Van feng shui (your interior)

[zeekiel]

I've been doing a lot of mechanical work recently and I think its time time for some interior stuff.. Looking for simple ideas to make my interior more efficient. Like a net that hangs above your stove to hold stuff, I think ive seen that before? or pockets that hang on the back of your seats? any type of unique mounts for surf boards? what type of stuff do you guys have going on inside your vans? I just have a big porto toilet in the center of my van...that i'll one day use? I think its time to ditch it, doesn't it look fabulous ( and blocks storage) do you have/had one?

_________________
85' Westy GL /w 2.1L Swap

[childofthewind]

I would ditch the porta potty. (and this is coming from a female!)

How often will you truly need it? I have lived in my van and never have I had to use anything other than a nalgene bottle. If it's #2 I go out and dig a hole, if there's no loo.

I spend a lot of time traveling/living in my van. I have found that the best way is the simple way, meaning a sparse environment. As far as feng shui is concerned (flow of energy) I think keeping things open and tidy ties into that. If you're not really using it put it up high (roof box) or down low (under bench seat).

I have the net you're talking about and like it for towels and jackets. Back of seat organizers, in my opinion, collect a lot of junk. However; with kids this might be different. I seem to be able to put what could go in the organizer in the glove compartment. If I do need more space for doodads I typically will use a backpack or fanny pack with the shoulder straps/waist belt around the seat back.

I also like these things for organizing:

They're mountainsmith cubes. I don't have a Westy so they're my "cabinets".
_________________
1987.5 wolfsburg hardtop; 2.1

“As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote." - Melville

[zeekiel]

[jacklndn]

vermontgirl: blue and white box behind the drivers seat, looks like it might be a refrigerator? If so, what make, and how well does it work? Thx.
_________________
1986 Westy GL 4 spd

[childofthewind]

It's an ARB 50 qt fridge/freezer!! Didn't know I'd be saying this now but I'll never go back to a cooler with ice. Totally worth the investment.
_________________
1987.5 wolfsburg hardtop; 2.1

“As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote." - Melville

[DAIZEE]

Re: head. Some people rely on having a head readily available and the one you have is serious money so I'd be making sure you have no need for it in the forseeable future. You could jazz it up by making a cover for it.

Hammocks are great things and add some character to inside. You can brighten up an interior with a colorful throw, floor covering. Look at thousands of pics of interiors and get some ideas of what fits your likes and needs. I have organizers on my fridge door and on one of my rear cupboards and find them handy and not messy. I've added an animal print material for my back seat and mattress and used black and animal material for my side curtains. My inside is very cozy, sorta old fashioned/modern and suits my liking and needs.

You need to be creative if you know you, otherwise look at many many vans and pics to get some ideas.

Don't give the head away, cover it and make a foot rest at foot of reversed passenger seat &/or an extra seat.
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[Ahwahnee]

[photogdave]

Keep the toilet if you camp often. After eight years of camping in my old westy without one, I never thought I would use one. When I got my new westy it also came with a porta potty and we decided to try it out and concluded it's a great thing to have.
There isn't always time to dig a hole and if you're camping with others you don't want them looking at your piss-filled water bottles. Some camp sites may have no facilities or really disgusting ones.
You can build a cabinet for it that will give you extra storage when you leave the potty at home and give you an extra seat. Mine came with an original one of these with a cushion on top:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23278&category_id=&category_parent_id=
In fact, we are so sold on the concept that we upgraded to a better quality toilet and sold the original!
_________________
89 Syncro GL Westfalia 2.1 WBX/WBXaustSS

My Westy Movies:
photogdave On Vimeo
photogdave On YouTube

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[madspaniard]

[tencentlife]

[dobryan]

[randywebb]

the important thing is to set your Van up for proper fang chewie









so your dog is happy
_________________
1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[debbiej]

well since I am not as handy with tools as most of you, I do fiddle around a lot on the interior of my van. curtains, rugs, organization, racks, hooks, lights... it's cozy. I love the westfalia because if you pack right, there really is a place for almost everything. before our last trip, I tried the trick some have shared of removing the front half of the bed and the matteress. the extra room is pretty helpful for bedding storage.

we usually try to pack every nook and cranny with all we need, and now that we put things in the same place everytime, it is easy to find stuff and keeps it neat to put it away when done. this is a big help. everytime we go somewhere, we have less and less stuff on the floor and seats and more stuff has found a place to be stowed. unless the dogs go along and we bring their crates (2 rottweilers so they take up a lot of room) all the extra we take are folding chairs and table and small ice chest.

I've found folding stuff to be helpful. step stool, dish pan and dish drainer, toilet, all fits either under the seat or under rear table.

[dhaavers]

[jacklndn]

[BitterBeerFace]

I took the top bunk out of my westy and use that space for storage now. It was a "damnit, I'm leaving in 2 days and need to ghetto-rig this" job, but it's working so far. (9 days into a 4-week trip)

I have a camp chair and two big totes full of clothes up there now. Took the hinges for the top bunk out and made a wooden 'retaining wall' that fits into those screw holes to hold it somewhat securely. It can be removed with the top down to slide the totes out, or left in with the top up.

Otherwise, my van is pretty much stock and pretty much always a mess when I'm travelling. Sandals, shoes, hiking boots on the floor. Backpack on the floor, misc junk everywhere...

I do like my front seat set up... since I'm flying solo on this trip, I can make the passenger seat area in my own convenience seat. Big cooler in the seat keeps drinks cold, and the top is a great big flat (leans into the seat, so when braking, the stuff doesn't slide off) place to leave maps etc. On the floor in front of seat is 32-packs of water bottles. All are easily accessible while driving.

One mod I'm going to look into is a greatly increased 'rain gutter' over the westy kitchen. It looks to me like you could get at least a 6-inch 'channel' there... a lot of the misc junk that floats around could end up in there.
_________________
1980 Full Camper, been in the family since it was brand new!
1989 Full Camper, great-great-aunt's since brand new!

[joseph928]

I got a porta potty with my van to. Never used it but like having it. Then one day a light went off, what a great doggie bowl for his water. It can't spill open the lid put in water all done. Need fresh water, dump pump in fresh and go! But it helps to have a dog to do this!
_________________
1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug.

[DAIZEE]

I'll takke some pics and try to post them.

The one on the fridge holds flashlite, dish cloth, dish towel, etc....
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[BillWYellowstone]

Made a cover for the portapotti, take it out when not overnighting. I am considering the removal of the flip and mattress for storage, only 2 of us. Hadn't considered the underbed storage cases. Great idea for fold-able bedding.
_________________
Live Fulltime in motorhome
Have 86 Westy Camper 2.1 rebuilt
Work in Yellowstone NP year round.

[jackbombay]

Park the porta potty behind the passenger seat and put a cloth cover over it and nobody will ever know its a toilet, like this,

_________________

Gas struts to pop your top easily!
Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies

Samba ad here.


DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)