Ordering rear headrest kits

[Italjohn]

I manage to find three places to order this kit from i Europe.

https://www.serial-kombi.com/en-GB/transporter-t25...ia-n312928

https://brickwerks.co.uk/product/headrest-bracket-set-t3-westfalia/

https://campervanculture.com/shop/vw-t25-t3-vanagon-westfalia-headrest-installation-kit/
_________________
Follow me on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/norwayvanagon
My youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Italjohn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italjohn/

[mikedo___]

FYI www.mybusparts.de has these headrests and the mounts in stock. LITERALLY the only place on the internet that appears to have them.

I ordered two headrests and two sets of mounts and I swear the headrests look brand new. I was expecting them to be janky and smell like cigarette smoke.

This is the headrest
Kopfstütze grau T3 passend für VW T3

This is the mounts
Westfalia Kopfstützen Halter Satz Klappsitzbank Original passend für VW T3

Wasn't cheap, but what is for a vanagon

[Syncroweekender]

I put rear headrests in my weekender. I ordered this kit but I ended up cutting off the bits that hold the plastic sleeve for the headrests and welding them onto a piece of sheet metal the full width of the bench seat. I then put a bunch of T-nuts in the plywood and fastened the sheet metal plate on the back side of the seat. I'm happy with how it turned out but I would have picked a thinner gauge if I did it again. The back of the seat is pretty heavy now.

I didn't know how to keep the metal C channel that runs along the top of the plywood and I didn't feel comfortable with the 6 big notches in the plywood with no support. I think I have a picture or two of what I did somewhere and I will try to dig them up if you want.

[jereandjess]

After finally getting the 86 back together and taking the kids for a little short drive around the neighborhood, I am thinking again about the headrests and wondering if anyone has tried to put it in the Weekender yet.

Interested in a group buy if others want to go in together. I am glad to facilitate and handle the re-shipping.

Thanks!
_________________
~Jeremy (and Jessica)
77 Sage Green Westfalia 2.0 FI - since May 2004
78 Blue Landmark camper 2.0 FI - since April 1998
69 Beetle - In the family since new
86 Wolfsburg Vanagon Camper "Weekender" since July 25, 2015

[porterbrown]

Anybody working on a group purchase....or have a domestic source for this kit?
_________________
'90 Westfalia GL Automatic

[jereandjess]

Has anyone put these in a weekender with the steel piece?

If so, what was your workaround for it and how did it come out?

Pics?

Thanks!
_________________
~Jeremy (and Jessica)
77 Sage Green Westfalia 2.0 FI - since May 2004
78 Blue Landmark camper 2.0 FI - since April 1998
69 Beetle - In the family since new
86 Wolfsburg Vanagon Camper "Weekender" since July 25, 2015

[narendra.vw]

This is the most comfortable headrest I have come across, in particular for the rear passengers. They can be pulled up to a decent height or pushed all the way back to the seat level.
When pulled up, comfort level is more like a pillow.
Back to seat level, they allow a good rear view for the Driver. That’s one of the reason why VW gave an opening in their seat head rest.
Most of the latest SUVs have these. All you may need is, remove seat upholstery & drill a new hole to back rest fixture to match the new head rest mounting.

[termuehlen]

I finally got around to installing my headrests. I am very happy with the result.

I basically followed Kourt's instructions above. The only difference is that I elected to remove as few upholstery staples as possible on the top of the seat back, which did not allow me to install a "sacrificial" piece of plywood between the seat back and the foam padding. I drilled and cut very carefully without causing damage to the foam. I only removed upholstery staples at the top of the seat back at each backing plate location for the width of the plate.

I installed the backing plate machine screw nuts through the slot that I cut, slid them between the plywood and the foam, and imbedded them into the back of the plywood with my own machine screw. This embedded the nuts into the plywood and allowed me to install the plates with the supplied machine screws without access between the foam and the plywood seat back.

I also decided not to cut the plywood seat back deep enough to allow the head rests to retract all the way. I was worried that cutting the seat back that deep would weaken it too much. The headrests only retract as far as the picture above, but I am happy with that outcome.

[/img]
_________________
1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx

[kourt]

Howdy all,

I just finished this kit install. Here are my notes:

-the Vanagon rear seat back can be easily removed; simply remove the rear cushion, unscrew the two large exposed screws at the rear base of the seat back, pull the vinyl (with velcro backing) to expose the remaining five screws on each side, and remove those screws. Pull the seat back out and put it on your workbench.

-using a small seal pick or hook, remove the staples on the bottom of the seat back holding the vinyl in place.

-roll the vinyl up and remove the staples holding the vinyl to the top of the seat back.

-my goal was to remove as little upholstery as possible. I measured and marked my headrest plates on the exposed plywood. I believe the headrest legs are 9.5" apart, and you'll need to center them in the cushioned seat for which each headrest is assigned.

-I then slid a 3/4" sheet of plywood in between the seat back plywood and the foam. This small piece of plywood is a sacrificial piece of wood to accept the overruns of the hole saw, circular saw, and drill.

-once you are confident you have the openings marked properly, use a hole saw to cut the bottom end of the headrest channels, making sure to keep the sacrificial wood below your operations.

-I used compressed air to blow out all sawdust and wood waste while working.

-use a circular saw or shallow-run jigsaw to cut the edges of the channels from the top of the seat back plywood to the holes you just cut.

-use a chisel to remove any excess wood to make the channel clean.

-test fit the steel anchor plates--they should fit snug, with room for the pointed tip of the tube sleeves to come to rest at the bottom of the channel.

-drill holes for the anchor plate fasteners, stage the fasteners, and install the plates.

-double check that the plates are on 9.5" centers for each seat position.

-clean everything thoroughly with compressed air.

-roll the vinyl back into place and staple with a hand stapler (something heavier than your normal office stapler will be required)

-find the tops of the channels and cut small holes with snips; slip the tube sleeves into place; test fit your headrests.

-roll the rest of the vinyl down to the base of the seat back and staple it in place.

-reinstall the seat back and install your headrests. You're done.

The project took me about three hours.

kourt

[kourt]

Last call for headrest orders. I have three respondents. I will order tonight or Monday morning. Contact me via PM with how many individual headrest kits you need. One kit does one headrest.

kourt

[kourt]

This is my "second to last call" for rear headrest kit combined orders. I presently have two other Samba folks, plus my order. I could take on one or two more. I would like to order on Sunday night. I'll make one more call for interested parties on Sunday afternoon.

kourt

[dobryan]

[kourt]

I'm interested in this project as well; if anyone would like to do another group buy, let me know; I'll purchase and re-ship domestically for some savings.

PM me if interested; I'd be happy to help two or three others.

kourt

[gmoyle]

I wish I had seen this. I would have jumped on it. Well, just ordered two sets on my own.

Question. What are the best options for getting headrests for these. Do any of the other VW cars or other autos have headrests that will fit, look good?

What do people who have or are going to put these kits in recommend?
_________________
Stella - 1988 Westfalia Vanagon GL Camper
Powered by Subaru SVX

[the joker]

my joker came from europe with them factory they have a special clip easy to remove to make the bed I also added the three point belt

[CampWesty]

[GusGusdasWesty]

Hey Jason,

I'd love to see some photos of the rear headrests installed, along with any installation tips/challenges! Also, how hard is it to remove the headrests when you're transforming the seat into bed-mode?
_________________
Cheers
Randy B

"Augustiner" our '86 Westfalia, 2.5L Subi, Auto
Previous autos:
'00 Jetta VR6, '97 Golf Trek, '85 GTI, '84 GTI and a '72 Superbeetle

[jasonpap2002]

[herbie555]

[BlueGrasser]