The Safest Ultimate Storage Solution Bins for Weekender Interior

[Rjhdog]

Lots of great ideas and links.

Many thanks.

Has anyone considered using a file cabinet like seen in photo?

The Container Store (I know - last place on earth I like to visit) has these Poppin powder coated file cabinets that fit fairly well. They let me test for it in the van and take photos.

Some perks:
It can lock so no door will fly open on the road.
I could fab up a couple eyelets on the side of cabinet for safety latch points to secure it in an accident.
Could hold all the Cookwear and misc stuff.
It's a little tall but could work for an additional seat for the weekender table. You can remove the legs to gain an additional inch.

[Rjhdog]

Another idea:

I have been told that using a westy sink/stove portion of the westy cabinets still allows room to use the full width z bed. That should hold all of my Cookwear and Dry food if I remove the fridge in lieu of cabinets.

Anyone have a shot of that kind of setup?

Would I have to remove all the weekender panel/ table to mount it properly?

The idea of having a sink is not too shabby although I would lose the ability to easily remove it for ultimate versatility...

Thoughts?

[dobryan]

[Rjhdog]

Thanks Dave o.

I am looking to see a shot of just the one sink cabinet with full width bed. I know I can imagine it but sometimes it's great to see it visually.

Btw, beautiful interior.

[dobryan]

Here is a pic with a dimension. You can put a box in your bus at 35.5 inches from the bulkhead behind the drivers seat and see how the cabinet would fit.

_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[benandmj]

These are what you are looking for. I found them in the gallery here a while back when I was considering this.

_________________
85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy

[Rjhdog]

Yup - exactly.

Not too bad of an idea there although it looks a tad "incomplete"...

Since i am not familiar with the intricacies of the westy cabinet - would i need to remove my current weekender interior panel/fold up table to install? Looks like the cabinet in the photo above installs with the passenger interior paneling. Assume it bolts in the floor and in the wall somewhere?

Would it be a crazy idea to make that a temporary camp storage solution that I could remove after each camp trip? I imagine it's pretty heavy...

also - i imagine i couldnt keep my rear facing seat bracket and seat belt installed in order to fit the westy cabinet, right?

[benandmj]

I'm right there with you on your train of thought.

It doesn't look quite right and is too heavy to pull out. We are currently lugging a camp chef organizer in and out for each trip, just about every weekend. I'd love to have something permanent but I have yet to find anything I like. Also, I've got 2 big batteries an amp and a charger under my jump seat...
_________________
85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy

[Rjhdog]

Just to follow up here:

I was privately mssg to consider single point L Track Anchor Points like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Round-Anchor-Point-Tie-Down/...amp;sr=8-1

Pretty brilliant idea.
This is what I will do to keep things put and still allow for great versatility.

Cheers.

[Rjhdog]

Here's a follow up on a solution that works for me in my pursuit of a a safer way to store gear on road trips.

I decided to keep the weekender interior as versatile as possible with easy removal of camp bins.
I used single point L track brackets bolted to floor with quick release D Rings.

It required some careful measurements, sealant, and basic tools.

I will let the pics speak for themselves.

Hope this comes in handy for those looking for solutions...

[shadetreetim]

I like those tie downs RJ. You could get more storage by building a small cabinet under the fridge like I did.

_________________
Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[nuhu]

shadetreetim, I like that setup. How do you mount the Engel cooler so that it doesn't fall down while driving?

[wesitarz]

Used truck box bolted in using the jumper seat bracket mounting holes. Good for scuba gear, tools, parts, camping gear.

[shadetreetim]

[ThankYouJerry]

[iliketowalk]

[silversync]

This reminds me of the container / storage problem on sailboats (from my sailing days): The rule is: to the maximum extent possible, bring soft sided luggage like duffle bags, etc. Hard cases don't store as well, because soft bags can change shape to match the target location and compress to only the stuff inside. Don't have to use the full space required for a 1/2-full hard container.

But having said that, we keep our boxes and containers stacked in the rear during the day and then move them to the front seat when the bed needs to be made. Mainly this is because everyone so much enjoys the maximum space in the "living room" while driving.
_________________
Roland: '89 Syncro, '02 911 C4S, '10 Audi A4 Avant