Ideas for loading very heavy toolbox through side door.

[Crankey]

I would pull off the door card opposite to the sliding door, make or mount something solid that has loops to hook a nylon ratchet strap to. I'd strap it to that wall with the drawers accessible. looks like you would need some blocking behind it to keep the top back edge from hitting the window...

but it seems to me that's the most useful spot, like a westy kitchen.

[GrindGarage]

new mobile mechanic?
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-cliff

91 Vanagon AUTO
97 Single Port EJ22 all smallcar.com

[iltis74]

If your new, stronger upper strap were long enough to be able to wrap completely around the box at that point, it would greatly help to minimize any side to side movement.

[r.e.wing_fc3s]

so im going to leave the orientation like this. not as convenient but i dont need to rotate it this way. i can open all the drawers with the straps attached. i attached the (need to get stonger)straps to the lower upper seatbelt anchors (now i know what those are for ) I blocked it between and away from the seat towers with auto ramps placed vertically on end. to prevent it from tipping forward i used what i think is the hole for the rear three point seatbelt mount located just behind the rear seatback pins. Hope these seat belt mounts are strong enough

[r.e.wing_fc3s]

to make this rotate idea work im going to have to get two more swivel casters

[r.e.wing_fc3s]

the ramps work great. takes about 5 min to setup and push up with one person. the drawers aren't easily removable and are ungainly when loaded with tools.

my next challenge is to figure out how to secure the box when im on the move. ive used some blocks to prevent the box from rolling forward along with some tie down straps attached to the posts that the rear seatback attaches to. this is not ideal as the posts cant be that strong. the other problem is side to side tipping when i go around corners even slowly, the box wants to tip over. im looking at the tracks that the middle seat mounts to...

part of the challenge is not having to undo a rube goldberg setup when i need to access the box. the orientation of it is not ideal. ideal would be the long dimension going across so as to not be tippy, 90 degree turn from the pic with the box all the way forward blocked against the front seat towers. id be alright if i could reduce the tie down straps to one and rotate back into the position in the pic once at the job.

what if i mounted the tie down strap to a modified bolt on the seatbelt anchors near the door vents. it really only needs to hold the box from moving backwards under acceleration. i find acceleration the easiest force and safest to manage to as opposed to worrying about braking to hard or cornering to fast in a "situation"

[?Waldo?]

In the future if you want to use a come-along and don't want to hitch inside the van, you could place the van in a strategic location, run the end of the come-along through the driver's side window and fasten the it to something more solid, e.g. a tree.
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I am a high-functioning autistic into VW diesels and Vanagons along with other things that are unrelated to this site.

[j_dirge]

[climberjohn]

[IdahoDoug]

You could also use your factory jack on the opposite side along with airing down to lower the door side dramatically. If you wanted to do this yourself, take a cue from the Egyptians when the built the pyramids. Drill holes up the center of the ramp large enough to fit a light pipe in and pry it up the ramp 6" at at time or whatever. If you do this a lot it would be worth the extra 15 mins to drill a dozen 1" holes. Wedges to hold the toolbox between holes.

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[Terry Kay]

A borrowed Clark fork lift would make short work of this loading adventure.
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T.K.

[r.e.wing_fc3s]

no they aren't tied down.

[r.e.wing_fc3s]

exactly.

I used those 11ft long 2x8 plus some car ramps under the middle. im having a carpenter friend help me make shallower ramps at each end with his large capacity band saw. [/img]

[IdahoDoug]

Slide the Vanagon under it.












Heh - I'm SOOOOO funny tonight. Recently I had to get some 100+lb bags onto my trailer. Had some grade school kids over to pay them to do lawn work and they filled ordinary leaf bags with dirt, so not even enough bag strength for 4 people to lift - would just tear. So, faced with the prospect of literally just tearing them open and reshoveling into bags I hit on a solution you might use. I carefully rolled them onto a sheet of plywood, picked one end up and dragged it to the trailer, set my end down on the trailer's edge. Picked up the opposite end and rolled them onto the trailer.

For you, get a heavy sheet of plywood and set one end in the Vanagon's doorway. Let a lot of air out of the right side tires to dramatically lessen the angle. Brace the plywood at several spots. Get a couple buddies and it won't take as much force as you'd think to move 600lbs up a mildly sloped ramp.


DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[Vango Conversions]

If you had a long enough ramp you could probably roll a 600 pound tool box into the van by hand, if you had a helper it shouldn't be too bad. If you have a roof rack you could carry the ramp with you.

[Bassyaks]

Done it with my big snap on box in a 79 bay window.
I used the lift at the shop, I was able get in there at an angle.

[Spinal Tap]

That's a hell of a tool box. Maybe post a pic on the "Luxury Tools" thread!
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'85 Westy
'74 MG-B

[73thingsale]

How about a smallish engine hoist?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200305491_200305491

I suppose you could haul the engine hoist inside the van too.

Maybe an ATV hydraulic lift. Looks like a little table/platform lift.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=lift

Just some thoughts.

Dave

[buildyourown]

As a machinist, it speaks to your job security to be able to move your personal tools quickly and easily.
If your shop doesn't have a forklift, then removing all the drawers is the standard.
Still sucks though. Make sure you tie the mess down once it's in the van.

[Williamtaylor33]

I don't know how much access you have to heavy equipment...but in times past I have put heavy/hard to handle items on a pallet and tied them down. Then used a fork lift to move the pallet into the van. Fwiw a standard size pallet is a nice fit inside a vanagon.
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89 Bostig powered syncro westy