Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (January 2008, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 7 Jan 2008 15:36:38 -0800
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Announcement: the BZ Shelf
Comments: To: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <4782B129.1050507@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 1/7/2008 3:09 PM Mike Collum wrote:

> LOL, Mike. > > I'm 65 and use the upstairs bunk frequently for sleeping. But then, I > was a Submariner so throwing myself into an upper bunk doesn't seem all > that unnatural ... nor does climbing down for that matter.

There you go! I bet that before you were a submariner you were able to demonstrate average to better-than-average coordination. The upper bunk is for people like you. I, on the other hand, have been known to stumble over painted lines in parking lots.

Using the crossarm as a closet hanger bar when driving makes sense! We don't take clothes that need hanging so it's not so important for us. However, putting a stemware rack under the BZ Shelf makes Vanagon camping much more civilized.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51q4ywS6jZL._SS500_.jpg

-- 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

> > We also use that crossbar (with the top down) to hang things from. Like > clothes on hangers near the kitchen unit when underway (properly > secured, of course). Also to carry hanging plants from a nursery to the > house. These vehicles are indeed versatile. > > Mike > > Michael Elliott wrote: >> We downstairs sleepers would rather not plunge to our certain deaths in >> the middle of the night when we have to take a whiz. We're on the older >> side = less flexible liquid storage container = more frequent >> micturation. >> We use the upstairs for storage, c.f., >> http://camping.elliott.googlepages.com/shelves >> >> Mrs Squirrel and I are both smallish folk and the little downstairs bunk >> allows for cuddling and sleeping just fine. >> >> -- >> 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 1/7/2008 1:41 PM Tom Forhan wrote: >> >>> This is very interesting. Initially Michele and I >>> used the bottom and put Colin in the upper bunk. Years >>> later he decided going camping with the old folks was >>> not cool, and we tried out the top and thought it >>> much, much more comfortable. We never sleep >>> downstairs, unless we are in stealth mode. >>> >>> Have you downstairs sleeper check the quality of the >>> foam on your upper bunk? I can't believe people think >>> the bottom is better! >>> >>> >>> --- Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET> wrote: >>> >>>> On Jan 7, 2008, at 2:16 PM, Michael Elliott wrote: >>>> >>>>> Beats me -- Mrs Squirrel and I prefer sleeping >>>> downstairs. Tom -- >>>>> do you >>>>> use the upper bunk? >>>> I relegate non consensual guests to the upper bunk, >>>> but I have slept >>>> up there until I figured out it was not as comfy as >>>> downstairs. >>>> >>>> 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 1/7/2008 12:35 PM Jake de Villiers wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Way to go guys! Nice job with the design Tom and >>>> thanks for the Wiki >>>>>> Rocky. >>>>>> >>>>>> Any trouble getting in and out of the upper berth >>>> with the shelf >>>>>> there? >>>>>> I can't really see how much of the access slot >>>> the BZ covers. >>>>>> Thanks again, Jake >>>>>> >>>>>> On Jan 2, 2008 5:40 PM, Michael Elliott >>>> <camping.elliott@gmail.com >>>>>> <mailto:camping.elliott@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Back in August or so Mrs Squirrel and I >>>> became frustrated with >>>>>> having to >>>>>> deal with boxes of groceries and stuff which >>>> were constantly >>>>>> underfoot >>>>>> when camping in places where the local >>>> critters were eying our >>>>>> comestibles >>>>>> with considerable interest. I wondered >>>> whether it might be >>>>>> possible to >>>>>> hang a shelf in the otherwise unused overhead >>>> space at the >>>>>> front of the >>>>>> raised poptop and posted a proposal involving >>>> chains and >>>>>> skyhooks and >>>>>> stuff, an idea that was doomed to never work. >>>>>> >>>>>> Several folks suggested better ways to go >>>> about it, but >>>>>> nothing seemed >>>>>> very easy to me. Then Tom Buese, who was >>>> apparently looking >>>>>> for an >>>>>> excuse >>>>>> to avoid doing real work, popped up with a >>>> design for a shelf >>>>>> which >>>>>> mounts >>>>>> easily on the poptop's crossarm with a couple >>>> of hardware >>>>>> store U-bolts, >>>>>> holds a surprising amount of stuff when >>>> deployed, and folds >>>>>> flat against >>>>>> the roof when the top is down. He put >>>> together a prototype and >>>>>> emailed a >>>>>> dimensioned drawing of his idea to me. I >>>> banged a version >>>>>> together in a >>>>>> couple of hours without hardly any >>>> significant loss of blood >>>>>> and mounted >>>>>> it up. After a test on a short camping trip, >>>> it has become a >>>>>> permanent >>>>>> addition to our Westy. Best thing I've ever >>>> done -- besides >>>>>> marrying Mrs >>>>>> Squirrel, I'd say. >>>>>> >>>>>> After the Vanagon Wiki went "live" this year >>>> I suggested to >>>>>> Tom that we >>>>>> could post a how-to article about his "BZ >>>> Shelf" but it took >>>>>> him a >>>>>> bit of >>>>>> time to take the pictures and refine the >>>> drawing. But finally, >>>>>> after >>>>>> considerable nagging on my part, I got him to >>>> post the stuff >>>>>> to me so I >>>>>> could write the article. >>>>>> >>>>>> If you're like me, able to use a >>>> reciprocating saw without >>>>>> hardly ever >>>>>> cutting off a finger, own a Westy, and find >>>> yourself sometime >>>>>> wishing you >>>>>> had a darn place to put pots and pans and >>>> coolers and stuff >>>>>> that seem to >>>>>> crowd your floor when camping, do yourself a >>>> favor and build a BZ >>>>>> Shelf. I >>>>>> reckon you'll be glad you did. >>>>>> >>>>>> So here it is, with Tom's permission: photos >>>> and plans at >>>>>> http://vanagonwiki.net/index.php/Buese_Shelf >>>>>> >>>> <http://vanagonwiki.net/index.php/Buese_Shelf> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> 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 >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Jake >>>>>> 1984 Vanagon GL >>>>>> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie" >>>>>> Crescent Beach, BC >>>>>> www.crescentbeachguitar.com >>>> <http://www.crescentbeachguitar.com> >>>>>> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ____________________________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> >>> Be a better friend, newshound, and >>> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. >>> http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ >>


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.