Club 80-90 Forums

hi all
i have a twin slider '85 caravelle with a full width original bench seat in the back. it's not rock and roll, but the back folds forward.
was wondering if anyone has a similar situation and has made this work for sleeping / any ideas to make this a bed, i just can't afford a decent r&r and i'd like to keep the bench.
would love some pictures if poss
cheers

Hi,
I looked into this and found this product..http://www.camperstuff.co.uk/Site/Micro_bed.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I emailed the bloke and he said it wouldn't work in t25 without modding but he did say there was t25 version made
by someone else who's name escaped him. I couldn't find any reference to it.
It's not exactly budget though.

There's another old product called Huls camping hinges see about 2/3rds down
http://www.vwtype3and4club.org.uk/forum ... php?t=2360" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There must be a modern version of that.
You'd be lucky to find some.

Good luck.

thanks very much, those hinges look like a good idea - i'll look into them.
i might have to just settle for some kind of wooden frame with cushions to extend the length of the folded seats, but those look like good options.
cheers

ive just picked up a orig carvelle gl 2 seat bench , im going to try to use my exsiting rock and roll hinges and graft it onto the seat frame. ill take some pics when i do it, in the next few weekends.

http://www.camperstuff.co.uk/Site/Micro_bed.html

That's cool, I'd love something like that for our Caravelle. Does anybody know if they are out there?

jim potter wrote:ive just picked up a orig carvelle gl 2 seat bench , im going to try to use my exsiting rock and roll hinges and graft it onto the seat frame. ill take some pics when i do it, in the next few weekends.

I'd be very interested in the results from this

think i will probably heading down the same route as jedthespread - pics here on the wiki
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fi ... e_bed1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

seems cheaper and simpler than switching everything for r&r or modding the existing stuff.
will post updates when i get round to sorting it out!

cshots wrote:think i will probably heading down the same route as jedthespread - pics here on the wiki
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fi ... e_bed1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

seems cheaper and simpler than switching everything for r&r or modding the existing stuff.
will post updates when i get round to sorting it out!

This is what I've been doing slowly, but the end result is not long enough to be a bed. I am trying to work out how to extend it.
Keep us posted on your efforts!

thought length might be a problem, but maybe some form of fold out table or a unit with extensions that can sit in front of the bench seat and have mattress cushions resting on it?
will let you know when i make progress (might be a while - bodywork comes first )

ive lost the rear 24" of my bed as its garaged off for the dog etc and other stuff so i drop the r &r as normal and i have fabricated another section of bedframe with a 6mm mdf top , this is hinged so it sits under the rear seat squab so r & r down then lift cusion and fold out the extra section it also has a build in fold out leg/support and thats it job done .sleeps 2 with no issues for the last 4 odd years, will post a picky or two up ,
mm

picking up the metal this week, then ill be busy with a grinder and welder.. ill take some pics as i go , fingers crossed it all works.

I don't know how rare they are in GB, but over here in Germany, original full width caravelle R&R bench beds pop up occasionally on fleabay. They were a factory option for the caravelles. Here's one being offered right now (seller is offering it as a multivan bench, but it is a caravelle one. He also has the bed extension and other seats in matching fabric).
http://www.ebay.de/itm/VW-Bus-T3-Schlaf ... 2a1b9c30d9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Only thing that needs to be changed is the position of the pins securing the backrest.

Caravelle hinge sets were available via VW Classic parts not so long ago (maybe 18 months) they may even still be on catalogue. When I enquired they were about 130 Euro + tax and only 8 Euro shipping!!! Worked out at around £180 iirc

If you want the part number to enquire it's 253 885 161 A (without the A you'll get the Multivan one and it's about 95mm narrower!)

You will still have to cut off fixed brackets, maybe drill a few holes and fix nuts in the base and backrest (best to remove covers and tack-weld on)

Search for the "The all new Caravelle Z-bed thread" where I did a load of multivan-to-caravelle r'n'r frame mods.