Ultimate campmobile ideas

[Jetfxr69]

havent used this yet as this is an addition to daughters build. flipped the leg over as it puts the outside height just right for cooking on a coleman.
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You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa

‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson

[tjrm63]

https://youtu.be/LNmV7Hc3Lsk
https://youtu.be/_WXKoQPZbQI
I took an old power washer handle and cut it in pieces so it would swivel into a table platform then stow away under and out of the way when I turn the seat around. It’s held in place by the round magnets when stowed away and the table top is stowed on the side of the jump seat
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I don’t care how much it’s worth now.
I care how much this bus makes me happy

[Jackrobbo]

[Jackrobbo]

Loads of awesome ideas and given me lots of plans.

[creative native]

I'm aware that I'm a light traveler and this extends to camping. When I attend an annual gathering for a week, I pack one suitcase and maybe a couple of hangers. That's all. When I go camping, it is not on a whimsical notion or to take advantage of the prescribed calendar holidays, but to escape the tedious and banal trappings of towns, people and by extension, the internet. I haven't been to a VW Bus campout in many years (High Country Bus Fest & EveryBus). I was just last week telling a friend that in my 30+ years of Bus (mostly Westfalia) driving, I've only used my roof racks twice that I can remember. The provided stock Westfalia accommodations have always been enough for my needs. I typically carry a few books, writing pad, Nikon camera, blanket/sleeping bag, Coleman's gas range, iron skillet (I used to carry my wok), water & food. I have had gas stoves in my Westfalia Berlins, but I'm not about to cook up something inside the Bus. I have to admit that I've only ever used them to heat water or cook something that has a low smell to it and not use oil (grits, etc.). I would not want to return from a camping trip and weeks later still smell frybread, stir fry or aloo gobi masala in my Bus. I always carry along food that I've put up (canned/cooked and stored in sealed Mason jars) to eliminate as much food prep on the range as possible. For years, I have eaten only one meal a day (except in Autumn and Winter, when I most always bake a dessert). This reduction in food equates to a reduction in the amount of space I will need to utilize. I went from 6'3" & 265 to 235 lbs.

The "spice rack," as they call it, above the sink & range in the Vanagon Westfalia GLs (Deluxes) was a smart addition. I wonder if anyone has ever attempted to install one on a Bay Window?

I agree with RichParker that Bay Window people tend to appreciate the simplicity of these Buses. When I had my '86 Vanagon Westfalia GL, I bought 16" wheels, a power inverter & other upgrades that seemed to only improve that Bus. I wouldn't consider ideas like 16" wheels for my '79. It is nearly perfect as is.

I also agree about utilizing otherwise wasted space, such as the spare tire well, under the front seats, on top of the closet, in the unused sink, installing under dash Bambus style parcel shelves for lighter things and hanging bags/baskets/backpacks from the push bar for the pop top. Those who are not likely to ever use their water tanks could remove them for extra cabinet space.

In the interest of "ultimate Campmobile ideas," I put a gas heater/Propex on the top of that list. I've never owned one (but want to) and I never camp in the dead of Winter for this reason. Despite being the most hot blooded person I've ever known, I don't think I'm a match for Mother Nature when it's 25 F outside.
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"The holy land is everywhere." ~ Black Elk
1979 Westfalia P27, California FI emissions spec. 100% VW fleet: '79 Westfalia, 2013 Touareg Lux (Toffee Brown/Cornsilk Beige), 2005 Passat GLX.

[nemobuscaptain]

[nemobuscaptain]

[Abscate]

[Sash_Bay]

Without question the BEST accessory I have experienced in a camper bus is the addition of a hightop. Hands down!!!

Followed closely by a trailer. I wouldn't go back to a single wheel trailer, I am on the hunt for the right motorcycle two wheel trailer though.

[tjrm63]

Winter camping is the best
https://youtu.be/R6l3oYqBd88
https://youtu.be/Gs7KjkBlTiU
https://youtu.be/rZGrasIDN8M
https://youtu.be/o_9X6btS7IY
https://youtu.be/6E988yaIHuM
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I don’t care how much it’s worth now.
I care how much this bus makes me happy

[creative native]

[Jackrobbo]

[Jalabert]

Things that I did to make my westy layout work better for me:

Chuck the sink / coolbox unit out. Too small to be anything other than a night-time pisser, the coolbox was rubbish, chances of finding a half decent fridge to fit in the hole minimal. Opens up a load of useful floorspace for lugging other crap around, when I don't have a (decent-sized...) fridge strapped in there.

Things that would make my life easier:

The sodding rock'n'roll bed not being such an ass to lift / get under. I think the later ones are better in this regard, and I sure it's something that could be solved with a couple of well-place hydraulic struts or something, but I'm kind of lary of something overpowered tearing holes in the wood. Like to see what other people have done here.

Awnings / outside living:

Gone through a few different iterations now, from the big vintage steel framed beast (way too heavy, sweaty hour of assembly required), more modern tunnel awning (attachment point to the car the weak point, torn away by a southerly gale in deep south NZ), minimal sun awning (attachment point to the car sucky again) and now one of the bigger 4wd awnings that bolts to roof bars. Yet to put it up, obviously lose the utility of the poptop which is a pain, but trialling it to see which space I value more and whether the thing will take a breeze of more than 15 knots....If this proves a pita I may just go with something like a car tarp like this one - https://www.naturehike.com/collections/canopy/prod...e-portable - and drill a hole in the gutter or something...

Power / batteries:

A decent leisure battery setup was on my list for a while, but now we're seeing these lithium power stations in the market they firmly go into the why would I bother bucket. Can grab a decent power station with an inverter for a laptop and enough juice to power a fridge for 40 hours for about a thou NZ bucks, use it in the house when there's a power cut, not lug another heavy battery with me when I don't need it, etc.

I too, am cursed with dogs that refuse to die. Fox terrier of 16, only sign of age is I swear the thing has a tapeworm about a yard long, as every time I get up from this desk I get herded towards the food...and training a ten-year old sister in the ways of the force...

[Jackrobbo]

[Abscate]

[orwell84]

The shelves in the coat closet are a great idea. I have kept my bus pretty much original. It’s a 73 Westy weekender.

My best improvements have been small:

-mosquito netting around the rear bed.

-Heat! - BN4 installed as per factory as well as stock heat restoration.

Parcel tray: cup holders phone maps papers money and crap.

USB Charger for phone

Blue tooth speaker- loud enough to be heard above engine.

Side tent with add a room. Great for going on day hiking trips without breaking camp. An ass ache if you are only staying a night.

What I really need: Bed platform to replace the child’s cot in the poptop. The accessory bed offered in Europe looks nice but overly clunky and complex. A sturdy platform that folds in half with a piano hinge shouldn’t be that hard. It’s on my list.

Also, boxing off/dividing the space under the bench. The floor jack and other stuff ends up squashing the aluminum hose for the gas heater.

That’s about it. I prefer simple and uncluttered. I often remove the ice box and sink unit. I keep food and dishes in separate bins as well as a cooler. It all goes out on a picnic table for cooking.

Having a reliable and well maintained engine has done wonders for storage space. I no longer travel with half a bus packed away in my bus. Solar showers and whatever are not for me. I once went to a job interview while camping in my bus. I can get as clean as anyone with heating water on a camp stove.

[highlandmurf]

Buddy of mine made a shelf for above the sink cabinet.
Hard to see in this pic, but he had a sheet metal guy just make 2 bends in a length of tin. Painted it to match the bus.
Butts up against the wardrobe.
May just have a piece of wood glued into the front end.

Fits nice

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1976 Westy Marigold Yellow
2.0 stock FI
My M-Plate

[Brian]

was thinking of doing something like that, any pics of the mounting?
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Wash your hands

'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper

Only losers litter

[andrewtf]

For the valance on my bus, it is attached to the rear cabinet and you can see the brace at the center pillar. There is a similar brace at the front. The brace has two long countersunk screws into the frame and the shelf is secured up thru the bottom. From my drawings, it is 62" long and 8-1/2" deep, made from 1/2" solid board (cherry). The length is obviously unique to my bus with the custom head banger which is only about 15" deep.

FYI - I cut the length it projects at the front shorter (not seen here) so I won't end up with the corner of it in my brain in a rear end incident. Blue ring in the lip at right side is the light switch for the sexy mood lighting which is a thin led string on the top of the shelf. On the bottom side are very thin led puck lights (different switch). All the lights in my bus dim, for that perfect camping ambience.

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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[vwwestyman]