TheSamba.com :: View topic - Fly Away Designs

Fri May 09, 2008 1:26 pm

Hello all,

We just posted several photos of our new Rear Bed Extension Platform prototype in the 68-79 Bus - Camper gallery. We have shown photos of the platform by itself and with our Rear Extension Tent placed over the Bed Extension Platform. These fit perfectly together and will make for a great camping accessory. The platform is constructed of steel tubing with aluminum braces. The Platform is very sturdy and stable. It will support over 200 lbs. and extends the sleeping area by an additional 24". We have yet to make the additional mattress section, so it is not shown in the photos. Set up of both the Platform and the Tent takes less than 5 minutes. The braces easly detach from the Platform and both fold flat for storage.

We will be placing a new advertisement or modifying our existing advertisement in the Classifieds here to include the Platform as soon as we can. From the comments we have received in the past, the Platform is what most of you have been waiting to see. Please let us know what you think of it. We appreciate your feedback and will respond to questions or requests for additional information. We'd be happy to send additional photos too.

R and C
Fly Away Designs
Canby, OR

We are dedicated to making bus camping more fun and making "Happy Campers"

Fri May 09, 2008 2:08 pm

Here are the pics:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=flyawaydesigns

I would love to have one, how much are they?

Fri May 09, 2008 2:51 pm

Fri May 09, 2008 3:45 pm

Hmmm...... Looks like a snack bar for bears :P

Nice looking rig, may not be suitable for backwoods camping but great in well travelled areas, how easy is it to stow? take up much room? where do you haul it?

Fri May 09, 2008 5:20 pm

Thats a great idea. Could always use more room to stretch out. A it looks like it would make a pretty cool buffet or bar.

Fri May 09, 2008 6:02 pm

This is a great idea!!! So there is a clear window on top? When it rains will water leak into the bus? I am sure there is a lot of labor involved in this, $350 is pretty steep however, I think if the price can be lowered eventually, I will definately pick one up!

Fri May 09, 2008 10:23 pm

Everyone,

To be honest, we have not determined a final price for the Bed Extension Platform yet.

Here is what I know so far – having just itemized our costs and labor.

Raw materials and subcontracted labor for welding totaled $260 for this unit.

Our assembly labor totaled 18 hours. Plus, we had over 20 hours in the structural design development of this unit before we began fabrication and assembly. We typically amortize the design cost over the first 10 units. As this was the prototype, we can probably knock off an hour or 2 as there was some figuring and head scratching time spent along the way and we do have several improvements in mind that will simplify the design without compromising, safety, strength, quality or functionality.

That being said, the Rear Bed Extension will more than likely be in the $500 to $550 range. Before you make judgments based on price alone, please read the following paragraphs.

We design and build things to high standards – like we are the ones who will be buying it. There is also a safety aspect to this as well – people will be using this in all sorts of ways that we have no control over. If it fails and someone gets hurt, that could be very bad for us – we would feel terrible about it. Therefore, we want a strong, sound design that is made of quality material that will function as expected, take some abuse and still last a long time. Also because we are the ones making it for sale to others, we have a reputation to keep…..we want people to be happy with the things we make and not be thinking they short changed. It will not serve us well to sell something that will not function as advertised, or breaks after a few times using it. We love VWs and we respect your vehicles like they were ours, we take great care to design things that will not damage your vehicles in any way. The Bed extension has a very durable rubber bumper that protects your paint. Our Tents have magnets that are individually sewn into fabric pockets to protect your paint.

Buying our items is not like buying a used seat or a used carburetor or some mass produced commodity. These are hand-made individually by us. They are not mass produced in a factory by cheap foreign labor. We do think our labor is worth more than USA minimum wage or cheap offshore labor and we want to make a small profit on what we make.

You will also note that there is no upholstered mattress piece shown in the photos as we had hoped to have. We were absolutely shocked to find out the cost of a 24” x 48” x 4” piece of high density mattress foam that matches the mattresses in your Westy or our Riviera costs. We hope you are all sitting down as you read this,,,,,after calling several suppliers of the foam, I have a high quote of $180 and a low quote of $120. With oil at the price it is, this foam is near to being unobtanium…..and that is just for the foam. Upholstery with vinyl and/or cloth material and labor to do it would be on top of that. So for now, that MAY be offered as an option, but more than likely you will have to tackle that on your own if you want one. Just remember that the foam you see in Walmart or some local store that is less in cost is NOT the same as you have in your bus.

Our design philosophy outlined above applies for the Tent too. However, it is not intended to be water tight. It attaches to the bus with industrial strength (grade 8) ceramic disc and block magnets. In a hard rain it will not be water tight, however we have used our vinyl windowed unit in a light sprinkle and it functioned very well with no water leaking in. When it looks like a real rain is on the way, we are always prepared to take the unit down and put it away to be sure we stay dry. The labor and cost of these are fairly set – the advertisement on this site supersede the price shown on our website. Unfortunately as the cost of oil went up, so did the cost of the Cordura material and that cost was passed on to you. Whether we like it or not it seems everything is costing more these days.

We stand behind our products and offer a limited guarantee. If it’s a workmanship issue on our part, it will be fixed for free if you send it back to us. If you cause the damage, send it to us and we will look at what we can do to repair it, give you an estimate of the cost to repair it to near new condition and give you the choice to authorize us to repair it or not, we may also offer a lesser repair for a reduced cost if you are agreeable.

We are dedicated to making camping fun and making “Happy Campers”.

Thank you very much. We really appreciate your interest. Please continue to ask us questions and make comments. We want to make products you like and without your input we can’t do that.

Rick and Carman
Fly Away Designs
Canby, OR

Sat May 10, 2008 5:27 am

As a suggestion, I would advise against using clear plastic for windows, and go with a screen and flaps like on the pop tops. As the plastic ages, it tends to yellow/crack from spending most of its life folded up (anyone ever have to replace the plastic window on their convertible?).

Sat May 10, 2008 5:58 am

When the plywood base is in the up position, does it not block the view out the rear window?
Jim

Sat May 10, 2008 6:15 am

flyawaydesigns wrote: Hello all,

We just posted several photos of our new Rear Bed Extension Platform prototype in the 68-79 Bus - Camper gallery. We have shown photos of the platform by itself and with our Rear Extension Tent placed over the Bed Extension Platform. These fit perfectly together and will make for a great camping accessory. The platform is constructed of steel tubing with aluminum braces. The Platform is very sturdy and stable. It will support over 200 lbs. and extends the sleeping area by an additional 24". We have yet to make the additional mattress section, so it is not shown in the photos. Set up of both the Platform and the Tent takes less than 5 minutes. The braces easly detach from the Platform and both fold flat for storage.

We will be placing a new advertisement or modifying our existing advertisement in the Classifieds here to include the Platform as soon as we can. From the comments we have received in the past, the Platform is what most of you have been waiting to see. Please let us know what you think of it. We appreciate your feedback and will respond to questions or requests for additional information. We'd be happy to send additional photos too.

R and C
Fly Away Designs
Canby, OR

We are dedicated to making bus camping more fun and making "Happy Campers"

I had always thought that 1968~79 VW Type 2 campervan's main beds, were about 6 feet long or longer anyway, so unless one is much taller than this, why would one desire such a long bed extension? :?

I am aware that there was a Dutch specification, 1968~79 VW Type 2 Emescador campervan conversion, from The Netherlands, which featured a similar rear-hatch tent & bed extension, but that was part of the overall design, with a shorter than normal bed section, within the vehicle itself.

Sat May 10, 2008 6:28 am

NASkeet wrote:
I had always thought that 1968~79 VW Type 2 campervan's main beds, were about 6 feet long or longer anyway, so unless one is much taller than this, why would one desire such a long bed extension? :?

Regrettably, I have to wholeheartedly agree with Nigel. Mark your calendars folks, this doesn't happen often. I'm 6'4" and about 285 pounds and have no trouble fitting on the bed in my camper right next to my wife. I just don't see the need for an exterior extension of the bed with plastic "windows" and no option of opening them, let alone for $500+. I guess it's a decent idea and fairly well executed, but I don't see this as having any advantage when I'm out camping. In fact, it seems like kind of a pain in the ass. Where do you store it? I'm working on making more room in the Bus when I travel, not less. Personally, I like sleeping in the Bus on a nice summer night witht he hatch screen in place and a nice breeze blowing through the Bus. The extension seems like it would turn into a sweltering greenhouse in short order, especially on a sunny morning. Kudos to you for taking the initiative, but for me, I would never consider purchasing something like this.
The only place I have ever found an extension useful is on the top bunk of my late Westy. I had a problem dropping my pillows, which completely sucks in the middle of the night. I made a short extension for the top bunk that I can pull into place after I get in the top bunk and it makes the bed the perfect length--I haven't lost a pillow yet. I'll take some pics.

Sat May 10, 2008 6:57 am

I don't have a need for the bed extension but using that platform (sans tent) as a table/kitchen area may be useful. Storage may be an issue though. In any event I applaud your innovative spirit.

Sat May 10, 2008 7:03 am

Quote: The only place I have ever found an extension useful is on the top bunk of my late Westy. I had a problem dropping my pillows, which completely sucks in the middle of the night. I made a short extension for the top bunk that I can pull into place after I get in the top bunk and it makes the bed the perfect length--I haven't lost a pillow yet. I'll take some pics.

Hey I just did the same thing! Dude we gotta get togther and camp one of these days and talk vw's. Thanks for the bumper brackets by the way!!

I have to agree that the idea is great but the end result and price (ecspecially in the $500-550 range) will really turn people away. A skylight can be added to the pop top for $50.00 and solves alot of the problems this device does. Now if you do not have a pop top or a top bunk bed then I understand the need for this device. I guess if you are also sleeping a family of four then it would be useful for the people sleeping below!

I also agree that storing and setup of this device may be more trouble then its worth for an extra couple feet.

What about rain?? It seems that for that kind of money that zipped off screens and plastic windows should both be an option!

Sat May 10, 2008 7:25 am

i like the prototype. from my point of view the best way to make it a product people will buy is to make a completely accurate reproduction of the original rear tent. don't try to improve it too much, don't add features, don't change the materials. make it an exact repro.

this isn't the only way to go about things, it just happens to be my idea of the best way to go about it. i know the market and the people who will pay the price for premium goods want original.

Sat May 10, 2008 7:38 pm

NASkeet wrote:
I had always thought that 1968~79 VW Type 2 campervan's main beds, were about 6 feet long or longer anyway, so unless one is much taller than this, why would one desire such a long bed extension? :?

I agree.

VDubTech wrote: Regrettably, I have to wholeheartedly agree with Nigel. Mark your calendars folks, this doesn't happen often.

Ain't that the truth!

casey79westfalia wrote: the price (especially in the $500-550 range) will really turn people away

I agree

germansupplyscott wrote: from my point of view the best way to make it a product people will buy is to make a completely accurate reproduction of the original rear tent. don't try to improve it too much, don't add features, don't change the materials. make it an exact repro.

I agree

Just my 2cents - but good luck!

Sun May 11, 2008 6:11 am

I'm almost 6'8", so I didn't even consider going the z-bed route for my kombi conversion. I'm going to have to build something myself. My design has a platform that stops just short of the sliding door opening, with a fold-out extension to total a full 80 inches from the rear hatch. This would really limit the amount of space in the back, to the point that I'm not sure two people could comfortably lounge in the remaining space. I've been casting about for a design that would sleep me yet preserve more floor space, but coming up blank.

The Rear Bed Extension would really solve my problem but I have to echo what VDubTech pointed out about the enclosure being stuffy and hot. Screen-door camping is something I'm relaly looking forward to, and seems like a summer necessity when you're sleeping in a metal box. Another concern I have is being able to camp in the winter months. It seems like relying on this unit would turn the bus into a 3-season camper, no matter how much you insulate the rest of the walls.

Those are both deal-breakers for me, especially given the premium-quality pricetag.

Sun May 11, 2008 10:24 am

The photos that we posted showing the Rear End Bed Extensoin prototype may be a bit misleading to all of you. We do offer Tents with all the windows screened.....and we have a model with screens and flaps.

We used the model with all vinyl windows so you could SEE the rear Bed Extension better.

Please see our advertisement in the classifieds here in the "Accessories" category. We show photos of all the models of tents we make. The prices for each model are also shown.

C and R
Fly Away Designs
Canby, OR

Sun May 11, 2008 2:35 pm

I want one but..........................

1. Scrap the board extension
2. Make the canvas come all the way down to ground
3. Replicate a divider just like bug screen out of plastic
4. Put hooks on top so you can hang camp shower
5. Put a zippered like door on it

Now you have a changing room, a place to put your port-a-potty & A private shower
8)
When your camping the shower & toilet is the one thing that separate’s us
From a real R.V.

Making those changes to your design would give myself & others a reason to buy one

there are more details like,
vents on top for those who put out a lot of methane when using toilet
& a drain hose at bottom corner for shower water
but you get the idea
pm me if you can make changes & ill buy one

Sun May 11, 2008 4:27 pm

I was thinking about doing the same thing. Open the hatch and have a shower/bathroom station there. That would be awsome! I'd try to put a zipper or something on the rear most section and one nearest to the bus to maybe access the open rear hatch for dry clothes or towel after showering. That'd be sweet. There are those thermal water pouches that you can let sit out in the sun to get some hot water too. I was contemplating having one that would store up front on the top cargo rack then I'd just move it to the back and pop the top to give it some gravity feed action so you can get a little bit of pressure out of it and some warm water as well. Nice!

Sun May 11, 2008 5:53 pm

I actually have a shower out back of my bus. What you do is buy two shower curtains of your choice. Then with the rear hatch open close pin the shower around the perimeter of the hatch. Where the curtain hits the back of the bus on either side you can use magnets on the curtain to keep it from blowing open and the would seeing your harry ass! Then take a long telescoping broom handle and place it vertically at the rearmost edge of the hatch to kepp it from falling down from the weight of the water bag. Once you have the splint installed place your showerbag on top of the hatch on the window and feed the shower head hose behind the hatch and into the boxed in shower area you just made. The great thing about this setup is the bag can stay up there and get heated by the sun all day and is ready to use when needed.