Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:19:17 -0800
Reply-To: John Anderson <wvukidsdoc@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Anderson <wvukidsdoc@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy seating/sleeping: Questions for families of 5+
In-Reply-To: <CANrF1zgcPkARmZhOVYSZJxCyxtSS9QyHZyKNTKorF_5w4vgB-Q@mail.gmail.com>
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Joe, EV seats do fit Vanagon tracks just fine "sort of" though not the reverse. Track spacing is the same, track
width is the same, but track height is taller. At least '93 seats do fit in such a manner. But due to the taller
tracks on the EV part, I'd have a very close look at the slide/lock engagement if I were to do it. I nearly
did this in my EVC (theft recovery interior gone) as even the pedestals were gone and I welded in vanagon
swivels on regular EV non swivel pedestals. I had the EV seats (from the regular parter van I got the pedestals
from) on them for a bit and I think the lock engaged well but I don't recall specifically. Actually I went with Vanagon
seats in the end as I've never seen a set of '93 EV seats with over 80k or so where the bolsters weren't wearing badly,
and the bottoms by 110k or so (and I've parted 3 93's.) I think the later interiors wear better (dad's '99 looks good
at over 120k) but I don't know for sure if they fit. On samba a thread indicated that mods were needed to the seat
to slide on tracks but perhaps they meant regular tracks, nothing was needed to slide onto my '81 vintage swivels.
Do realize as well that the seats are a bit narrower (probably why the bolsters wear) and in my mind not quite
as comfortable, and are perhaps minimally taller. But they do lay back as you mention as I recall.
I really don't know in general, maybe time to move up IMHO. We camped 5 in a bay camper for years when I
was a kid, and I hated it when I got beyond about 5yo. In point of fact (and I find this unbelieveable now in some
regards) we bought a Wheelcamper pull camper and started towing it behind the '74 Westy. And that camper
was built like a tank compared to now days (solid ply for floor, walls, cabinets, etc) and weighed a solid 2000lb I'm
sure. I distinctly recall when I was about 7, and they had just completed I79 into WV, that we were going south
on the interstate and mom started telling dad how it was "handling funny" and he looked at the speedo and she
was doing 78mph and the camper was swinging all over the place.
To me if I had more than 4, I'd look for a CL deal on a little ole tiny 1000lb pop up and take it along. Could
go for an Eriba of course as well, I think a Puck goes about 800lb, couple on Samba now. Anyway works
great, you can leave it set up and drive off to explore, leave the family and go run to get something, pack your
stuff in it so you don't need to move everything to set up the beds, etc. A lot more sensible than a tent in
my mind in most ways unless you are backcountry offroading it. And when the kids are a bit older they
can have privacy in the camper while you relax in the bus or the other... Of course with a Subie you could
pull whatever you liked.
John
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe T. <vanagon85@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Cc:
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 5:46 AM
Subject: Re: Westy seating/sleeping: Questions for families of 5+
I've been thinking about a similar issue for my family of four for when we
need to sleep with the top down.
My daughters are small (8 and 5) so three can sleep in the downstairs bed.
My idea is to get front seats from a Eurovan and modify them to
fit. Eurovan seats fully recline, so I could recline the passenger seat
and have one of the kids sleep there. It would be tight, but everybody
would have a spot.
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