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Sun Feb 19, 2017 11:43 am

If you attach one kid to the ceiling, this approach might work:

But seriously, folks, I found that the extended pop-top really helped a lot, especially with night-time storage of all the items we bring that are in the area over the engine deck lid.

In the extended pop-top arrangement, a bed-extender board can be used on one side of the upper berth so that the kids can sleep toe to toe if that helps in your case.

There's still room in the luggage rack for the folding solar panel.

Since I spend far too much time thinking about Westies, I thought about one other hack. The existing Westy tent (even without any extended pop top) could be extended on each side to accommodate two fold out plywood panels, one on each side of the van, to widen the upper berth sleeping area by 10 to 14 inches on each side. The tent material would have to be acrylic for water-proofness since the tent on each side would be sloped. This hack could not extend any further back than the pop-top hinge, so it really would yield only extra elbow room.

Sun Feb 19, 2017 11:45 am

joetiger wrote: We need a bit more room ourselves. I'm offering the ARB awning room and a cot for anybody who doesn't appreciate my snoring.

Oh wait, I said that wrong: The ARB room and cot are where I'll be sleeping.

This! ^^^^ this is the PERFECT solution!
A bedroom for the kids and when they leave, a pleasant shady spot to sit with your beloved and sip refreshing adult beverages....

Nothing complicated, nothing expensive, simple off the shelf bolt on technology.

Follow link, scroll down...... find photos of ARB room.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...;start=340

Dave

Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:58 pm

A friend of mine bought a poptop to have space where the kids can sleep. It was 8-10 years ago, they were around 10-12 years old. After one or two trips, where he couldnt sleep as the kids were climbing up and down all night to have a pee, have a drink etc. he bought a pop-up tent for the kids to sleep outside. They liked it more as it was a big adventure. Since that the kids grown up and dont want to go camp with dad but they have the tent so they can go to music festivals.

Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:03 pm

lovine wrote:

Bonus points for the Westfalia stickers on the taco :
Here it is photochopped. Not to scale, and it should probably sit more forward so the hinge is right at the B pillar, but the idea is there:

This is genius.

Sun Feb 19, 2017 5:22 pm

I would prefer a an opening hinged over the passenger side.. flip it over and it becomes the awning.

Sun Feb 19, 2017 8:22 pm

What is the roof top tent allowing you that the pop-top bunk does not?
Are you saying that you would get a large RTT that would allow all 4 of you to sleep up top and therefore leave the bottom seat and gear alone?

Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:32 pm

joetiger wrote: We need a bit more room ourselves. I'm offering the ARB awning room and a cot for anybody who doesn't appreciate my snoring.

Oh wait, I said that wrong: The ARB room and cot are where I'll be sleeping.

Me too bro...me too...

I am doing this roof top tent thing.

I don't want to pull a trailer.

The tent cots are actually pretty cool.

I have some ideas i need to start drawing out for a roof top tent.

Thanks for the support and the naysayers, they both keep me motivated

Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:30 pm

maybe try some family style at places with a YURT, they're still not too much $$ and offer plenty of room. use the westy as a spare room if someone's snoring is obnoxious..

somefood for thoughts..
change the lifting mechanism to like a ASI you can get the lifts on fleabay UK

Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:39 pm

That Tent-Cot that Kam posted is essentially exactly what Cabela's sells. Here is the link to the item: http://www.cabelas.com/product/camping/outdoor-liv...%3D1115047

I think you should check it out and consider its remarkable light weight, low cost and strong construction. If the dimensions let it fit on the luggage cover area, I think you are clever enough to find a way to mount it up there and support it when its open. Because it has its own floor, frame and legs, it was quite easy for me to build a secure setup. The tintop roof is large enough to fit two of these - sleeping 4 on the roof.

Doug

Mon Feb 20, 2017 4:31 am

Maybe this is a solution!

Mon Feb 20, 2017 8:26 am

I say vanagon campers are great for young families
till they're about 10-12yrs old then kick them out into a tent, to really appreciate Westy life.

do the occasional state park/KOA with a Yurt or small cabin. to alleviate the cramped strain..

me I'd probably make a wedge shaped upper room divider
pop the top, slide it into some cleats/pockets to hold it steady and they have each their own 'side' just the backmost 3-4ft.. leave the front 18-24in for getting in place.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 8:45 am

I know this is not a roof top option but it really works great for us.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00HN91YHY/ref=olp_twister_child?ie=UTF8&mv_size_name=2

We use one of these (in the 2 person version, but a 4 person one would be better for your use) as a storage tent when we are going on camping trips. This makes our trips very pleasant.

It literally takes 10 seconds to set up, add 60 seconds longer to set stakes. Take down is about 5 minutes with no poles to remove, it just folds up in a swiss army knife sort of way. Very compact when folded too.

We arrive at the site and throw the tent at the best spot for it then off load stuff from the bus into it so we have a nice clear living space to use inside. Using the 4 person version would give you plenty of room for storage and for either child to sleep. Add in one of these cots and it would be a very pleasant space for who ever gets it for the night.

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000003209-Trailhea...s=camp+cot

Just a thought. :D

Mon Feb 20, 2017 9:02 am

Dave, I bought a larger version of that tent on your advice; it fits perfectly in the upper bunk when travelling and, after a few practice sessions, is very easy to set up and take down. It's great for keeping non-essential items in camp.

The only problem we've had with it is a psychological one: nobody wants to sleep away from the van.

That's why I'm giving the ARB room thing a shot. It's still somewhat connected.

If I had a tin top Vanagon I would definitely go with a rooftop tent, something like IdahoDoug's setup from a few years back (a thread I reference every time the subject comes up.)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525167&highlight=rooftop

Mon Feb 20, 2017 10:58 am

Joetiger - where do you keep the 4-person version? seems to be about 3ft in diameter

Mon Feb 20, 2017 3:08 pm

This is great!

Install a roof top flip tent over the front luggage rack...
pnwkayaker wrote: Can you try to mount a small 2-person roof top tent sideways over the front carrier such that you deploy it forward? I've seen some Defender 90 using a similar solution. You might have to remove the carrier for an easier fit.

Tepui tents have several 2-person tents that might fit (there're many other similar brands).

http://tepuitents.com/collections/2-person-rooftop-tents

Then add the ARB room...
joetiger wrote: We need a bit more room ourselves. I'm offering the ARB awning room and a cot for anybody who doesn't appreciate my snoring.

Oh wait, I said that wrong: The ARB room and cot are where I'll be sleeping.

Voila! You have yourself a Condogon. Or maybe a Habitatigon.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 3:56 pm

I could see RMW making a exo skelteon/roll cage that connects like the picture here:
http://www.vw-bulli.de/files/bulli/_assets/img/art...bild_4.jpg

or connects to the bumper and makes a level platform for installing the fold over tent (Tepui) in the luggage rack. If so it would be sweet to have it such that people could pass through the westy pop top front screen and into the tent.

cool ideas.

termuehlen wrote: This is great!

Install a roof top flip tent over the front luggage rack...
pnwkayaker wrote: Can you try to mount a small 2-person roof top tent sideways over the front carrier such that you deploy it forward? I've seen some Defender 90 using a similar solution. You might have to remove the carrier for an easier fit.

Tepui tents have several 2-person tents that might fit (there're many other similar brands).

http://tepuitents.com/collections/2-person-rooftop-tents

Then add the ARB room...
joetiger wrote: We need a bit more room ourselves. I'm offering the ARB awning room and a cot for anybody who doesn't appreciate my snoring.

Oh wait, I said that wrong: The ARB room and cot are where I'll be sleeping.

Voila! You have yourself a Condogon. Or maybe a Habitatigon.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 4:33 pm

vanis13 wrote: Joetiger - where do you keep the 4-person version? seems to be about 3ft in diameter

Actually mine isn't the Coleman version, it's a "Quechua XL Air III 3 Man," bought on Ebay. It has a dumb name, but is much better quality than I expected, honestly. We beat the hell out of it last summer, and thank goodness my elder daughter took a keen interest in learning how to collapse it. It fits perfectly in the back of the upper bunk area.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 9:11 pm

Mike,
I like this game.
Is there still a sunroof syncro in your lot? Two Autohome ( http://www.autohomeus.com/ ) roof top tents (or similar) and put a motor and remote on the sunroof?
You might have to "extend the rain gutters" or other support in order to get a gap large enough between them to enter through the sunroof.
Interested to see what you end up making.
-d

Mon Feb 20, 2017 10:15 pm

Not sure what these are called, but they pop straight up like the original splitty tops that didn't have a bed... Put the RTT on top of that, and make some braces to keep the top from falling down on the top bunk...

http://westfaliasforsale.com/wp-content/uploads/20...00x216.jpg

Mon Feb 20, 2017 11:26 pm

Lots of interesting stuff here, but the original point was to add more sleeping ability to a westy pop top that's up on the vehicle roof. Essentially, that means the solution has to be on the front of the roof, or atop the existing poptop.

I think the creative minds here can do this. Other thoughts?