Closet side door question

[RicMcK]

I want to add a side door like this image. However, I need your thoughts on if the door should open towards the front, the back, or sliding.

OOPS. Can't update the poll questions [Moderator edit: Sliding option added.]

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Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX "VINNY"
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - (first car) long gone.

[dhaavers]

Weekender-style FTW. It’s the only option that makes sense to me…

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[67rustavenger]

If I were doing that mod. I'd want the hinge toward the front of the van.
Otherwise you'll either need to empty out the rear of the van or access the door over the rear seat/bed to get to things in the proposed closet.

I didn't vote.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!
Don't let your bad ideas remain, ideas!

[Wellington]

Have you considered the sliding door variety that someone made?
Any swinging door is in the way one way or another.

Someone else made the rear table top a lift off door.
A door most of the time, and the door lifts off and mounts to the rear table leg.

[fxr]

Member Campism did the first mod - here's what I did:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8621856#8621856

The advantage of the sliding doors is that you can get to all the cupboard without moving all the stuff that might be sitting above the engine. Even if you decide to have a conventional door, consider having the front lower shelf as a tilting shelf so you can get right down to the metal floor and store quite tall things there. Spare gallon of water perhaps, Zodi water heater, whatever.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[RicMcK]

WOW. I like the sliding door style. Solves several potential problems concerning access.

It takes a community to get better ideas and solutions.

This brings up another question. Is it possible to get the closet cabinet out without disconnecting the AC hoses? If yes, what's the prefered method?

Hey FRX: Where did you get the formica sheeting for the new doors, or did you just paint them?
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Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX "VINNY"
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - (first car) long gone.

[SCM]

Kinda depends on what you plan to keep in there and how the van will be configured when you need access.

Hinge to front = can’t access from the bench seat.

Hinge to back = probably more useful than hinged at front.

Hinged ANYWHERE = can’t access while you’re in bed or with thick bedding in place.

Sliding = the best option imo but doesn’t look as factory made.

I only keep bedding and the Westy curtains in that space so the he stock door works perfectly and I’d hate to do an unreversible mod if it didn’t benefit me
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[RicMcK]

Yes irreversible mods are a tricky issue. I've already drilled holes in the spice rack for (USB ports, Cig lighter, LED light switches), along with some other mods, I think long and hard about it before I did it.

Right now I have a box of spare parts in the bottom of the closet, with some plastic storage boxes that just fit through the door (turned sideways) stacked on top. If I need anything, it always seems like it's not in the top box or in the pile or duffel bag of stuff on top of the boxes. Thus, stuff/duffel & boxes are always being taken in & out trying to get stuff. It's not ideal because of this issue and there is still a bunch of unusable space.
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Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX "VINNY"
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - (first car) long gone.

[E1]

From an antique/collectible car point of view, know there’s enduring and permanent value in maintaining as much originality as possible — meaning at least honoring the original design like Dhaavers did.

The older it grows the more it matters. But obviously others’ vans are not mine, just pointing it out since you asked our opinions.

Personally we don’t put anything in the closet that we often need to access anyway. But I love the option!

So far as which way to best hinge it, it entirely depends on what you have, what you want to get to, and whether or not the bed’s open.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans

[AlfromNH]

Another option, a rollup tambour door

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‘88 2wd Auto Westy project

[campism]

[Chilepines]

If you’re using a fridge door as a closet door, as I did, it’s easier to have it open the same direction as the fridge, which opening toward the back. It’s pretty simple to pop the pins out of the hinges to reverse them, but then the bottom (now left side) hinge runs into the curve in the new opening.
Either way it opens is wrong about half of the time, and there is always something in the way, so a slider is the most convenient but also the least original appearance.

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White 89 Westy with 2004 Subaru EJ25 and Subarugears 5MT - Betty

[jlrftype7]

Although its our DIY Cabinet and not stock , I elected to use sliding doors just for the reasons listed above. Nothing in the far back is generally in the way with the slider option. Even when carrying a bunch of stuff back there on a trip, we still have sneaky access to the cabinet unless the item in the cabinet is really big like a 5 qt oil bottle.
The oil bottle lives on its own dropped sheet metal shelf/support compared to the rest of the plywood shelf.

_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[MarkWard]

[jimf909]

I’ve added a closet door to a couple of vans and used a table so the height of the door would match the other door. I put the hinges in back to open the door from the bench.

There are more ideas and project descriptions in these threads.
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Athesamba.co...s-wiz-serp

If I were to do this again I’d lean towards the sliding doors.
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- Jim

[RicMcK]

Mark. Thanks for the advice. On the A/C. Yes I've already changed out the A/C drain hoses and repaired the drain pan, when I did major wiring upgrades to the entire A/C system, including cleaning all the hoses & components.

Great tip on the parts bags. When I remember to do it it saves many hours upon the reinstall.

From what everyone is saying. I think I will go with the sliding door system.

What about the gray formica? Is it available, or do I just paint the new doors?
_________________
Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX "VINNY"
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - (first car) long gone.

[fxr]

[Kdj]

Very timely poll here. I just received this tambour door I ordered. It was stuck in customs for awhile and the price went up because of, well you know! But its this weekend project I hope.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304195614545?_skw=tambour...BMmNSP98tm

[Kdj]

Got the tambour door installed today. Think it’s going to free up a lot of underused space in the closet cabinet.
Still have to build a shelve to optimise the space! And trim the exposed plywood.

[RicMcK]

Can you please try to post a photo of the inside (down) and what I looks like when it's rolled up (inside)?
_________________
Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX "VINNY"
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - (first car) long gone.