Tips for camping in an MV/Weekender

[Zeitgeist 13]

We just completed our first camping trip in the Weekender since it was purchased last year. It did great, but there are some mods I need/want in order to make the experience more convenient and enjoyable.

First off, the lower bunk is hell on my back--as in I could not get any sleep at all the first night. My wife ordered a Queen-sized mattress topper from Amazon and it fits and feel perfect. We're heading back out camping for a week, so I'll report back wrt how it performs in the real world.

You can see the Lightning cord and USB extension from the rear charge port, so we can use and charge our phones at the same time. I'm going to add USB ports up above the bed on either side to eliminate the extension. I also want to add mesh cubbies on either side to hold our pocket items and phones while sleeping.

Feel free to add your tips and tricks.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[markcm2]

Klymit inflatable sleep pads are awesome for the eurovan. They are super compact when deflated (like 10% of a sleeping bag), easy to inflate and greatly improve the sleep-ability (I can't sleep in our van without extra padding, it KILLS my back and shoulders). Two of the Klymit static V2 fit perfect side by side in the upper bunk and two of the Klymit V Luxe fit perfectly on the lower bed. We have a small high volume air pump that inflates them in seconds.

[IdeaNerd]

@markcm2 what air pump are you using?

[markcm2]

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[mkscott2]

Huh... I really like the idea of a USB port higher up. Will be interested to see what you come up with as far as placement goes. Guessing you could just tie into the power source for the light?

We had similar issues with where to put the phones at night. I did attach a net to the bottom of the upper deck, which allows for a place to put the phones, but no way to charge without an obtrusive cable. Hmmm...

As for the bed, we have the GoWesty mattress topper, which is very comfortable... but does take up a lot of room when not in use. If the van didn't come with the GW topper, I would have gone with the inflatable sleep pads.

Other tips:
- magnet hooks (we have 2) that can hang things like LED lanterns from anything metal inside the van
- shelf behind the driver's seat (if you don't have the original plastic tray), adds a surprising amount of storage space
- net attached to the bottom of the aft upper deck- great for putting wet towels and stuff while waiting for them to dry
- kitchen (chuck) box: working on a design that will take as little trunk space as possible, but allow us to cook right from it. The plastic tub isn't cutting it
- seat-back pockets: gonna sew something like those shoe organizers to hang on the back of the passenger seat, just to keep little things a bit more organized in the back

This could turn out to be a pretty helpful thread if others keep adding to it...

[Joshwa]

[Abscate]

I need to find storage tubs that exactly fit under the weekender bed in height - to maximize binned storage space.

Magic height is 11.5 inches

Have you thought about tapping off the 12VDC from the two lights -one nicely above the table, the other towards the head end of the bed?

Sorry, mkscott, missed your posting this idea above, on edit
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.ssS!

[shenan-agon]

[mkscott2]

I agree with the need to eek out every last inch of available space under the seat. This is why I am making a custom-fit box outta wood. Plastic tub would be good, but I found that ours (also not Rubbermaid variety) cracked pretty easily when it got cold.

In the same vain, I am considering the purchase of much smaller backpacking chairs such as these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XYW3436/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A23A2LDFV3EUTQ&psc=1 Part of my goal is to avoid a roof-box or tail-box.

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[Joshwa]

You can fit two milk crates end to end and fills the space just about to the door from the seat bar. Too bad there isn't an 8 gallon milk crate. I also use two 6 gallon milk crates stacked for food just behind the center isle for trips. Food we don't need readily below and snacks up top. They don't move around and keeps things organized.

Picture from my weekender rear cot link

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93 Weekender TDI conversion (AHU)
93 MV TDI conversion (1Z)
Weekender rear cot
Late model cabin air filter on 93
Euro spec bumper install on 93

[Abscate]

Our later Weekender beds have a frame and solid rear bench that limits that space, though.
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[IdeaNerd]

[Abscate]

The pop up we used on our eclipse trip would not quite fit in the under bed space without going on the diagonal. That uses a lot of space that is otherwise well suited for Bins,..... have to rethink this
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[Zeitgeist 13]

We just got back from our road trip to the San Juans. We stayed in a cabin on Lopez, but camped for two nights on Orcas. The combination of the bed topper, a large full width prop pillow, camp pillows and a two person sleeping bag did the trick; the lower bunk was sufficiently comfy. Since we weren't going to use the upper bunk I removed the cushions and sleep platform, so the bed topper fit up there folded into quarters--it really fits nicely.

I'm really beginning to envy the MV configuration with the removable seat behind the driver. The fixed Weekender seat is a space hog when the lower bunk is deployed, but it is useful as a storage location when underway. We removed the chiller and have a bin under there full of games the kids enjoy.

I find the snaps for the curtains to be annoying to use properly, so I'm contemplating using some kind of Velcro alternative to keep everything in place--thoughts?

Also, I found that my mod to open the hatch from the inside was extremely helpful when opening/closing the rear curtains, since they get pinched against the body when the hatch is closed.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Abscate]

[Zeitgeist 13]

I used candle wax, but even then the snaps are just annoying.


One other tip to share: The Orca 58 is a really nice sized cooler that fits behind the passenger seat and kept our food for four cool for six days with two frozen gallon jugs of water inside.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Abscate]

I just flipped the 4th seat out to bring kid #5 back to college.

The MV config rocks!!
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.ssS!

[mvaska]

we swapped the bolted rear-facing seat with an engel DC cooler. which naturally meant we had to change the proprietary DC socket behind the drive seat to a normal cig lighter socket. bonus that the engel cooler is nearly the same height as the stock seat and can be used as a bench for eating at the table.

we also found hooks that attach to the headrest bars. and a really solid metal cup holder that is held in place by slipping into the front ashtray.

more involved upgrades:

1 - dual USB sockets lower on the center kick panel. wired to the aux.

2 - LED light replacement for florescent so aux battery doesn't go dead so quickly

3 - swivel base for passenger's side seat

4 - handle to open rear door from inside

5 - rubber flooring - thin enough to be nearly an exact fit w/trim -- sweeps clean

6 - custom pull-out kitchen w/gas stove for back