Go Westy Center console

[costal_cat]

[HoustonPhotog]

I had my eye on these consoles for awhile and finally pulled the trigger on one with the intent on tweaking it so that I could add a subwoofer to it. I wanted a sub in the van but i didnt want to sacrifice any storage area in the living space.

stock console

removed the guts of it

built a sub box

plenty of room for a 10" JL Audio 10TW3-D4. I knew a 8" sub would fit fine but i figured I could get a 10 in there. hehe.

covered the sub box with a sheet of faux carbon fiber vinyl

viola. I love it! I mounted a JL Audio 300 watt monoblock amp behind the glove box in order to power the sub...

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Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now

[nwester]

We use these dash consoles from gowesty, and they work great. They are attached to our dash cover via Velcro. Love them. We also have a very small console on the floor just big enough for two drink holders and a space for receipts and coins. Between these three consoles, we have lots of room for miscellaneous things without any interference to easy access to the back or interference to turning the captains chairs around.

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89 Westy "GoGo"
78 Riviera "Ollie"

[paparhino]

Indytriple, glad you like your console, I make them. The reason I don't use drawer glides is space, I wanted to maximize it. Plus any kind of hardware rattles and can fail. When I made mine I realized with the lip I didn't need any drawer handle and no one knows it's a drawer. My van got rifled and it is the ONLY place they didn't look! After that I decided to leave it the way it is. as for the catch it was the easiest, most cost effective catch out there. I've been using mine for over 1 1/2 years and no issues.

[indytriple]

I received my Rhino center console a few days ago from Van Cafe.

http://www.h2ovanagon.com/Accessories.aspx

I'm pleased with the quality and workmanship of the unit. It is solid. Here are a few things to note:

-The drawer does not use "slides", it's a simple "friction" fit. I would prefer a smoother action, but it's not too bad.

-The drawer has a simple metal/plastic roller catch that keeps it shut. There is a small, raised lip at the top of the drawer that you grab with your fingers to open the drawer. There is a good chance that I will add some kind of nice, small handle in the future to assist with the opening and closing.

-There is no catch that keeps the drawer from being pulled all of the way out, so kids may have a little trouble opening it gracefully without yanking it all the way out.

-The drawer unexpectedly came with a tiny, motion-sensitive LED light built into the inside of the face of the drawer. The light sits flush into the wood in it's own recess, and with a simple twist it is very easily removable in case you don't want it or you need to change the batteries. It takes 3 small button-style batteries. I was going to add a light anyway, so this a a really nice, clean solution.

-The console has a set of simple, slightly cheesy, silver, vinyl "P R N D 1 2" stickers facing the driver on the inside edge of the piece that goes around the auto shifter. They are functional, but I find them to be somewhat unnecessary (I simply use feel to know where I am) and a tad unsightly. They look very easy to remove if they don't suit you.

-The unit comes with hardware to mount it to the van, but no instructions. There are two pre-drilled, countersunk holes in the bottom of the console towards the back of the van. To bolt the unit down, you must drill two small holes through the metal floor of the van as well as the jute carpet padding and the carpet itself. If you have a center mat of any kind, you'll have to put two holes in it as well. I'm choosing to eliminate my center mat, as I don't think it's going to work well with this console. You'll have to drop your spare tire so you can tighten down the nuts underneath the van. You could choose not to bolt it down, but I it would make a very dangerous projectile in an accident. It is very heavy with lots of sharp edges. I also think that it would very slowly migrate to the rear of the vehicle if not attached. The surface it sits on is very slightly sloped, which causes it to work its way back if not connected to the van. I'm not real excited about drilling holes in my van, so I have considered using a very strong heavy-duty velcro to attach it to the carpet. I'm still deciding what I want to do.

-There is just enough room for a child or a smaller, skinnier person to get their legs between the unit and the seat pedestals. I find it easier to lift my leg up and over the unit. Either way, it's a massive improvement over my center console that used to sit directly in the center aisle. It has just as much space and storage, but places it in a much more practical, out-of-the way space.

-It looks very, very nice in the van. It looks stock to the untrained eye.
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"See The Glass As Already Broken."

87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig

www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com

[PDXWesty]

Additional Topics:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=226934

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=445399

Wolf makes pretty nice consoles. I've had mine for 12 years now.

http://www.thefind.com/cars/info-van-console
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[Bruce Wayne]

[designer]

ryan,

have any photos of that installed? Looks like a potential roadblock getting through the tunnel. As with all of the consoles except the $280. one. but the pictures are crap for the syncro one.

-thanks!
-cc-

[StormyVan]

Hey all take a peek at this one.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Interior-Parts-Accessor...S%2fB31715

I use one of these and love it. Great cup holders and all metal lockable security consule. For 90 bucks. Bolts to the floor nice also. Oh also comes in multiple colors.

Cheers Ryan

[StormyVan]

Hey all take a peek at this one.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Interior-Parts-Accessor...S%2fB31715

I use one of these and love it. Great cup holders and all metal lockable security consule. For 90 bucks. Bolts to the floor nice also. Oh also comes in multiple colors.

Cheers Ryan

[indytriple]

[devesvws]

[climberjohn]

A tip for these consoles, if you do decide to get one:

Glue some coarse (60?) grit sandpaper onto the bottom. The sandpaper grips the carpet and minimizes the console sliding around when driving.

-CJ
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

[rockfish]

@ john:

Thanks for posting these consoles. The best I've seen - expensive, but the best.
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89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden

[[email protected]]

We have

http://www.h2ovanagon.com/Accessories.aspx

in our vanagons. We have the short one, but they make a tall version also.

These are very nice and well designed, but not cheap at about $280 shipped.

They also come in a few colors, and have a version for automatics.

http://www.h2ovanagon.com/Portals/1/Documents/Rhino%20Consoles%20Brochure.pdf

There is room to move to the rear without getting your feet caught up. Drawer hides "stuff" from easy viewing too.
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[climberjohn]

I found mine was a PITA. It blocks passage between front seat and rear of van. YMMV, of course, but I did not care for mine. I have one for sale cheap in Portland if anyone wants to buy it locally.
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

[theadventureneverends]

I was going to purchase the one from GW. I was at WM buying oil and browsed the car section. I came across a console that looked identical to GWs for at least half the price. I bought it and am very happy with my purchase. I did not attach it to the floor. I have a 91 Syncro Westy it matches my interior perfectly and I can move it on the rare occasions I want. It has four cup holders that are utilized. I am very happy with it.

[Royb]

I really like ours- cupholders for the front and back are handy; lots of storage, grey colr blends in well. Not stunning quality, but my 2-year olds walk on it a lot and it hasn't broken yet...
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1991 Westy

[S4VAGE]

[One more islander...]

Straight from the factory:

http://www.tsiproducts.com/dotnetnuke/Consoles/tabid/56/Default.aspx

According to Amazon, this is the company that makes these. It looks as if the GoWesty model is 544 with the upholstered top; the others are 543 without. The built-in powered ones are kind of cool...