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Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:36 pm

Ok, so I was cleaning out my bus the other day and getting it ready to bring to the shop for the new engine install. when I discovered the backseat turns into a bed. Now I need help identifying what kind camper kit this is from or what kind of camper it is to begin with

first here's the Bus

It's a March/'71 and the M Code plate reads as follows
12 167 852 E
040640 A01 508 697
11 3 7787 UA 2251 21

Here a picture with the hatch open

I have a screen that buttons into place and covers the entire door, I was wondering why the bus had one.

Here is the rear seat

And another, with a latch attached to the seat and the rear cabinet?

Here's a pic of the hardware mounted to the pillar of the bus, it has a vw logo on it

And then the seat folds down

And then you pull the bed out?

Then the bed has these straps attached to it

strap hardware

Then the strap connects to the hardware on the pillar

Then it's a bed!

Who Knew! I've had this bus for over a year, and never know it could do that! I need to get some foam, or a pad and it will be a functional bed! I'm kind of excited!

Now what kind of kit is this? Can anyone help me?

Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:46 pm

that looks like the uber rare "home handyman camper special" to me, although i feel like i've seen this type of kit discussed here before.

Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:48 pm

hazetguy wrote: that looks like the uber rare "home handyman camper special" to me.
Me too, although I've seen a few like that, I wonder if it was a kit and plans for the DIY types?

Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:49 pm

hazetguy wrote: that looks like the uber rare "home handyman camper special" to me, although i feel like i've seen this type of kit discussed here before.

is it really? Everything has a vw logo on it. That was one of my theories for a while.

Theory: If some hippy really loved this bus at one point, then he made a bed in the back to sleep in.

maybe?

Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:54 pm

please post pics of the VW logos on the plywood. thanks.

Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:05 pm

hazetguy wrote: please post pics of the VW logos on the plywood. thanks.

I just went outside and scoured the bed for more logos. There are pieces of the wood cut out in weird places. but there are none that I can find on the plywood. but everything else has the vw logos.

Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:20 pm

This is the bed system sold in Adventurewagen Campers.......... Every Adventurewagen i've seen including mine has this bed system....Even the small shelf over the back is the same ..... I removed mine but still have the hardware and straps....... I opted for the traditional westy bed setup..... 8)

Adventurewagen Vanagon's too

Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:21 pm

My guess is, those part numbers on the straps, when looked up, wont be designated as "Bed support straps" or anything of that sort. They may be VW straps, but they may have come out of the trunk of a squareback or Beetle in the junkyard somewhere.

Wed Jun 09, 2010 3:40 pm

Adventurewagen :idea: I knew I'd seen it somewhere.
The straps are modified rear seat belts, the ring they hook to is the former end where it bolted down under the seat, the hook looks like something from the surplus store.

Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:44 pm

Here was mine before...You can see the straps in this picture

You can see the straps in this picture too

Wed Jun 09, 2010 5:08 pm

So it looks like your '71 Deluxe had an Adventurewagen rear bed assembly attached at some point... gotta love the collective knowledge around here!

Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:31 pm

Ok. So I was reading the page from that booklet that is provided. It was funny reading about how the whole family can eat in the bus even in the front seat. My bus has that table! So was my bus an adventurewagen at some point? And the top was taken off?

Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:00 pm

60vwnewengland wrote: So was my bus an adventurewagen at some point? And the top was taken off?
From the looks of your roof and headliner I'd wager no, but a PO could have had AW install the interior as a weekender, or removed the parts from an AW in a wrecking yard and added them later.

Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:04 pm

Definitely Adventurewagen. :D

Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:24 pm

busdaddy wrote: 60vwnewengland wrote: So was my bus an adventurewagen at some point? And the top was taken off?
From the looks of your roof and headliner I'd wager no, but a PO could have had AW install the interior as a weekender, or removed the parts from an AW in a wrecking yard and added them later.

That makes sense. There are holes in the floor, where a sink would go, and there are also plugs and other things still lingering around from the AW set up. I have the middle seat for the bus, I wonder if the bed will fold down with the middle seat installed?

Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:28 pm

fastmc25 wrote: Here was mine before...You can see the straps in this picture

You can see the straps in this picture too

Look at the battery in the above picture, and look at how the spare tire wheelhouse is dented.

LOOK AT MINE!

Are we sure about this?

Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:32 pm

I keep thinking of redoing my interior and putting that bed back in it...

I think i may like the openess more .............. not sure if i can handle losing the cabinet space though...

I know i didn't like the trapeze feeling with the old AW bed though....... It did move a little when you got in it... :roll:

Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:39 pm

Here's the rest of the story....
8)

Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:27 pm

I noticed your bus was a sunroof bus..... did it have any holes drilled about a inch above the rain gutters all the way around the roof..... If so it may of had the original top on it at one time............ :? They would be around 6-8" apart... :)

Though they didn't use sunroof busses for the conversion someone could of done it themselves...... :?