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Westy Steve Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006 Posts: 1095
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:20 am Post subject: Z-bed questions |
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I'm thinking of putting a bay window z-bed into my split. My split is a walk thru, and I'm also considering putting two low-back beetle seats in the back...but I'm thinking of mounting them backward, and putting them behind the drivers seat and passenger seat. You know, sort of like jump seats?
If I do that, do you guys think there is room to unfold the z-bed without having to take the "jump seats" out?
Also, what are the concerns and things to look for associated with retrofitting a bay z-bed?
TIA,
Steve |
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bill may Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 14160 Location: san diego,ca
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:26 am Post subject: |
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you do not own a Z-bed. you have a Westy bed.Zee Manufacturing made the brackets to turn a stock rear seat into a Z-bed.. to put my 70 Westy bed into my 65 walk thru' i had to cut 5" off the closet at rear hatch end, reglue rear piece in after removing the 5" length piece from piece cut off..cut bottom board inside the closet to clear the gas fill pipe housing and some other cutting while fitting it. the bed hinge brackets needed no modification. _________________ Admin note: Bill Passed away - July, 2017
1965 panel bus-Kermit
"Camping is cheaper than therapy"
www.sv2s.com
www.steeringboxscrapers.net
SBS #100
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453617 |
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pyrOman Fire Master
Joined: July 21, 2003 Posts: 12400 Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:14 am Post subject: |
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bill may wrote: |
you do not own a Z-bed. you have a Westy bed.Zee Manufacturing made the brackets to turn a stock rear seat into a Z-bed... |
With this issue coming up so often of Z-bed vs westy style camper bed/seat, a couple of pictures would probably go a long ways to better show the difference rather than explaining it verbally. Does anyone have a good picture of a REAL Z-Bed to post? _________________ Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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Riff Raff Shivering Sambian
Joined: October 25, 2004 Posts: 3096 Location: Alberta
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:26 am Post subject: |
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I think the term Z-Bed has become the colloquial term any rear seat that folds down into a bed in the back of a bus.
Likely a losing battle to attempt to re-educate the bus masses methinks.
On a remotely related note, Canadians and Brits call it a zed bed - rrolls off the tongue like a drop of Tim Hortons coffee.
You guys call it a zed bed or zee bed ? _________________ The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge
- Daniel Boorstin |
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ritchiet002 Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2003 Posts: 1676 Location: Kaneohe, HI
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:23 am Post subject: |
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pyrOman wrote: |
bill may wrote: |
you do not own a Z-bed. you have a Westy bed.Zee Manufacturing made the brackets to turn a stock rear seat into a Z-bed... |
With this issue coming up so often of Z-bed vs westy style camper bed/seat, a couple of pictures would probably go a long ways to better show the difference rather than explaining it verbally. Does anyone have a good picture of a REAL Z-Bed to post? |
Here is a shot of the bracket set-up on mine before I removed it.
photo of part of the instrutions
ID plate from bracket
seat in and in the upright position
_________________ Somewhere there is a jar with your name on it!
From now on, I'm gonna connect the dots my own way!______________________________________ |
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cdennisg Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20233 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:28 am Post subject: |
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I hear them referred to as rock n roll rear seats, or something like that. _________________ nothing |
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pyrOman Fire Master
Joined: July 21, 2003 Posts: 12400 Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:32 am Post subject: |
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This should be a sticky somewhere!?!
ritchiet002 wrote: |
seat in and in the upright position
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IMHO, "upright" is way too much an overstatement here. The reclined position in the pix above is too radical for me. Good thing I don't ride in my back seat but while hanging out and camping I'd rather sit more "upright". _________________ Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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ritchiet002 Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2003 Posts: 1676 Location: Kaneohe, HI
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:49 am Post subject: |
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pyrOman wrote: |
This should be a sticky somewhere!?!
ritchiet002 wrote: |
seat in and in the upright position
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IMHO, "upright" is way too much an overstatement here. The reclined position in the pix above is too radical for me. Good thing I don't ride in my back seat but while hanging out and camping I'd rather sit more "upright". |
It is that very reason I took it out and sold it. It wasn't very comfotablble. That said I seldom have had a "full house" of riders, and most sit in the middle seat when installed _________________ Somewhere there is a jar with your name on it!
From now on, I'm gonna connect the dots my own way!______________________________________ |
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Grant Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2004 Posts: 820
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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I have a "real" z-bed. Mine reclines that way, i like it though. Yours doesn't have little hooks on the back to make it sit straight? Maybe I shouldn't have these two things on my seat, there were no instructions when i got it. I'll get a picture. |
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oorwullie Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2003 Posts: 2365 Location: fribourg,switzerland
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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bill may wrote: |
you do not own a Z-bed. you have a Westy bed.Zee Manufacturing made the brackets to turn a stock rear seat into a Z-bed.. to put my 70 Westy bed into my 65 walk thru' i had to cut 5" off the closet at rear hatch end, reglue rear piece in after removing the 5" length piece from piece cut off..cut bottom board inside the closet to clear the gas fill pipe housing and some other cutting while fitting it. the bed hinge brackets needed no modification. |
how do you know what he's got? maybe it is a real zed or zee.
and if it is a westy rock'n'roll bed (no mention of cupboards that i can see) then yes, it fits straight in with plenty of space when it's in bed mode to have a couple of bug jumpseats fitted.
stevereecy wrote: |
Also, what are the concerns and things to look for associated with retrofitting a bay z-bed?
TIA,
Steve |
steve, just don't drill through into the petrol tank. |
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ritchiet002 Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2003 Posts: 1676 Location: Kaneohe, HI
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Grant wrote: |
I have a "real" z-bed. Mine reclines that way, i like it though. Yours doesn't have little hooks on the back to make it sit straight? Maybe I shouldn't have these two things on my seat, there were no instructions when i got it. I'll get a picture. |
Do you mean this?
Another install page--
_________________ Somewhere there is a jar with your name on it!
From now on, I'm gonna connect the dots my own way!______________________________________
Last edited by ritchiet002 on Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:58 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Grant Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2004 Posts: 820
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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RECLINED position
The hook i mentioned
close up
upright position |
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ritchiet002 Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2003 Posts: 1676 Location: Kaneohe, HI
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: Z-bed questions |
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stevereecy wrote: |
I'm thinking of putting a bay window z-bed into my split. My split is a walk thru, and I'm also considering putting two low-back beetle seats in the back...but I'm thinking of mounting them backward, and putting them behind the drivers seat and passenger seat. You know, sort of like jump seats?
If I do that, do you guys think there is room to unfold the z-bed without having to take the "jump seats" out?
Also, what are the concerns and things to look for associated with retrofitting a bay z-bed?
TIA,
Steve |
You could measure the top & bottoms of you rear seat and see if there is a clearance for the type one seats. I assume you want to do this to retain the "walk-thru" having the seats facing the rear? _________________ Somewhere there is a jar with your name on it!
From now on, I'm gonna connect the dots my own way!______________________________________ |
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chipmcluk Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2003 Posts: 793 Location: Reno
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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To get back to the original question, if you DO have a Westy bed as opposed to a z bed, then it should clear the "jump seats" just fine. I used bay window westy hinges and brackets to build my bed. I also extended the seat bottom about 3 inches over stock, and it still looks like it would clear the jump seats you speak of. Also, if you mount the bug seats directly to the floor, the bed should sit above them anyway.
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Westy Steve Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006 Posts: 1095
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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Wow. That really looks cool. Thanks for all the help in info, guys.
Ya'll guessed right that I meant a Westy Bed instead of a Z-bed. I have no experience with either. I kind of like them both, but after looking at the last picture, I'm thinking of making my own.
After thinking about it alot, one idea I've come up with is to build a wooden table that sits right up against the engine box, so it basically extends the surface to about 4 or 4.5 feet long. Then I could have a flap on the front of the table to get the extra length I need to hold up my legs when my head is on the pillow near the back window. After that, I just have to figure out how to configure the seats. They could either be jump seats, or a "normal" back seat, or both if I make them easily removable. I'm thinking of making the table removable too.
If this doesn't make sense to you, theres good reason for that...its all conceptual and I'm still trying to come up with something that will seat my three kids and convert to a bed for occasional use. I'm thinking that since my kids are age six or under, they could also sleep on the floor with their legs under the table if I set the seats outside....essentially a bunk bed with a folding top bunk. Air mattresses and egg crate foam would stow under the table.
Steve |
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420GOAT Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2006 Posts: 3343 Location: Wilmington, CA on a nice quiet street but still in the 'hood
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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DONT DO THIS^^^^^^^i just took the same thing out of my 13 window some crack baby called a camper. it had so many tiny brackets and reinforcements it was a bitch!! its easier and cheaper to get the westy bed and install it, maybe even with a cabinet. i asked this same question a couple weeks ago and no response, so i just installed a bay window seat with the brackets on the wheel well. Good luck. _________________ once you realize im not impressed we will get along just fine |
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bill may Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 14160 Location: san diego,ca
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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420GOAT wrote: |
DONT DO THIS^^^^^^^i just took the same thing out of my 13 window some crack baby called a camper. it had so many tiny brackets and reinforcements it was a bitch!! its easier and cheaper to get the westy bed and install it, maybe even with a cabinet. i asked this same question a couple weeks ago and no response, so i just installed a bay window seat with the brackets on the wheel well. Good luck. |
i bought the bed,closet,table and jump seat from a 1970 westy. i put it in my 65 camper panel. it cost me $75 complete at ecology junkyard. the Z-Bed brackets(zee manufacturing) were $100 alone,they are in a club members 66 11 window. he did not want to use a westy type bed ,but wanted to keep his original rear seat. the fat chick westy type bed is not a direct bolt in to a 67 and older slim chick bus. using the term Z bed instead of westy bed is like calling your engine a Motor. someone needs to point out mis use of terms. there is no such thing as a 1600 single port motor. it is an internal combustion engine. _________________ Admin note: Bill Passed away - July, 2017
1965 panel bus-Kermit
"Camping is cheaper than therapy"
www.sv2s.com
www.steeringboxscrapers.net
SBS #100
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453617 |
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pyrOman Fire Master
Joined: July 21, 2003 Posts: 12400 Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:19 am Post subject: |
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X3! The "platform" you are envisioning is exactly what I did to my previous bus when I first got it. Though it served the purpose at the time, it didn't look good, was not comfortable to sit on while driving, and it got in the way once I found an og middle seat and installed it.
I sold the middle seat since I wanted a camper rather than a passenger bus, but I did finally find a westy bed/seat for it and could not be happier since installed!!!
A club member recently scored on this '74 westy interior for only $46.
You will spend more on material to built that contraption than just buying a bed/seat off the wrecking yard. Good luck! _________________ Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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Nate M. Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003 Posts: 1306 Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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You should have plenty of room with a Westy bed in the bed position, for the beetle seats. I have a Westy bed mechanism out of a '79 in my '66 E-Z Camper. I even made my seat base a few inches longer (I'm rather tall) and I still have plenty of room to get dressed between the end of the bed and the jump seat/fake ice box. I have several photos on my site here:
http://www.aircooledtech.com/camper_interior/ _________________ Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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codeMechanic Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2007 Posts: 876 Location: Bellevue , NE
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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420GOAT wrote: |
DONT DO THIS^^^^^^^i just took the same thing out of my 13 window some crack baby called a camper. it had so many tiny brackets and reinforcements it was a bitch!! its easier and cheaper to get the westy bed and install it, maybe even with a cabinet. i asked this same question a couple weeks ago and no response, so i just installed a bay window seat with the brackets on the wheel well. Good luck. |
I had to rip the same thing out of my 11 window, L brackets everywhere
2X4s and plywood, nightmare, the shag carpet was pretty |
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