best Mods for camping in a Vanagon passenger?

[RocketBox]

i searched and couldn't find anything specific to vanogen's. Are there any recommended mods that people have found helpful or done to their vanagen passenger vans to really make car camping great? someday maybe i'll get a westy, but just starting on this vanagon adventure...

[danfromsyr]

a pass seat swivel
we weld them into EVERY pas van we've ever owned. should have just been a factory option from the beginning IMO.
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[Phishman068]

Ha!
I LOVE not having swivel seats in my vans now. They sit too high, restrict access, and wobble. I intentionally don't add them even to my westfalia conversion.

Curtains:
Snap in style like the Carats had. Simple to store, unobtrusive, and do the job when you need them.
Window screens:
Get the magnet ones that go over the front windows and a rear hatch curtain and install the snaps. Got to have venting when it's steamy!
Aux Battery:
I love having an aux battery and being able to run the stereo and chargers without worrying. Run a 12v outlet to the back as well.

I spent many nights in my previous passenger van and found it to be quite comfortable with these bits.
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559766&highlight=winter+rust
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482402&highlight=sunroof+syncro
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6864936#6864936

"Along with the ability to go fast, one looses the desire to hurry."

[vanagonjr]

Lots of ways and endless options! I'd favor the weekender interior, curtains and the swivel seat like Dan said. (note I biased having a weekender pop-top) Add a rear hatch screen with snaps. You can make magnetic screens for the side windows. A front curtain install only requires 4 snaps. An awning mounted off roof racks - which would be great for a roof top box BTW - is a nice removable option for you.

Some like not having a rear cabinet to have a full size rear bed and the ability to carry 4 x 8 plywood. Some to add the Westfalia interior, but a stove and sink when you can;t stand up, would not hold much appeal to me.

The pop-top is certainly nice for a family, but not totally essential. Heck this guy did 1.3 million miles in his tin-top Westy - 15 trips across country-http://tinyurl.com/millionmilebus

I found when I moved from a Civic hatchback to an Escort wagon with a roof top box a nice leap. Then to the mini-van was another good leap (Look we can carry folding chairs now!) and the jump to van you can sleep in even better. But the biggest jump out of all of these was really the move to the mini-van and having space for people and gear. It's so nice just to have a van to carry stuff.

If you really, really want a camper - go for it, but if a tin-top fits the budget better, then don't hold off.
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John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798

[onemat]

So far, I've pulled out the middle seat and the rear bench. Found a z-bed but there are also plans available for beds with storage. I'm going to add a table and possible swivel base for passenger seat, curtains. I am not adding a built in sink or stove. I'd rather cook outside of the van.
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'82 Vanagon GL with 2.0 4-speed. Long term plan is to turn it into a camper.

[spacecadet]

I 2nd the swivel seat as worth it.
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Daily Drivers Only
--
1990 Volvo 740 Turbo(Sold)
1986 Mercedes 300 Coupe (Sold)
1954 Volvo PV544 (Sold)
1990 Dodge D250 Cummins (Totaled)
1990 Vanagon GL 2.1 Automatic (Sold)
1968 Ford F250(Current)

[danfromsyr]

HA! you must travel/camp alone. hows the inside space with a few friends in the rain/cold/mosquito filled night. we intentionally remove the swivel from westy drivers seats.. but no way I'd have a pass w/o the swivel. but we do car cruise nights weekly with the van (because Corvette guy's kids think they're cool, much to corvette dad's dismay)

I'd add Jalousie to the middle drivers side for all our "camping" vans allows full mosquito free ventilation, esp when it's hot and humid/rains. you'll have to search for that mod.

no need to run a 12v to the back, there's already 12v back there at the Alt or engine relay box or starter just add a fuse.. in van's with rear AC it's easy to grab 12v from the AC power relays..

[childofthewind]

I couldn't afford a pop top weekender back when I was looking for a van (the second time) so I have a Wolfsburg tin-top which means I have a queen size z-bed; a table that folds out, two rear-facing jump seats, and a snap-on curtain system that gives you great privacy (especially the essential one just behind the front seats separating front from back).

I have done very extensive traveling and living in my tin-top. I can say I wouldn't be able to do it with another person without the ability to stand up, all the way. But with just me it has been totally fine and even more stealth in situations that required it.

The key is organization and simplicity. I don't have a swivel seat although have thought about putting one in. I have kept one of the rear-facing jump seats behind the driver seat and an ARB fridge behind the passenger seat. I use the Mountainsmith Cube bag system since they look tidy and fit in narrow spaces. I also have some hooks hanging here and there for backpacks, towels, etc. Right behind my seat is a 7 gallon water jug that's on its side with the spigot facing down and ready to be utilized (make sure you get a brand that doesn't leak).

I also have another smaller jug of water under the z-bed when it's folded out for when I get to a campsite and want water outside of the van.

I only like to boil water in my van so have both a backpacking-style stove and a coleman stove that I can use outside the van. I have a small fold-up table in case I'm in a dispersed area without a picnic table.

I used to have a roof box which was great for storing things I didn't use as often but I find the gas mileage is better without it and so have made room for these things under my rear bench seat (removing the rear-heater under the bench seat will give you more room; I'm glad I took it out).

I have a memory foam and wool topper that can easily fold/roll up with my sleeping bag and pillows inside to make things tidy when I'm not sleeping.

I've installed a bright led light above the fold-out table and another one in the rear above my bed. Mostly at night (when I'm reading, etc) I prefer to use a headlamp but it's nice to have the led lights, as well. Like others have mentioned I've installed screens for the rear hatch, the sliding door and also bought screens that pull over the front doors so that you have some fresh bugless air in the warmer weather.

Oh and a deep cycle auxiliary battery under the rear bench seat has made it possible for me to power the fridge, stereo, and cabin lights when the van's not running. I used a cooler with ice for years but have found the ARB portable fridge to draw very little amps and not dealing with ice, etc, is quite the luxury.


If you don't need or use it, don't have it in the van. There's just not room for that with a tin-top without cabinetry to hide all the crap.

All to say it's totally possible to make a passenger vanagon a comfy traveling vessel! Good luck!
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1987.5 wolfsburg hardtop; 2.1

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

[chimivee]

Storage and curtains were the two essentials I added when camping in a passenger van. Remove the middle seats if they're not needed (bonus: add giant poka dots to the floor and play Twister). I currently have a full Westy and rarely use either front swivel seat.
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-James
86 Syncro Westy, etc

[SteveVanB]

Not to toot my own horn but, I've used these more than I ever thought I would Best "El Cheapo" mod I've come up with
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...mp;start=0
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91 CARAT

[vanagonjr]

[kbeefy]

Deep cycle Battery, mod to run stereo of aux battery, 12v Edgestar fridge.

I removed the center seat and built a table/cabinet behind the drivers seat, edgestar sits behind passenger.

I really want swivel seat bases, maybe I should test some out first judging from the response here.

I also built some small cabinets on the sides in the rear cargo area, and cut my sleeping pad to fit. I had plans to put a shelf across the top but figured it would block visibility and didn't do it. We're almost orginized enough now that we don't need it.

Speaking of sleeping, a 2" memory foam mattress topper makes the Z bed WAY more comfy! When we head out we just roll it, our sheets and blanket all up into a bedroll against the rear hatch. Easier than making a bed.

Some LED lighting really makes things nice.

For outside we carry a couple camp chairs, going to upgrade to these this spring...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OT58C2/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And we really like our roll-up aluminum table... I think it's this one

http://www.amazon.com/RIO-Adventure-Compact-Expand...+top+table

We got some pretty nice nesting cookware, I think there was a recent thread on those.

An awning is really nice if it's hot or raining.

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86 syncro CHC, NorthWesty subbie 2.5, decoupler, locker, custom interior, 225/75r16 Duratrack's on CLK's, Toyo cabin heater, ARB fridge, 300w Zamp Solar, Gowesty bumpers/skid/rails, Fiama awning

'86 Syncro Westy. Stock for now.

2000 F350 7.3 CC LB 11' Northland Cabover

2006 Subbie OBXT

2002 Tacoma DoubleCab 4x4

1969 Mustang Basket Case 351c/FMX/9

http://kbeefy.blogspot.com/

[syncrodoka]

[kbeefy]

[1621]

If you're looking for the ultimate (albeit pricey) in camp chairs, it's tough to beat the Kermit. Though expensive, you won't need to replace it anytime in the next couple decades. I justified the purchase because I've spent a fortune in chairs in recent years that either break, are difficult to store, or are uncomfortable after five minutes. They're high quality, breakdown very small, and very comfortable.

http://www.kermitchair.com/home
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'85 Westy

[joetiger]

Cheap, durable camp chairs:

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/13hard-arm-chr-red-2013-asstment/prod9250495.ip?navAction=

While they do come from the evil Walton empire, I picked up several of these last year and they have been tested extensively by me and others of my ilk who are blessed with the same gift of mild (to extreme) overweightedness. They're super comfortable due to the natural lounged position, and work very well for having drinks and the naps that occasionally follow them.

ETA: Getting back on topic, my first tin-top Vanagon did not have a Z-bed in back and didn't have the middle seat, so the previous owners covered the entire floor with a layer of really puffy eggshell foam and covered it with an oriental rug. It was a surprisingly comfortable sleeping area, way down there away from the windows. Very stealthy. I loved it.
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[danfromsyr]

rear hatch screen
and sliding door if you live/play/camp in a buggy environment.

I'll X2 the Awning is a worth while investment. the easier to set up the better but anything is better than nothing.. and I'll probably have someone chime in that all you need is a $4 tarp some old rope and a few rocks.. more power to them.. but a easy to deploy shade w/o any ropes to dodge or tie/untie is quite valuable in my book.
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[Solrider]

This is my current tin top set up:

I store all my tools, recovery items and extra parts/fluids under the bed. Food, camp kitchen, clothes, doggie items go in the cabinet with room to spare for my husbands stuff. Extra random items like books and what not go in the bungee thing. 7 gallons of water slide under the bed by the kick panel when traveling. So far, so good, and all removable when I need it!
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Heidi - KF7CKI
85 Vanagon GL 1.6NA - Otto Von Wunderwagen
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Gone but not forgotten:
71 Super Beetle - Gretel
92 Jetta GL - Jerry
97 Passat TDI - Penny

[RocketBox]

WOW! thanks everyone for the awesome inspiration! there's so much potential with these vans - totally great! sounds like whatever you can dream up, there's a way to make it work in a tin-top

[shadetreetim]

The 3 best additions I added to my tintop are:
1) Engel Fridge
2) Cabinet for Food/Dishes

And 3) Rooftop Box, which freed up travel space

Running close behind, and used every trip; swivel passenger, solar panel on roof, 2) 110AH aux batteries under seat, nesting cookware, LED lighting inside, windows screens, insulated window coverings (from outside the Vanagon at night you can't even tell a light is on inside), and working AC for while we're traveling!
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Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5