Well, I got a response from Bluebird...they wanted to know how big THE piece of fabric was. I thought that they would have known this, but am hoping that maybe they put the Bay fabric in my parcel by mistake
I have sent off all THE dimensions I can possibly take fromteh fabric and the door - flat THE fabric is 103.5cm, and with the poles inserted is 102cm from edge to edge. The centree point from the hole inteh A pillar to a point that they suggest is far enough inside THE door edge seal is 102cm, so the fabric is about 4-5cm short if it's to be as tight as a nat's chuff...
I think that they fbric has been stitched wrong, as if you unpick the stitching on the sleeves for the poles you can gain 12cm of fabric and still have a sleeve large enough for the pole
Anyway, they haven't come back to me yet so will be chasing tomorrow...
dirtygertie wrote:1. go to a caravan 'bits' shop and buy 4 bunk brackets (or from fleabay)
2.go to B&Q (or any other hardware retailer) and buy 2 lengths of 2" wardrobe poles
3.get some fabric of your choice (tip, generally the width of fabric is 140cm - this should be enough to go across. just measure between your poles, double it and add a little on for seams and 'hang' in the bunk.
attach brackets above seatbelt mounts and on door pillars - you may need to cut the corner off the ones on the door pillars with a hacksaw to follow the line of the windscreen - also, use washers to 'pad' out the bottom of the brackets so that they are vertical (the van slopes inwards towards the top)
cut poles to length and use a rasp to take the sharp edges off - you will need different lengths front and back so make sure you mark at least one of them so you know the difference.
make the bunk by sewing the fabric into a tube shape; making sure that the seam of the tube is in the middle, sew along outer edges for the poles. you can strengthen it again by sewing along the raw edges which will be either end of the bunk - it'll be stronger as you'll have doubl
all of the above shouldn't cost you above £20.....my son is almost 13 and can still sleep in his bunk (albeit with his feet poking out of the window!!)
willard wrote:Well, I got a response from Bluebird...they wanted to know how big THE piece of fabric was. I thought that they would have known this, but am hoping that maybe they put the Bay fabric in my parcel by mistake
I have sent off all THE dimensions I can possibly take fromteh fabric and the door - flat THE fabric is 103.5cm, and with the poles inserted is 102cm from edge to edge. The centree point from the hole inteh A pillar to a point that they suggest is far enough inside THE door edge seal is 102cm, so the fabric is about 4-5cm short if it's to be as tight as a nat's chuff...
I think that they fbric has been stitched wrong, as if you unpick the stitching on the sleeves for the poles you can gain 12cm of fabric and still have a sleeve large enough for the pole
Anyway, they haven't come back to me yet so will be chasing tomorrow...
Well, finally got an answer...."place pole in A pillar and pull across to hole in B pillar just behind the door edging, insert and then pull the other end over" I know this, but the fabric don't stretch that far...I can't even get THE pole to the edge of the door frame
I'm gonna give it onw more try - stretch the damn life out of it and then speak to Bluebird again. Really not that impressed for the money, but don't want to send it back cos I've drilled THE A pillar.
Look slike I'm gonna be breaking out the sewinf machine. I will send Bluebird some pictures to prove a point if it still don't stretch far enough and ask them if the trades description was correct
willard wrote:Well, I got a response from Bluebird...they wanted to know how big THE piece of fabric was. I thought that they would have known this, but am hoping that maybe they put the Bay fabric in my parcel by mistake
I have sent off all THE dimensions I can possibly take fromteh fabric and the door - flat THE fabric is 103.5cm, and with the poles inserted is 102cm from edge to edge. The centree point from the hole inteh A pillar to a point that they suggest is far enough inside THE door edge seal is 102cm, so the fabric is about 4-5cm short if it's to be as tight as a nat's chuff...
I think that they fbric has been stitched wrong, as if you unpick the stitching on the sleeves for the poles you can gain 12cm of fabric and still have a sleeve large enough for the pole
Anyway, they haven't come back to me yet so will be chasing tomorrow...
dirtygertie wrote:1. go to a caravan 'bits' shop and buy 4 bunk brackets (or from fleabay)
2.go to B&Q (or any other hardware retailer) and buy 2 lengths of 2" wardrobe poles
3.get some fabric of your choice (tip, generally the width of fabric is 140cm - this should be enough to go across. just measure between your poles, double it and add a little on for seams and 'hang' in the bunk.
attach brackets above seatbelt mounts and on door pillars - you may need to cut the corner off the ones on the door pillars with a hacksaw to follow the line of the windscreen - also, use washers to 'pad' out the bottom of the brackets so that they are vertical (the van slopes inwards towards the top)
cut poles to length and use a rasp to take the sharp edges off - you will need different lengths front and back so make sure you mark at least one of them so you know the difference.
make the bunk by sewing the fabric into a tube shape; making sure that the seam of the tube is in the middle, sew along outer edges for the poles. you can strengthen it again by sewing along the raw edges which will be either end of the bunk - it'll be stronger as you'll have doubl
all of the above shouldn't cost you above £20.....my son is almost 13 and can still sleep in his bunk (albeit with his feet poking out of the window!!)
I'll try to get in later to take pics
Any luck with the pics??
Planning on camping this weekend so will make sure I take some & post
Karen x
We're in the stickiest situation since Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a sticky bun. -hmmmmm
dirtygertie wrote:1. go to a caravan 'bits' shop and buy 4 bunk brackets (or from fleabay)
2.go to B&Q (or any other hardware retailer) and buy 2 lengths of 2" wardrobe poles
3.get some fabric of your choice (tip, generally the width of fabric is 140cm - this should be enough to go across. just measure between your poles, double it and add a little on for seams and 'hang' in the bunk.
attach brackets above seatbelt mounts and on door pillars - you may need to cut the corner off the ones on the door pillars with a hacksaw to follow the line of the windscreen - also, use washers to 'pad' out the bottom of the brackets so that they are vertical (the van slopes inwards towards the top)
cut poles to length and use a rasp to take the sharp edges off - you will need different lengths front and back so make sure you mark at least one of them so you know the difference.
make the bunk by sewing the fabric into a tube shape; making sure that the seam of the tube is in the middle, sew along outer edges for the poles. you can strengthen it again by sewing along the raw edges which will be either end of the bunk - it'll be stronger as you'll have doubl
all of the above shouldn't cost you above £20.....my son is almost 13 and can still sleep in his bunk (albeit with his feet poking out of the window!!)
I'll try to get in later to take pics
Any luck with the pics??
Planning on camping this weekend so will make sure I take some & post
In true blue peter stylie you will need:
4 caravan bunk brackets (available online or most caravanny shops)
2 lengths of 2" wardrobe pole (I bought 2 meter poles and cut them down)
3 meters of the fabric of your choice will be plenty
the rear brackets are just below the seatbelt mount
the bottom of the bracket has been 'padded' out with a couple of washers so that it sits vertical against the slope of the van
I've cut the corner off the front brackets to allow for the windscreen shape. it still feels sturdy enough with 2 self tappers. it does protude a little beyond the pillar but isn't too obtrusive.
the finished product is strong enough to hold my 13 year old son and I would expect it to last for a while yet.....the only problem we have is that he's now longer than the width of the van!!!
Karen x
We're in the stickiest situation since Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a sticky bun. -hmmmmm
Well, I broke out the sewing machine. Gave up with Bluebird...shan't be buying anything from theminteh future
Unpicked one edge and restitched in about 5minutes. Then out to the van, put int eh front pole, pulled back (so it now reached the B pillar) drilled and fitted. Job done
Pretty miffed with Bluebird as THE fabric was no where near wide enough to reach the B pillar regardless of it being the "right one". Lesson learnt. Be warned though if thinking of buying one...for less money and some inginuity you can do as demonstrated above and get the same result.
Made and fitted ours today as per the dirtygertie guide.
Pics to follow
Cheers
dirtygertie wrote:
Doctor Foster wrote:
dirtygertie wrote:1. go to a caravan 'bits' shop and buy 4 bunk brackets (or from fleabay)
2.go to B&Q (or any other hardware retailer) and buy 2 lengths of 2" wardrobe poles
3.get some fabric of your choice (tip, generally the width of fabric is 140cm - this should be enough to go across. just measure between your poles, double it and add a little on for seams and 'hang' in the bunk.
attach brackets above seatbelt mounts and on door pillars - you may need to cut the corner off the ones on the door pillars with a hacksaw to follow the line of the windscreen - also, use washers to 'pad' out the bottom of the brackets so that they are vertical (the van slopes inwards towards the top)
cut poles to length and use a rasp to take the sharp edges off - you will need different lengths front and back so make sure you mark at least one of them so you know the difference.
make the bunk by sewing the fabric into a tube shape; making sure that the seam of the tube is in the middle, sew along outer edges for the poles. you can strengthen it again by sewing along the raw edges which will be either end of the bunk - it'll be stronger as you'll have doubl
all of the above shouldn't cost you above £20.....my son is almost 13 and can still sleep in his bunk (albeit with his feet poking out of the window!!)
I'll try to get in later to take pics
Any luck with the pics??
Planning on camping this weekend so will make sure I take some & post
I know this, but the fabric don't stretch that far...I can't even get THE pole to the edge of the door frame 
