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Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:38 am

So driving home from Seattle the other day, my wife and I are talking about camping... she mentions that I should get some form of camper bus. I've already been semi trying to educate myself at recent shows as too whats good and whats not. I thought I'd throw out a few thoughts and let the samba populous throw in their 2 cents.

1. Main objective is a comfortable sleeping place for two.
2. An awning is a must, full side tent not that big of deal
3. something larger than a 36hp, not in a hurry, just want to keep up.
4. 12 volt electrics
5. fridge and sink semi nice to have.
6. originality not a concern but I wouldnt want to modify the *bus* in anyway. i.e. not lowered, no hacking in roof sections, swivel seats, etc.
7. I want to design and build the camper kit to utilize my furniture and wood working skills. I'd steal design ideas from uncle westy and the rest.
8. I would utilize current/high tech materials for the interior and accessories. I'm after full utilization and creature comforts. I'd only use 'vintage' if there was no reduction in functionality and reliability.
9. Two to three year time frame.

two starting spots I've been contemplating:
- 61 sub hatch flip seat
- barndoor kombi

flame suit on and mind open... :D

Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:45 am

What, a non-stock interior? It's going to be tough to track down lumber processed in 1961.
:)
No really, the early split Westies are great for 2 people. Seems like someone was selling a bus with a sub hatch and no interior - might be just the ticket.
The downside to the early splits is the lack of screened ventilation for sleeping. If the weather is cooler, that's not such a big deal, but when I had my first splitty, it got awfully hot inside, then when you opened the pop-outs, the bugs all came in...

Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:48 am

get an old westy. the windows should have screens on them. hell, my ez camper has screens on the pop out windows. i say get a complete, origional camper and have fun, but you want to build your own, so, get a kombi or something and go from there.

Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:23 am

Westy's only had screens on the 65 and later models. I know of a subhatch shell up in the Northwest that was promised to someone else but I'm bnot sure he wants it. PM me for details.

From what I've heard from a guy who has owned a SO23 and SO42 the SO42 Z beds are a lot more comforatable. You find a flipseat and I'll buy the interior from you.

Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:42 am

crofty wrote: Westy's only had screens on the 65 and later models. I know of a subhatch shell up in the Northwest that was promised to someone else but I'm bnot sure he wants it. PM me for details.

From what I've heard from a guy who has owned a SO23 and SO42 the SO42 Z beds are a lot more comforatable. You find a flipseat and I'll buy the interior from you.

The sundial beds are the most comfortable, if you can find a rare full width w/o the side cabinets then that's comfort.

Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:44 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=101986

Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:03 pm

I figured he wanted the sub hatch and not a OTW.

Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:07 pm

yea, i either want bullets (nipples) or semaphores. I already have two fried egg busses. that's kinda why i've been pondering the barndoor kombi idea but the whole flip seat thing has me intrigued as to be a superior design to maximize space.

Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:22 pm

Here is how I'm doing my bus.... The vintage purists are gonna flame me.

Z-bed back seat from a baywindow.
Middle seat faces along drivers wall, its a Z-bed from a Baywindow westy.
Z-bed folds out to meet the bottom of the back Z-bed. Should give me about queen size sleeping.

Middle of the bus will use a table pedistal and base from JC Whitney (polished aluminum) and it is removable to not interfere with the seats.
Minimal storage, cabinets take up space. Loose items will be put in a corner or under the seats. Already have screens on my windows cause it has the EZ camper style windows.

Just how I'm doing it.... Its not an original bus.
-Bobby

Fri Sep 03, 2004 3:53 pm

Bobby consider yourself flamed! And Dave don't desacrate a BD with a camper kit look at that lame one in Washington State came from my back yard, then got painted the wrong colors with a made up late model Westy kit the two differing eras just don't work. But if your not going to hack it or lower it but you'll put a bigger motor in it, you know it just doesn't stop there, then you need bigger brakes and a full synchro trans and of course you already stated 12 volt........ You have a fine collection of buses why put an abortion in the same garage? Get a nice Westy like Seans and be happy, they always were at the top of the heap in campers get the best and forget the rest!

Fri Sep 03, 2004 3:56 pm

spookymulder wrote: Bobby consider yourself flamed! And Dave don't desacrate a BD with a camper kit look at that lame one in Washington State came from my back yard, then got painted the wrong colors with a made up late model Westy kit the two differing eras just don't work. But if your not going to hack it or lower it but you'll put a bigger motor in it, you know it just doesn't stop there, then you need bigger brakes and a full synchro trans and of course you already stated 12 volt........ You have a fine collection of buses why put an abortion in the same garage? Get a nice Westy like Seans and be happy, they always were at the top of the heap in campers get the best and forget the rest!

point well taken about the two different era issue.

Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:28 pm

Dave I for one, am really excited about your ideas. Westys are no doubt a great design, and I think one could use some of that firms ideas to build off of. I really think that you could improve on them at the same time. If you have skills, why not showcase them. I have plans on doing a one off camper conversion to my bus too. Have you even checked out the inside of vintage camping trailers like: Airstreams....Apaches? Man, there are incredible. I know that taking some cues from old skool travel trailers, while keeping it period correct could really turn out great. One day my "camper" will be done, and it will be seamless. Complete with my coachwork badge. People will go nuts. Pick the bus that already has that cool factor and make it even better. I think the flip seat could be something fun.

Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:22 am

Dave I think what would be cool would be to take an original camper, like an SO-23 walkthrough (preferably with the interior cabinetry in rough shape) and build cabinetry that mimics the original but conceals all the modern conveniences like a propane stove, forced air heat, electrically pumped water and a small fridge.

I know you don't want another fried egg bus so I won't try to sell you on a 65-67 SO-42 but I think you might like what I'm doing with ours...modern conveniences like icebox guts converted to fridge, concealed heating, stealth stereo, propane jack and hidden tank for a stove etc. It's already 12V but I'm adding an extra battery with an isolator as well as an inverter and relays to control it all so the beer stays cold.

If you do get a sub hatch bus, you might end up changing your mind about only a small tent. You really can't stand up in your bus without a poptop, and with the NW weather, you're likely to want to stand up sometime without going out into the cold or a rainstorm.

How about a 63-64 with a devon or dormobile roof? Then you wouldn't need a tent and you could build a fully custom interior, vintage style, using early fat chick westy guts (cheap) as a starting point. That would give you all the parts for the bed.

Sat Sep 04, 2004 11:16 am

why not just make one out of a kombi if your going to create a bastard camper anyway. Why take a stock camper out of circulation if you dont want any of the OG stlye interior. Bobby your camper is your camper, whatever floats your boat...just try not to sell it for any sort of high price because you wont get any takers.

Sat Sep 04, 2004 4:47 pm

Dave i built a camper out of a kombi, a year ago and have been camping all over new mexico and colorado this last year. if you want some insite on building a camper and some things that worked well and some things that didn't, pm me.
gearhead

Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:54 am

I like your ideas Majorwoody, sounds comfortable!

I guess I should explain a little more in detail. I was talking about using the mechanism from the Z-beds, not the whole ugly thing. Its just 2 folding frames for the base and 2 boards, one for a back and one for a bottom. These are getting covered with 5-6" closed cell foam and charcoal velour material. I don't really care for the photographed wood look, or the 60's gold colors, so I'm trying to make everything as modern as possible. Everything that is visible will be covered with charcoal cloth (except the dash and anything that should not be covered).

There will be lighting in each corner that is concealed in the wall, only the actual lens will be visible. The sound system will be hidden for the most part, but the subs are housed in the base for the back seat, and speakers in the upper panels behind cloth grills. There isn't an easy way to hide them in the door panels (doors are too thin) so I might have to get creative with the kick panels. The head unit will be in the parcel tray, radio blockoff plate in the dash.

The main objective is to have everything modern, well planned, and seamless. Nothing will looked hacked in, or unprofessional. I have studdied a lot of RV and camper equipment and their layouts. There is a lot of nice new parts out there for RVs. I wont sell my bus, just add more to my collection. I'm thinking about finding a bone stock one, just to drive...
-Bobby

Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:47 pm

Aw c'mon now! There aint no such thing as a walk-thru SO23!

Sun Sep 05, 2004 7:52 pm

There actually is one! To be revealed next year, at one of the big shows, Lind and Campingbox know what I'm talking about!

Sun Sep 05, 2004 8:48 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...eName=WDVW
=P~

Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:19 am

i was thinking about doing something with a full width z-bed and another one behind the bulkhead. i haven't done mesurments so i don't know if they would connect of not. i don't have any need for a fridge or anythng, but that would be cool. i'd like to make a z-bed that uses the same legs as a regular back seat. mabey rig something up so it looks like a standard, but the middle and rear seats fold into a bed? someday....