16

Show off your projects here! / Re: '99 EV GLS Camping Rig

« on: October 12, 2016, 09:28:34 pm »

Still to start/finish:
Shower: no pics yet. We'll be using a portable propane-powered hot-water heater, and probably whatever spray nozzle comes with that kit. The shower "pan" is a plastic 26"x30" washing-machine drain pan I picked up at Lowes for $25. The side walls of the pan are about 2" high and will allow a drain to be mounted in the side. An electric pump will be used to drain the pan into a grey-water tank. I need to fab a rectangular aluminum "halo" which will mount to the hatch to serve as a curtain "rod" to enclose the shower.

Toilet: haven't purchased yet. I like the features of the Thetford Curve, but its odd shape will probably make packaging the toilet (among the other camp equipment) a challenge. I will probably opt for a model that is more "square".

Rear Rack: I plan to fabricate a swing-out rear rack. I'm considering using 3/16" (or 1/4" if it fits) plate that sandwiches the rear pillars above the brake lights, and turns 90-degrees at the side of the hatch, extending rearwards to locate a hinge on each side of the hatch. The rack will be composed of 2 swing-outs, which can be fastened in the center of the hatch (I figured I would mount that interface, secure the ends of the 2 swing-outs in the middle of the hatch, where the VW emblem currently resides)...hopefully that makes sense? The driver's side rack/swing-out will hold the spare tire; the passenger side swing-out will hold vertical bike racks, and a 10 lb propane tank (tall and narrow). The passenger side rack will swing out 180 degrees and can hold a counter-top (under the extended awning) for the Coleman camp stove after bikes have been removed.

Countertop: currently considering ways to mount a counter-top for food-prep to the open sliding door. I have a few options, more on that later.

Water tanks: I need to mount fresh-water and grey-water tanks to the chassis. The relocation of the spare tire should free up the spare-tire well for at least 1 of these tanks. There's real-estate elsewhere under the van...need to crawl around, measure, research, and measure some more.

I have 4 weeks.

17

Show off your projects here! / Re: '99 EV GLS Camping Rig

« on: October 12, 2016, 08:59:03 pm »

20"x60" cargo slide by MOR/Ryde, purchased from Tweety's RV. I will construct an insulated cabinet using marine-grade plywood and foam insulation boards to house a cooler, camp utensil storage, and a sink.

I'm not keen on the overhang above the step. I may modify the interior panel to recess the far end of the slide and mount it flush with the step at the door. I was also hoping that the slide would extend further than it does...it's not bad as it is, will not affect access to the sink, and would only marginally affect access to the cooler. I could modify the stop to allow it to extend further, but I may need to fabricate telescoping legs to support it outside of the van. The goal is to have the kitchen/bathroom functional by mid-November (2-day endurance MTB race in Pisgah, NC), so what I'd like to do may get postponed until later this winter.

18

Show off your projects here! / Re: '99 EV GLS Camping Rig

« on: October 12, 2016, 08:55:57 pm »

Smittybuilt awning (an ARB clone), mounted to the Yakima rack using SNap-ARound mounts.

19

Show off your projects here! / Re: '99 EV GLS Camping Rig

« on: October 12, 2016, 08:54:12 pm »

Kumho 225/65r16 tires on et42 steel wheels. Bus Depot add-a-room tent on the rear hatch will enclose the shower and toilet when in the camp.

20

Show off your projects here! / '99 EV GLS Camping Rig

« on: October 12, 2016, 08:39:50 pm »

OK, not a weekender or Westy, and unless I find a donor pop-top for a song and dance, it likely will never be. But it's an EV, and it has to meet our needs for camping and MTB'ing. The family and I will still be sleeping in tents, but the plan is to have a rolling kitchen/bathroom to make extended and/or dirty trips more convenient, as well as haul the camping and biking equipment.

'99 GLS with some MV seats installed by the previous owner. High miles, cheap...for some reason, I gravitate towards this.

21

Share your adventures! / Re: Official random Van pictures! Post a picture of stay out!

« on: October 10, 2016, 06:18:36 pm »

In (3 hours) preparation for hurricane Matthew, we "evacuated" Charleston for a 5-day camping trip upstate. I hope the rest of our Southeastern neighbors fared well!

22

Westfalia / Re: MV Rear Seat Latch/Catch

« on: October 02, 2016, 03:37:19 pm »

Let me know!
I appreciate it,
J

23

Westfalia / Re: MV Rear Seat Latch/Catch

« on: October 01, 2016, 07:51:18 pm »

A little bit of searching goes a long way...I found some posts Cole contributed to a Samba thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7552890

This answers my question looks like I'll be searching for a set of MV latches.

24

Westfalia / MV Rear Seat Latch/Catch

« on: October 01, 2016, 01:04:17 pm »

I have a 99 GLS with MV seats installed by the previous owner. The seat back on the rear seat doesn't latch, and it appears the catches on both sides do not extend out far enough to insert into the latch. Can anybody confirm whether these catches are different between the GLS and MV models, or whether i can simply space the catch out with washers?
Thanks!
J

25

Tires and wheels! / Re: The ultimate tire and wheel guide thread!

« on: September 29, 2016, 11:14:38 am »

Thanks!

[Edit]
After staring at the wheels a bit longer, I decided the offset was bugging me. I tried to swap them onto my A4 to see how the Audi wheels looked/fit on the EV, but the Jetta wheels wouldn't clear the shocks on the A4.
Fortunately the spare Audi wheel fit the EV; I liked that offset much better. So, I opted for a set of 6.5" et42 steel wheels and 225/65r16 tires.
[/edit]

[Edit 2] Here's a pic...

[/Edit]

26

Tires and wheels! / Re: The ultimate tire and wheel guide thread!

« on: September 28, 2016, 11:03:18 pm »

Quick question about wheel load ratings...I recently purchased a Eurovan GLS which was equipped with 17" wheels from a VW Jetta. Obviously not a heavy-weight, but I will kit it out with 4 bikes, camping gear, and 20-gallons of water for the occasional camping/biking trip (4 people). I'm concerned these wheels may not be strong enough, however I see others running Passat and S4 wheels on heavier Weekenders, etc. Is this a valid concern, or should they run fine with a suitable tire (looking at the Nokian mentioned earlier)?

Thanks,
J