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bonzai272 Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2006 Posts: 237 Location: NorCal (East Bay)
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 1:39 pm Post subject: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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I bought a 1972 Westfalia bus a little while ago and recently discovered an issue with the upper cot. It appears the canvas fabric is not wide enough, so it is preventing the cot from fully opening and laying flat/even.
You can see in the photos, this is fully open, that the cot is at an angle. Ive removed the fabric to confirm that the brackets will fully open, so nothing is blocking it. Its just the fabric being too narrow.
Not sure if previous owner got the wrong fabric or what. I see bus depot and other companies sell two different canvas', one for 68-72 and one for 73, but the only spec difference I can see is the length. They appear to both be 22" wide. The length is not my issue, it is the width.
Anyone have any thoughts to resolve, or where to buy the correct width canvas?
Thank you!
_________________ 1955 Beetle |
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alman72 Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 2573 Location: MICHIGAN
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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canvas shrinks and stretches. i bet if you got it wet it would open, however, that makes it prone to shrink when it dries if you then close it back up. maybe wet, open and leave it open to let canvas dry? |
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bonzai272 Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2006 Posts: 237 Location: NorCal (East Bay)
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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I will give that a try and leave it open for a while to dry. Thanks for the advice! _________________ 1955 Beetle |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51121 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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Yes, canvas shrinks, get it wet and roll around on it to stretch it out (sounds kinky ), let it dry slowly afterwards, preferably with something heavy like sand bags in it. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6980 Location: Durango, CO
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bonzai272 Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2006 Posts: 237 Location: NorCal (East Bay)
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2022 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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The problem is you cant even really sleep in it because its so tight that when you get into it it just folds up on you.
I got it wet but didnt seem to stretch much so I removed the canvas and soaked it in a bucket of water for a while. Then I reinstalled it and put a bunch if weight on it in the form of a bunch of jugs of water. Hopefully this will stretch it out enough. Going to leave it overnight I suppose. _________________ 1955 Beetle |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51121 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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Google "how to stretch canvas pants", I saw something about baby shampoo, maybe a good thrashing in the washing machine with cold water (no dryer) might loosen it up a bit too. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6980 Location: Durango, CO
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bonzai272 Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2006 Posts: 237 Location: NorCal (East Bay)
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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Yeah if this thing doesnt stretch overnight with it being wet and with weight on it, I will have to assume it was made too narrow or previous owner washed it improperly and it just shrunk too much. In which case I will order a new one from BD. _________________ 1955 Beetle |
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volkybus Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2013 Posts: 481 Location: CASTLETON VT USA
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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Those cots we were made for kids. So unless u are short they really don't work well. Bill |
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EZ Gruv King of Plaid
Joined: December 10, 2002 Posts: 8544 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2022 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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volkybus wrote: |
Those cots we were made for kids. So unless u are short they really don't work well. Bill |
You're thinking of a different cot. _________________ Eric
1977 Deluxe Westfalia - 2.0L FI Type IV, Completely Original
Photographer for HotVWs, VolksWorld, AirMighty, VW Camper & Commercial, Hayburner, and more.
My Photography Page. |
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bonzai272 Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2006 Posts: 237 Location: NorCal (East Bay)
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 9:18 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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This upper cot can hold me just fine at 170lbs but my 5 year old will be sleeping on it so should be perfect for him. _________________ 1955 Beetle |
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bonzai272 Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2006 Posts: 237 Location: NorCal (East Bay)
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia upper cot wont open all the way to lay flat |
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Soaked the canvas in water. Put 180lbs of weight in it and let it sit overnight and dry out. Didn’t hardly budge. Gonna chalk it up to wrong size or improper washing and order a new one. Thanks for the help all. _________________ 1955 Beetle |
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