 4086 Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Our 16" Joker hightop had a cabin divider curtain stock from the factory.
You can see it in this photo:
The nice thing about the factory one is it runs in a track attached to the ceiling so there's no gap.
Loved it, and have been thinking about adding one to our Westy. It helps keep the sleeping area a little warmer and adds quick privacy when changing clothes. _________________ Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine. |
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Jon_slider Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2007 Posts: 5091 Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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MsTaboo wrote: |
The nice thing about the factory one is it runs in a track attached to the ceiling so there's no gap...
It helps keep the sleeping area a little warmer and adds quick privacy when changing clothes. |
Meow! Thanks for the great photo
Total agreement on the no gap, full length divider being warmer.. _________________ My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco |
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BlueGrasser Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2014 Posts: 562 Location: Sacramento
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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Somebody posted that Star Wars sunshade here, and I had to have it!
Unfortunately, it's about two inches too short so it has a small gap on either side.
It's still friggin' awesome though, and works well in combination with my front curtain _________________ Going to where the grass is bluer...
1985 Vanagon Westfalia Camper with 1.8T |
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theadventureneverends Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2009 Posts: 585 Location: Gig Harbor WA
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, thank you for the quick replies and ideas. I did notice the fit in the ad photo seemed a little sloppy. I never thought about using my front curtain aft of the seats as well! I like the idea of that top track and all the way down.
Believe I am going to pass on it. |
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ThankYouJerry Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2012 Posts: 2271 Location: Shakedown Street
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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BlueGrasser wrote: |
Somebody posted that Star Wars sunshade here, and I had to have it!
Unfortunately, it's about two inches too short so it has a small gap on either side.
It's still friggin' awesome though, and works well in combination with my front curtain |
I use BOTH of the sunshades I posted above (Star Wars and GW Eclipse)...
The GW's are mounted to the windshield and are ready anytime I want to just quickly pull them across AND they help take up the 2" gap you mentioned when I'm rockin' the SW shade. _________________ 1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32584 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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pinetreeporsche Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009 Posts: 752 Location: Falls Church, VA
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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A cheap and easy mount for a curtain behind the front seats: Get one of those warning flags that mount on the R axle of a kids bicycle to alert cars. Cut (once, after measuring twice) the flexy fiberglass pole to arch against the headliner, with the ends tightly wedged against the walls of the flats above the windows and door. Use a colored bed sheet with a few safety pins to hang off the fiberglass pole. It can easily be moved back so that your curtain hangs right at the head of the bed, so the warmth stays in your sleeping area. |
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westyventures Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2004 Posts: 2306 Location: Oregon Outback
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 3:02 am Post subject: |
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Not the best version I've seen, and a lot of dough for something so basic, IMO.
Here is the one I designed and put into use end of 2012. Split in the middle for easy pass-through of my dogs (or myself), several patches of velcro to secure the split when closed although it naturally falls closed. It follows the ceiling contours and drops down to the battery box level. Snaps are located two on each side, three across the ceiling, taking place of screws at the back edge of the cockpit opening. Keeps lots of heat to the rear!
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 4002 Location: Maine
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