Storage Ideas

Storage space is always at a premium in a Westy.  Here are some of the changes that I've made to maximize the space.  None of the additions get in the way and each one provides some great utility. As I've used each one for the first time I've found myself wondering how I ever got along without it.

Happy camping!

Passenger-side Dashboard Cubby

Driver-side and Passenger-side Hooks and Lines.

Rear Roof Closet

Passenger Seat Rear Pockets

Portable Shower

Here's the shower I have designed for those times when our site doesn't have one. The shower works really well and is easy to set up and put away.

All of the shower's components fit nicely in the case that is supplied with the dog bath. The case stores easily in the rear cargo area or on the upper bed.   The shower can be hung from the roof to take a shower inside the van or it can be hung from the open rear hatch to shower outside.    When setting up outside we will enclose the rear hatch area with our Bus Depot tent and place our folding mat on the ground.  We then set up our Fiamma BiPot 30 toilet and shower in that space.  I have put a hook on either side of the rear hatch so that the shower can be hung on whichever side is downhill to allow the water to run away from the vehicle.

The outside water source is a spare 7 gallon can that is placed in the rear space.    When inside we draw directly from the 7 gallon can behind the kitchen pod.   If the water needs to be heated we will either do that on the stove in the kitchen pod, on a campfire outside or in a solar shower bag.   The spare 7 gallon can will also heat up the water if placed in the sun.   

These are the hooks that I use to hang the shower..  They have amazing holding power and are easily removable. 

The tub that the water flows in to is marketed as a collapsible pet bath.  The tub has a drain at its base that you can use to control the release of the water.    I also keep a 6 foot long faucet adapter in the pack to attach to the drain if necessary.   

The hoop that the shower curtain is hung from is a 24" diameter hoop that was made from 1/2 PEX tubing.    You may also use a pre-manufactured 24" hula hoop. 

The cord that is tied to the hoop is just standard parachute cord that is tied to a ring at the top center. 

This is the shower curtain that I used. The 72" height and 78" length are both important.   A standard shower curtain won't make it all the way around the hoop.  I closed the opening in the plastic hangers with some plastic shrink tubing from Harbor Freight to keep the curtain from sliding through the gap. 

I also added this shower caddy to the setup to provide an easy place to store things while showering. 

The water is pumped from the tanks with a 12V powered shower. 

I added one of these mats to the pack for those times when the tub was not necessary for an outside shower.  

Happy camping! 

Kitchen Pod

I completed a new kitchen pod about a few months ago.  After several successful outings with it I thought I'd share some details on the design. My first design was built on a removable seat frame and was located behind the passenger seat. It was great for traveling while sleeping in the top bed. I quickly found that the van was much more comfortable and versatile if I moved the pod to the area behind the driver's seat. With this new configuration I'm able to use the more comfortable lower bed and leave it out, remove the upper bed board for more headroom and rotate the passenger seat to open up the space.  I also found that the rear shelf for the upper bed is a great storage shelf while camped with the top up.   

A couple of note on my design goals:

• I wanted it to be easily removable

• It had to have a sink, stove and refrigerator. 

• It had to contain the fresh and waste water tanks and the propane supply.   

• It had to be no wider than the driver's seat to allow me to continue to move between the front seat and rear area.

• The top of the unit had to be at a height that was useable while sitting in the van.   

• All items had to be accessible with the bottom bed deployed

I purchased the following parts:

• Smev 8821 Hob and Sink Combination Unit

• Dometic CF-018DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator

• Reliance 7 Gallon Water Can

• Propane Gas Regulator

• Coleman Propane Grill Adapter # 3000002048

• Custom Accessories 49997 12V Dual Cigarette Lighter Receptacle

• Assorted bolts, nuts and cable management

• Coleman 1lb propane canister

• 1 - 2' x 4'  sheet of finish grade birch plywood.   

• 1 - Pack of 1 1/2" Conduit Straps

• IKEA 18 x 24 x 30 Cabinet

• 2 - Drawer Handles   

• 4 - Pushbutton Locks

• Heavy Duty Angle Strikes

• Bamboo Countertop

• Bamboo Cutting Board

• Rolling Desk (cannibalized to make the adjustable shelf)  

• Propane and Carbon Monoxide detector

Here are some images of the assembled pod.  The hardest part of the assembly was adjusting the height of the drawer tracks and drawer front sizes to accommodate the refrigerator.  The drawer fronts that came with the cabinet were used as a template to mount the new drawer fronts. The pod is mounted to the floor using the same bolts that were used to mount the rear-facing seat. There is still quite a bit of refinement left to do but it works really well and has added a lot to the camping experience. Having the water in a portable container is great when its time to refill and your camper needs to stay parked. The pod also serves as the water source for the inside shower (more on that later) and as the mounting point for the solar controller, inverter and battery tender referred to in my earlier post on the Electrical System.

Happy camping! 

Front with Drawers Closed

Bottom Door with Refrigerator

Top Drawer Pantry

SMEV Sink and Burner with Height Adjustable

Top in High Position 

Top Showing SMEV Sink and Burner with 

Height Adjustable Top on Side

Right Side Showing 

Propane and Water Cans

Rear Showing Solar Controller, 
Fuse Box,  AC/DC Charger,
Propane Alarm and Inverter

Brandrup Top Rail Installation

Last month I installed the rails.  

We had the first chance to use them on a recent trip to First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, VA.  If you have the chance I highly recommend this spot.    The facility and beach  were terrific and the location allowed easy access to the sights we wanted to visit in the area.  

Here's the parts list from the source. 

http://www.campervantastic.com/product/awnings-sun-canopies-fittings-and-rails/awning-rails-and-fittings/brandrup-vw-t4-top-rail-swb-and-lwb-fits-both-sides-does-not-include-side-spoiler-set/ 

http://www.campervantastic.com/product/awnings-sun-canopies-fittings-and-rails/awning-rails-and-fittings/brandrup-vw-t4-near-side-spoiler-set-left-for-top-rail-100-700-012/ 

http://www.campervantastic.com/product/awnings-sun-canopies-fittings-and-rails/awning-rails-and-fittings/brandrup-t4-off-side-spoiler-set-right-for-top-rail100-700-011/


You will also need to purchase a couple of additional items that are used during the installation.  I ordered them from http://www.emisupply.com   

1 x Sika Remover 208 1 Liter Can, 4 Per Case

1 x Sika Primer 210 250 ml Bottle

1 x Sikaflex 252, Black, Elastic Polyurethane Adhesive, 10.3oz Cartridge

The installation took about 5 hours.   The procedure is outlined at following link.    The only change I would make to the instructions is to be sure to wax the areas that you might be applying masking tape to before you get started.    I've learned from past experience that the adhesive might take your clear coat off when you remove the tape if no wax has been applied.      I was also able to perform the installation without an assistant.   I used the shipping container as a prop for the far end of the rail where the instructions show an assistant.    

http://www.brandrup.de/files/manuals/en/TOP-RAIL_VW_T4.pdf

The rails have added some great versatility with an unexpected benefit.  The van is much quieter.  The rails block the wind noise that used to come from around the top gasket at highway speeds.    Visually the rails really blend well into the van and do not call attention to themselves.    My family and friends didn't even notice the change until I pointed it out to them.   

The extra attachment point that the piping rail provides allowed me to attach my Khyam awning over top of the sliding door with no gap for rain to come through behind the awning.  I also was able to hang the solar shower and clothes line from driver's side.   I had picked up a pack of these awning hooks before the trip and they worked very well.

I've already come up with quite a few more ideas about how to take advantage of the new rails.    I'll be sure to post some pictures of those ideas in use in a future post.    

Happy camping!