Rear slider window screens to fit Vanagon Westy or tin-top

backyard_cnc

In keeping with other skylight and front window screens I have made, I designed and built a set of rear slider windows screens that can be used with either westy's or Tintops.

The Tintop of course never had a rear slider screen that I am aware of so this is a bonus for you guys and gals who camp in your Tintops. These are a slip in solution held in place into the window track by the glass itself. Primarily designed for stationary use they also seem to be fine at speed as well. When not in use they must be totally removed and stored for the window to close.

I hope to offer these thru a classified ad as soon as I build a few more sets and refine the fit of the design. Comments??

Gerald

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westyman71 · Samba Member Joined: August 28, 2004 Posts: 170

Stop with the teasing porn pics!!

How much and where do I send my money??

Chuck

jobenaus · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 5:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Gerald. It looks like it belongs. Just wondering how big the opening is on the screen. I'm just using a velcro screen at the moment but have about an 18 inch opening on each side (tin top windows). I'm assuming by the pictures this is substantially smaller?

backyard_cnc · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:21 pm Post subject:

Yes this is westy/tintop screen which has to be smaller as westy slide is a smaller opening. The screened area is just under 11 inches. This could potentially be approx 4 " longer for a tintop only screen but I was trying to have a universal fit for westy/tintop so as to make production easier. The screen has to be smaller than the opening to allow fitting it into the track and the necessary min 3/4" overlap on the glass.

Gerald

jobenaus · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:23 pm Post subject:

The extra 4 inches sounds good....I'm interested.

IdahoDoug · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:54 pm Post subject:

Also interested. Tintop as well. Assume the size matches one of the locked in place positions on the sliding windows, eh? As for suggestions, any simple provision you could add for a little rain protection? Like a snap on mini visor option for $15 each or something? Heck, we'll all be driving off with the visors on and buying replacements from you forever! Heh.

Thanks - price and such?

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

backyard_cnc · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:05 pm Post subject:

No the slider doesn't latch into either position it is held in place by friction from the rubber track. Once you install a window screen security is gone so latches mean nothing. This is about ventilation only. Sorry no rain hoods planned at this time but Westfalia didn't supply those either for my stock rear slider screens Laughing

Gerald

iliketowalk · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:04 pm Post subject:

I'm going to throw in a second for making the length commensurate with a locking tab on the window for a tintop (version).
_________________
1986 Weekender "Birch"

Christopholi · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:25 pm Post subject:

Also very interested for my tintop. Lining up with a latch would be awesome, but not a deal breaker. Would love to know projected price and turn-around.
_________________
1988 Tintop Wolfsburg Special Edition - "Meatloaf"
RMW 2.5 Subaru, SubaruGears 5MT 4.44 w/LSD, Coast Mountain Hightop

backyard_cnc · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:33 pm Post subject:

what purpose do you feel the lock tab will provide? Once the window is open with a screen installed it can go nowhere unless you push it open and since anyone can push out the screen and open the door regardless of the latch or no latch, I see no further value in it. A screen is an open window???? I have a convertible car and you don't dare lock the doors as crooks will just slash your top and enter? This is ventilation and bug protection and not security.

I have no way to know if all sliders for the 11 year production have the notches in exactly the same place and the notches from westys to tintops are also totally different as I have one of each here. The window will not move in its track without hand pressure even when between notches. The only notch that's useful is the very first one as it allows the window to be slightly ajar but not so far as to allow a hand and arm inside and nobody wants a screen that small. To have a screen means people who want in are coming in and in fact if crooks want in they also just smash your glass so the moral is don't leave things of value in plan sight to tempt people to either slash your screen or smash your window.

If you are after security these are not for you. If you want airflow at night for sleeping these will provide that. Think of a vanagon with screens installed as a partly hard shelled tent, you have more comfort but less security Smile

I will look and see if it might be possible but I am not sure its practical, I was trying to produce a single universal screen that could fit both Westy and tintop sliders and that comes with restrictions. I will gladly undertake a custom fit pair to your dimensions if you feel that strongly but I fear it would be more expensive than a universal fit deal.

Gerald

iliketowalk · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:50 pm Post subject:

backyard_cnc · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:10 pm Post subject:

Well my wife doesn't find it attractive when I giggle like a school girl , shes says it not becoming for a bald middle aged chubby white boy like me Laughing

I hear what you are saying and I will assess its feasibility but at the end of the day I am just trying to produce a useful and simple to use product that at least for tintops doesn't exist. No product can be all things to all people and my screens are no exception. If I make a screen for tintops only then I have to have a different screen for westys, then some people will want the screen to fit the first notch or the 3rd notch and the variables go on and on. If I learned nothing from the volume of skylight screens I have done over the past 5 weeks is that a simple product and less choice means less mistakes on my end with fulfillment and no or at least fewer unhappy customers. I mean when VW and WESTFALIA designed our beloved vans they certainly left no shortage of missing bits on the table but overall we love them.

When you are lying in your sleeping bag in your tintop with your new slider screens installed you won't be thinking about the latches on the sliders, you'll be thinking about how great it is to have airflow and no bugs.

By the way the intended price point is $65 per pair plus postage for the screens as shown. They are intended for stationary use but certainly they can be left in while travelling. I have used my front screens while travelling at 55mph with no adverse effects but speed testing is not one of the design parameters and speed is all relative since I have an Air Cooled Westy........can you say slow. What were the VW engineers thinking!

Gerald

iliketowalk · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:09 pm Post subject:

Hey Gerald,

Thanks for the reply. I'm in for a tintop set for sure. Let me know when I can Paypal.

Cheers!
_________________
1986 Weekender "Birch"

backyard_cnc · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:13 pm Post subject:

An inspection of the slider tracks in both by westy and my tintop confirms what I thought about the existing latch slots, that is the only feasible slot that is usable is the first one which would offer you a screen width of just a few inches. Due to the clearances required to overlap the glass with the back end of the screen assembly for holding it in place the glass the latch must pass the slot by at least an inch before sliding forward to hold the screen and hit a slot. One possibility is if you absolutely must have a window that latches in place you can install the screen and close the window to hold it in place and then mark the spot on the slider frame where the latch sits with a marker. Now open the glass fully and remove the screen. Using a small grinding wheel on a Dremel type rotary tool carefully make a new Notch to match the others right where you need it. I personally don't feel its necessary but certainly easy to accomplish quick enough and with a bit of care.

gerald

82WestyMan · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 2:47 pm Post subject:

Well I'm in convinced...
my current slider screens are sorry, to say the least.
Any more details on pricing and availability?

(I hope before camping season ends...)
_________________
"The floggings will continue until morale improves"
"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell" - Harry S. Truman
82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine

backyard_cnc · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 2:48 pm Post subject:

Installation video for window screens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ogwRaBdZGs&feature=youtu.be

geo_tonz · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:21 pm Post subject:

Just a suggestion but what about a tin-top extension? You could then continue the "universal" westy screen production and the extension could just be a 4" square screened frame that meshes with it. Probably easier and cheaper to make being a relatively simple rectangle and it could be sized to match the most open notch on the non-westy slider (different positions than the Westy slider BTW) to lock it in for highway travel.

Maybe you wouldn't gain enough screened area with the two abutting frames though?
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Red Vanagon

"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper

backyard_cnc · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:26 pm Post subject:

No it wouldn't gain much going that route. I wanted a universal screen design that fits both window styles and this seems to be a good compromise. Also many owners have both westys and tintops so for them one set of screens can do double duty between the vans...................although I will sell them 2 sets if desired. Latching the window is not possible with screen installed unless you cut a new slot at the location of the latch with the screen installed. I don't see a problem with using the screens at speed and I have done it with mine however I make no warranty as to their suitability for such things. The screens are for ventilation whilst parked or camping and your mileage past that may vary.

Gerald

iliketowalk · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:19 pm Post subject:

Hey Gerald,

So no chance of one that's 4" longer for the tintop?

TBH we're probably your target market, since options already exist for Westys that don't require removal when not in use (GW, OEM, etc) - whereas the tintop guys are pretty much out of luck.
_________________
1986 Weekender "Birch"

backyard_cnc · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:55 pm Post subject:

Anything is possible but you have to understand the process for me to manufacture and package to ship each individual product. Making it 4" bigger actually makes it a new product from many different angles. Making it 4" larger reduces the number of units I can fit per sheet of material by quite a bit, I could maybe gain 2" and still maintain units per sheet but not 4", I also use custom clamping jigs to assemble the glued bits so now I need to build extra tooling(and store it when its not in use), I precut packaging materials to size to streamline shipping times, different products means different sized packing materials. Doing exactly the same steps makes it easier for me to be consistent in the way I cut, assemble and ship and that goes out the window with size variety. And in actual fact I have had as much or more interest from westy owners than tintops so far so not sure how that plays out over time. I felt a screen that works for both windows is a good compromise that pleases more people overall. I personally think the westy sliders open up plenty, and I still have good stock screens so I would think if its good enough for westy's it should be good enough for tin tops right??? ok maybe not the syncro guys but at least for 2wd tintops!

Believe me I am trying to make what people will buy and be happy to use but in a small one man shop the little changes can be a big deal to efficiency. I am not saying no, just that I have a lot to consider just to bring this product into the market in any form and get it to the user in a timely manner. If I do decide to offer a longer Tintop only version it would certainly have to be at a different price point.

Gerald


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Rear slider window screens to fit Vanagon Westy or tin-top
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