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muchofiesta Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2017 Posts: 2 Location: Raleigh, NC
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 2:09 pm Post subject: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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Hey everyone -
I want a Thing. I've always wanted a Thing. Since I was like 5 years old riding around in my Aunt's Thing. And now I am finally in a position where I can make a Thing a reality.
But... I'm fat. So I am looking for brutally honest answers. I don't know anyone in my area with a Thing or I would ask to sit in it and see how it fits. I have only ever seen one Thing in the 15 years I have lived in Raleigh, NC.
The Things I am looking at are all out of state and I would hate to drive 6 hours or 8 hours only to find out I can't fit in the Thing.
So... in your honest opinion, how would a 6 foot tall man who weighs 335 pounds and has a rather large belly fit behind the wheel of a Thing? Anyone out there a similar size? Any opinions?
Thank you! |
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74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7369
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Joe 20 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2005 Posts: 655 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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Hi Buddy! I think you might have as much trouble getting into it as sitting behind the wheel. The door openings are pretty narrow. Heck, you might not even be comfortable in it. Like 74 said above, you can always put in a smaller wheel, etc. if you can actually get into it. Maybe you could find another small, Honda, Toyota, etc at a dealership and try it on for size. Maybe a CJ Jeep. Not trying to be a smart a--. I have a friend who's a little smaller but with back problems and he has a devil of a time getting into mine on the passenger side. I don't even drive mine if I know I'm picking him up. |
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BugsandJeeps Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 119 Location: Paradise, Newfoundland
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:30 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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Another option is aftermarket seats. I am 6'5" and around 280 and I used Bestop lowback Jeep seats with custom brackets. Seats sit a little lower and back further. Plenty of room for me. |
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CraigInPA Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2011 Posts: 212 Location: Norristown, PA
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:40 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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NFL linebacker sized myself. You'll need to move the seat tracks back, or use a smaller steering wheel.
The biggest issue I have is getting in when the top is on. The center post won't let you slide your butt in first. You'll have to learn the "right leg in, grab the steering wheel, slide your butt in, left leg in" maneuver, which is not particularly graceful. |
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JBall8019 Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2012 Posts: 115 Location: Trumbull County, OH
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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muchofiesta, My buddy had a difficult time getting in and out of the passenger side of my thing and he was the same size as you. getting his legs and feet up through the door openings was a task. He is down to 240 lbs now and can get in easily. _________________ John |
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muchofiesta Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2017 Posts: 2 Location: Raleigh, NC
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 11:30 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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Thanks everyone for your honest answers. Sounds like there are some fairly practical mods that can be done, but I should see if I can find one locally to see if I can fit before deciding. |
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Air-Cooled Head Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2002 Posts: 4070 Location: Chicago Suburbs
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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Start attending VW shows in your area.
Someone may let you "try on" their Thing. (Uohh! That sounds,,, bad. )
And you'll probably make some friends, which will come in handy if/when you do find a candidate vehicle. _________________ Everything known to man has been written.
Readers are Leaders! |
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wbailey2112 Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015 Posts: 482 Location: Grove City, OH
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 8:14 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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I'm 5'9" and just a bit over 300. I have a stock steering wheel with Scat aftermarket seats bolted on top of the standard seat tracks that are in the stock location on the pan.
My biggest challenge is gracefully entering and exiting it and when entering it not ripping off a rear belt loop on the door latch (this is apparently a very common occurrence for many Thing owners). Once I'm in I have no issues driving but I think the Scat seats sit a little lower and are able to slide a little further back than stock front seats.
BTW, I've also read that you should refrain from grabbing the edge of the windshield frame when entering and exiting a Thing since this will eventually bend the windshield frame and will change the angle of your windshield. |
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ALANSD Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2015 Posts: 341 Location: Woodstock, GA
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 7:59 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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its the steering wheel that is the biggest issue. It even makes it hard for me and I am no big dude. |
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kubelmann Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2003 Posts: 3266
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 9:14 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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I knew a pretty big VW Thing guy 300lbs+ over 6' who went to the junk yard got a pair of VW Fox seats (with the mounts.) He installed the cpmplete seat assemblies at the correct location for his size. The seat is still adjustable from their own mounts. He also got the Fox's rear seats and used the upholstery and redid the back a a modified platform to match the from seats. He put in the smallest Grant steering wheel and he and his also large wife drove to all the meets/shows etc with their little dog in the back seat luggage rack/dog condo... His Thing also had HD air shocks to handle the couples combined weight. |
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doublecanister Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2008 Posts: 1184 Location: Richmond, Va
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 10:48 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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I find the seat to steering wheel distance my issue.
I wear my wallet in the front pocket to help with my back issues and it always seems to get stuck getting in/out.
I've pondered upgrading my seats (and got two) already that could work but making the adaptor to the vw frames is on my "to do list".
Pondered a smaller steering wheel too, not sure how it'd affect driving
or the looks of the interior.
T _________________ ****************************************
2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8 |
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Zylinderkopf Samba Member
Joined: September 09, 2012 Posts: 679 Location: SE Oklahoma
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Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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wbailey2112 wrote: |
BTW, I've also read that you should refrain from grabbing the edge of the windshield frame when entering and exiting a Thing since this will eventually bend the windshield frame and will change the angle of your windshield. |
Yes. This often happens with new passengers trying to figure out the best way to get in and out. I ended up installing brackets I bought from Thethingshop that help keep the windshield frame in place (not that these make it ok to grab the windshield frame, but at least it protects the frame from clumsy, unknowing passengers).
http://www.thethingshop.com/WINDSHIELD-SUPPORT-BRACKETS/productinfo/181847WSB/ _________________ 1963 Beetle
1966 Beetle 1300
1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1971 Super Beetle
1974 Thing
"A lot of people never use their initiative because no one told them to." |
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offdwall Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 1:32 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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I am right there with you and I have decided to sell mine, but I have a lot of old injuries from a bad M/C crash. I have the Super beetle high back seats and the upgraded Gene Berg shifter, everything else is stock. It's the doorway that kills me! I also am tired of the shifter digging into my leg on drives. Mine is completely restored, so all the rest is original stock from Germany. If you do decide to go ahead, you will find it's natural to grab the front window frame to pull yourself up and forward to get in and out. After a while the windows frame will bend and you're done, broken windshield, or worse. However, they sell something called WINDSHIELD SUPPORT BRACKETS at the Thing Shop for $58, a great investment. Gives extra support so you can grab there all you want. |
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Big Luni Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hartford, CT
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Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:50 am Post subject: Re: Too fat to fit in a Thing? |
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At 6' you probably won't have to move the seat tracks, but the steering wheel is big by modern standards. A buddy of mine around the same size switched out the steering wheel and was fine. _________________ I'm All About My Fetti! |
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