Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2002 14:24:07 +0100
Reply-To: jbrush@AROS.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Brush <jbrush@AROS.NET>
Subject: Re: Z-bed installation instructions
In-Reply-To: <20020909194702.54184.qmail@web11105.mail.yahoo.com>
Just some ramblings about the Z Bed, from one warped perspective.
I would often go to the zproducts.com site and dream about having copius
amounts of money to spend on kewl stuff, but I always turn away. That is
just way too much money for what it is. Way too much.
Mine is just a plain-jane vanagon, and at first I didn't realize that I
would have to remove the middle seat in order to use the Z bed. Once I
noticed that detail, the Z bed is no longer a consideration since I use
the van for more than just camping in it, and I didn't want to give up the
middle seat to use it. (heavy little sob!)
How frustrating to find that a queen size mattress is about 8 inches too
long to use with any setup when the middle seat is installed.... :(
I never thought about the bed-in-the-box concept. It sounds like a nice
idea, but I would be surprised to learn that the top could fold out far
enough without hitting the roof on the way. In addition, my back seat
doesn't fold down flat, and would push up on the bed. Might not matter
with weight on it tho.
Then I tinkered with just building a frame on the engine compartment that
would raise it up level with the seat back folded down. Not only won't
this work for me because the back doesn't lay flat, but its a really short
bed :-)
Since I usually camp in a trailer or tent with the kids, I only camp with
the van now and again when I go by myself, so my solution is a little more
complex, but in truth, it doesn't take very long.
I just remove the rear seat back to make the area level. At first I tried
to remove the back, with with the seat itself in place, and although I did
it, I needed a vacation just from that effort! :) There are only two bolts
holding the seat bottom in place, easily accessible, so I remove them,
pull the seat bottom forward just a bit, and then it takes less than ten
minutes to remove the seat back.
I did learn that if there is a lot of stuff under the seat, it only takes
a few minutes to take it all out first, rather than end up hurling it
across the garage in frustration because I tried to get away without
removing it :-)
I was going to just use an air mattress, but I have not found one that is
short enough. They are all "standard" queen size. One day, I had an
inspiration, and found that the mattress from my couch bed is queen sized
in width, but a little short in length. In fact, it is a perfect fit
between the rear hatch, and the back of the middle seat. It hangs over the
seat bottom just a little, but its no big thing. I am six foot tall, so
its not perfect if you lay straight front-to-back, but a little sideways
allows me to stretch out okay.
If I need room, I could pull the middle seat, but it doesn't have to come
out if I don't want to. It is sure heavy, so I usually leave it in. Plus,
I have the porta-potti strapped to it just behind the driver's seat, so I
live with that.
I slide the passenger seat out and turn it around, close the curtains, and
I have a decent seat and a nice bed, that works fine for me. Of course it
would be nice to have a weekender, or a westy, or heck, even a few window
screens, but life doesn't always work out the way it should, right? :)
All together, it takes less than half an hour to get the van ready for a
trip just for me. I don't think that is too bad. When I think its a
hassle, I just look at the neighbor's minivan, and I know they couldn't do
that, so I feel better. <g>
Just one way of doing things.
Regards,
John
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