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Date:         Fri, 1 Jun 2007 15:25:50 -0600
Reply-To:     Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Some kind of shelf?
Comments: To: camping.elliott@gmail.com
In-Reply-To:  <46607739.8040103@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

On Jun 1, 2007, at 1:44 PM, Mike Rocket J Squirrel Elliott wrote:

> Hi Tom, > > You know those things they use in pool halls to keep track of > scores? Beads on wires? We use something like that to keep track of > how many times each of us has bumped our heads on something in the > van during a trip. > > At 5' 6'', I would need the shelf to be at least 66 inches above > the floor. Add shoes -- platform shoes if I'm feeling frisky -- a > hat, and a carpet, and we want more like 69''.

Yep, that's why I figured 72" clearance would work for you? > > My brilliant scheme depends on hanging the shelf from a crossbar. > The shelf would want to dangle at least 12'' below it to allow for > taller items. If so hung from the existing crossmember, it will be > only 60'' above the floor. Head-bumpin' fun.

My 84 westy crossbar is at 76"-same as your 84 westy? The horizontal shelf could be u=bolted to the cross bar so that the bottom is at 74" & the height above is several feet > > Howsoever, your idea, using u-bolts on the existing bar to go > straight rearward into a backboard or similar brace on the back of > the shelf would permit the shelf to be lifted upward w/o stuff on > the shelf bumping into the bar because it also moves rearward -- if > I visualize it correctly? > > Also, the wingnuts -- the bar is pretty narrow, meaning a smallish > u-bolt, putting the wingnuts close together, possibly too close to > avoid interference? Also, it seems that u-bolts would rotate on the > bar when weight is put on the shelf. Seems like the shelf would tip > into the van and dump stuff into the sink with a great clatter and > bang, waking up campers for miles around. > You should be able to get a "moment resisting connection" w/ the u- bolts that will hold the hor. shelf in place unless you are stacking really heavy stuff on the shelf? The rear vertical ply piece would line up w/ the cross bar & the shelf would face the rear as deep as you are comfy with? & 6'-2" headroom(76")

I'll do some "product research" at HD or Lowes tomale & make a prototype & test weight that the u -bolts can resist in overturning.

Pax,

Tom

> -- > > Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott > 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus > 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") > 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano > KG6RCR > > On 6/1/2007 11:52 AM Tom Buese wrote: > >> I have my westy parked in front of my studio right now w/ the pop >> top up for design considerations. Are you sure you want to have >> the shelf hang above the poptop window? It's about 84" above the >> floor & I think too high for most vertically challenged volks to >> reach? I was thinking of having the U bolts wrap around the cross >> bar which is about 76" above the floor & thru holes in the top of >> the vertical back of the shelf which would be about 72" above the >> floor for easier access, but still allow headroom? The shelf >> would be in front of the window but high enuf to still see out/ >> ventilate the van & allow access to the storage rack on the >> roof? The shelf would fold in half when removed & be 3' long+- by >> 4-6"W. x 1" thick when folded w/ 2 pieces of 1/2" baltic birch >> ply hinged together. The vertical leg would be 4" high, while the >> horizontal shelf would be 4-6" wide depending on what you want to >> store up there? There would be no drilling or modifications >> needed to the poptop. >> Tom B.- whole thing could cost under $10-$20 depending on whether >> you have the plywood laying around or not including hinges, 2 u >> bolts, plywood, & clear sealer. >> I think I'll make 1 this weekend. >> On Jun 1, 2007, at 12:12 PM, Mike Rocket J Squirrel Elliott wrote: >>> Hi Neil, that's a good idea. >>> >>> The wingnuts(1) might bump into each other, but that's to be >>> worked out. >>> I also like Jake's hose clamp + L-bracket idea. Either way would >>> result >>> in a new crossmember(2) high up. >>> >>> The next detail to be worked out is how to hang the shelf. The shelf >>> wants to be quick to put up and take down. It could be hung(3) with >>> ropes, but that would be tippy. Chain, likewise. Stiff(4) >>> brackets would >>> be better. If the crossmember was fastened so it didn't rotate, >>> then a >>> couple of strap metal brackets could be made shaped like an >>> upside-down >>> "V". Hang two Vees over the crossmember and maybe drop a pin into >>> matching holes(5) drilled through the strap and crossmember to help >>> restrain the Vees from rotating, too. The bottoms of the Vees >>> could be >>> bent toward each other to provide feet for the shelf to rest on, >>> maybe >>> pegs-and-holes there, too, to secure everything. >>> >>> I reckon that if it dangles(6) 12 inches (30cm) below the new >>> crossmember, it could be up to 10'' (25cm) deep (fore to aft), >>> and more >>> than 36'' (90cm) wide without bumping into the canvas. >>> >>> I probably didn't write this up as clearly as I could have, and it's >>> probably not as simple as it could be. It's just an idea. I dunno >>> about >>> you guys, but when Mrs Squirrel shows up with boxes of far healthier >>> food that I would choose (produce, mainly) finding a place to >>> stash all >>> that becomes a hassle. A 3-foot wide shelf that could accommodate >>> small >>> boxes of food and which was easy to put up and take down would be >>> most >>> helpful. >>> >>> (1) See yesterday's disclaimer >>> (2) Likewise >>> (3) Ditto >>> (4) This is getting stupid >>> (5) Real stupid >>> (6) I'm going to bump myself off the list. >>> >>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott >>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus >>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") >>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano >>> KG6RCR >>> >>> On 6/1/2007 10:03 AM neil wrote: >>> >>>> Wood this (pun intended): >>>> >>>> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil/iWeb/Site%205/U%20bolt.html >>>> >>>> hold a piece of galv steel tube to struts? If mounted, um, criss- >>>> cross >>>> across new tube to struts? >>>> >>>> If there's a size that fits diameter of strut/tube combo, and >>>> threads >>>> long enough, you could use wing nuts for **relatively** quick >>>> removal. >>>> Or if it's possible to leave in place, then mount with threads >>>> pointing toward rear of van. >>>> >>>> Neil. >>>> >>>> On 5/31/07, Mike Rocket J Squirrel Elliott >>>> <camping.elliott@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>>> When the poptop is up, I'd like to hang a shelf between the >>>>> top's upper >>>>> struts -- a flat piece of wood, maybe, hung by ropes from a new >>>>> crossmember (piece of PVC pipe maybe) which mounts horizontally >>>>> between >>>>> the upper struts near the top. I can't quite picture what I'd >>>>> need to >>>>> mount that new crossmember to the struts. Some fitting that >>>>> clamps to >>>>> struts, I reckon? >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott >>>>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus >>>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") >>>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano >>>>> KG6RCR >>>>> >>>> >>>>


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