Rear Tent Project

[orangesuper]

I have an upcoming camping trip on the coast of Maine coming up. Bus has been out of commission for a while but I have used this as motivation to get myself in gear and put her back on the road. My bus is a tintop but otherwise I have the full 1970 weary interior. Since the last time I camped in the bus we now have two additions a 2 year old and a 10 month old. Child's cot takes care of the two year old but still needed a spot for his little sister. Honestly she could easily have shared the bed with us or I could have rigged up some kind of bumper rail for the stool/rear facing seat "bed" but I figured why not cram in an extra project before the camping deadline. I have seen the factory rear tents and also a few aftermarket options. I stole some ideas from the ones I liked Best but made one major change that I haven't seen elsewhere. Rather than make it the same width as the hatch and merely an extension of the main bed I made it 74" long (same length as a standard twin bed. It's a hair narrower at 36" than a true twin but this allows the platform to hinge and sit on (or under) the rear bed mattress pad for storage. If I had a nose mounted spare tire I would have had the real estate for a full twin. Next I plan to build a snap in wall that goes just behind the rear seats to keep my son "contained" on the cot. Anyway it's outdoor canvas, heavy duty screening, and marine clear vinyl. In the pictures showing the screen the bottom wasn't yet fastened to the wood base so you will see the flaps hanging down. The outer door completely zips off when not needed. It goes on pretty quick and easy 5 minutes maybe.

[camit34]

Looks pretty cool.

Can you show a picture of how the platform attaches to the Bus (not the chains). Curious how it does not flip up once weight is put on it.
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In search of a Vanagon
1971 Westy (SOLD)
1971 Deluxe (SOLD)
1967 Freedom Camper (SOLD)

[orangesuper]

It just sits on the edge the angle of the chains and gravity creates an inward pull. Because it's notched it stops when it hits the rear corners outside the hatch opening. It takes some real force to pull it away from the bus with one hand and tuck the tail of the tent behind it to snap I place underneath. I was unsure how this would work and thought I was going to have to fabricate something to lock it in but it proved to be a non-issue.

[KentABQ]

That's a great idea. And a great way to think outside the box....or the loaf, in this case. Now you'll be set for the next 10+ years as your children grow.
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-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[cmonSTART]

That is really cool - looks almost factory!
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[orangesuper]

[richparker]

I like that VS exhaust, what's it attached to?
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[orangesuper]

[richparker]

[77_Bus_Girl]

pretty similar to what I was hoping to build. Have you thought about adding legs in the back to help alleviate the strain on the chain/door hinge? I was thinking some sort of easily adjustable legs (to account for uneven ground) that fit into a little bracket under the plywood.
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77 Westfalia + 2 dogs = good life.

[orangesuper]

It's a CB performance 4140 crank.

Webcam 119 camshaft
DRD L3 heads.

No qualms about the crank. But I did have the whole rotating assembly sent out for dynamic balancing(not sure how much he took off the crank but I think I do recall some machining marks on the counterweights after balancing). I did have an issue fitting it to the flywheel but I'm not sure if the crank or the flywheel was the issue. I used an 8 dowelled full weight flywheel as I wanted the rotational mass since I wasn't building this as a high revving motor anyway.

I love this motor set up by the way, over my tired 1600 it's like a different bus. 5 Years ago shortly after building it we took a trip out to Montana it went up and over the Rockies beautifully several times on a couple pretty gnarly passes.

[orangesuper]

[richparker]

[Abscate]

The best part is the bears will appreciate the environmentally friendly packaged people snacks!

Seriously, nice implementation


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.ssS!

[orangesuper]

With some of the extra material and screening I added this wall behind the child's cot. It snaps into place on the roof support rib and down to the walls behind the front seats. The main purpose is to keep my 2 year old from immediately climbing down and out of bed when he decides it's not bed time yet. Solid wall velcros over screening. Lighting wasn't the best in these pictures but you get the idea

[Hansolo99]

Where did you get the material and the screen? Also did you sew it all yourself?? I really like what your doing.

[orangesuper]

Everything is from Joanne's Fabrics I used "Duck Canvas" and what they call heavy duty pet screening. Which is a very heavy screening but also very flexible. Sunbrella waterproof canvas would be a better choice but at $60 a yard its too rich for my blood. The snaps also came from joann's and fit on my stock bug screen snaps already in the hatchway. I waterproofed with a product called 303 Fabric Guard which I had to order online as no one local carries it.

I did do all the sewing. I have a heavy duty sewing machine. Its really just a nice older (1960s?) Japanese built machine not a fancy upholstery machine or anything. But like they say they don't make 'em like the used to. This thing has a cast iron fly wheel and will chunk its way through 4 layers of leather.

[scubasteve321]

oooh love it!

how did you attach the buttons to the brace?

did you just put some sheet metal screwed button receives in the respective positions? epoxy?

I always hesitate to screw any new holes into the bus, but loving the button idea....

although, up until I came across your thread I have just been using a pressure fitted pvc pipe across the arch
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1971 Campmobile Tin-Top
1971 Campmobile Pop-Top
1974 VW Bus

[orangesuper]

I did screw sheet metal screw buttons in. Similar to the rear bug screen snaps

[advCo]

Very cool. I will have to remember this thread once I get to the interior on my Westy.. Nice work!
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"He pulled the mirrors off his Cadillac ‘cause he doesn’t like it looking like he looks back"
'68/'70 Ghia Coupe Project
'70 Westy Project - Champagne I Wannabe
A bunch of vintage Japanese motorcycles
"Much ingenuity with a little money is vastly more profitable and amusing than much money without ingenuity." -A. Bennett