Most Practical RHD Tintop Interior Style

[reezvaan]

Ok this may sound a little crazy but that looks like the route I am going to take.

My 69er came with all incorrect seats, its a 8 Seater Walkthrough RHD Tintop, European bus. So I had to go for an interior and since I like them bone stock, I went for the original seats. I brought in complete set bought on here/eBay from UK to Pakistan, which has safely arrived (thanks to all the EBayers who helped them to be found/collected/posted) And now when its all here, I am thinking to put them in storage as I want a westy interior in it for more practical reasons.

I know there are different interior styles but which one is the most practical one for a RHD Tintop? Also why do you think its most practical?

And lastly, where do I find the plans to make my own as I have the luxury of getting these done locally cheaply instead of bringing an original one for an arm & a leg from UK.

Fridge/Sink/Hob etc., the original ones I can bring in from UK, no problem so i am only looking for ORIGINAL styles not custom ones, to give it the stock(ish) look.

Thanks!

 

[reezvaan]

so no one has an opinion? if so, this is 1st :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[bluenose]

I like just a rock n roll bed and nothing else personally.

I just use a portable cooker, that way I have the flexibility to just take it out the van if I need the space. Wouldn't want to cook inside it anyway with spitting fat and stuff, be like driving a stinking greasy spoon caf

 

[89Rallye]

Surely it's all really a personal choice as to what you want from the van, especially since your in the perfect position to create such a thing. Ie starting from scratch with a blank canvas.

I personally like the Devon interiors but the main reason for that is because of the removable swing out cooker.

I also like the Westy continental but only because it has a full width bed, don't really like the cooker placement on this though as I think it would of been better in the door way where the sink is, could f then been a swing out unit like the Devon.

 

[Dave.P]

Agree with above, had a 77 Devon with 3/4 bed and swing out cooker which was ace all round ,most of it quickly removable too ! but since having my Westy full width bed I wouldn't go back to 3/4 now. 3 people on the back seat is better for me, but also don't like the big sink unit by the door or the full height unit behind drivers seat as it restricts my view a bit.but i do like the swing out table ! This is the same as mine here..


Eventually I'll probably keep the back full width and 'Devon ' the front half with a removable rear facing seat behind the driver and a swing out cooker by the door ,cool box in between .

Whatever suits your needs ain't it :?:

 

[ozziedog]

I got an idea for you bud,, try and recreate the Westy interior you like but only in silouette with cardboard boxes, then see if you like the amount of restriction and claustrophobea that his creates, if you do, then fine but if you don`t then you need to go down the portable cooker and limited furniture route that quite a few of us have gone down, then use a gazebo or whatever on the side as most do. You`ll have more room in your bus when parked and when you`re just driving around, possibly a little less when enroute.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,But only possibly :mrgreen:

 

[Clem]

It really depends on your use. Is it proper camping trips or overnight crash outs? Just you , or a partner and kids? Etc etc.

If it were just me and it was an overnight van I'd have a stock microbus interior with z hinges and I'd use a portable stove and a cool box ... and wet wipes.

More complicated than that and I'd probably buy or recreate an early Devon interior.

 

[reezvaan]

Thanks everyone for your inputs.

Recreating a combo of Westfalia and Devon interior has crossed my mind tbh.
Westfalia for the same reason as it has full width bed and Devon because of its swing out cooker and all.

We're a small family of 03. Two adults and a 3yrs old.
Clem has pointed in another possible direction that I have considered as well, and I already have the z-bed hinges that I bought on here (though still have to put them on, I might be doing this over the next weekend to see how this works out.) But I am not really sure if it would be comfortable enough because I dont think z-bed hinges convert the rear bench into a bed at the right level of engine platform. or perhaps i will find otherwise once i am done installing the z-bed hinges?

I have to take Ozzie's point in consideration too, because I am going to run stock SP 1600 and weight and all is another consideration I have to take into account. Currently van has DP 1600cc in it but its the spare and not going to stay in forever. Stock SP 1600cc is out for a rebuild. I want to keep stock SP 1600cc for purist's mad reasons

so having said all the details, i want a practical but as "correct" as possible interior. i know there are possibly a thousand custom possibilities out there but there are very few "correct" ones. and its the correct ones i am after

can someone please point me in the direction of "Early", "Westfalia", "RHD" conversion pictures on here? I think I should have look at the early westfalia RHD conversions before i rush down to the westfalia/devon combo. thanks

 

[weeboll]

for what its worth as i went through similar thoughts before designing something simlpe and non stock:

1. a full width rear seat is much more useful than a narrow one - think rainy days in campervan with children = more space the better. especially in a pop top
2. a full width bed is much better for similar reasons - can sleep 2 adults and one kid easily in ours
3. a table is pretty essential
4. fitting every kid on campsite in the van is easier with a second bench seat behind the bulkhead
5. having to move everything off the shelf over the engine to put the bed up is a real pain.
5b. having to move to construct a bed by lowering the table and puttings slats out between seats is equally a pain if the bed is between rear sear and front bulkhead but at least the bikes/buggy/rucksacks can stay on the rear shelf
6. fridges in vans are more useful than cookers.

i ended up with a full width rear seat made from ply, two 'boxes' made from ply to go behind the front seats which are removeable for trips to the tip etc and a table which drops down to form the bed base between the seats - with some extra slats for between boxes and at end of table

i have thought about putting stove inside one of the boxes and then lifting it on top of the other one to making a cooking tower but not got there yet

finally - a singleport 1641 with ported heads, a mild cam and a slightly larger carb (31?) was the best engine i ever had and still looked completely stock (apart from the doghouse cooler which you'd be nuts not to change to imho)

 

[Bluesnailman]

I agree that the continental layout is really good, however I think the original westy with a bit of modification is better......

3/4 bed, westy wardrobe, sink - and I've replaced the buddy seat with a unit that looks just like the sink, but with a lifting top with modern smeg hob underneath. I use the hinges off a '74 cooker lid so that it lifts up and sideways.

3 weeks holiday for 2 people with no mess or clutter,no floating bags etc. got to be the way to go..........


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[easy]

Dood, mine is a Devon mix up! it has a full width r&r bed with some devon tables and cupboards etc, works like a charm for me and the wife! :mrgreen:

After 15 or so years of owning my bus, this is the one that works best for me, check out my interior here http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20&start=580" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:mrgreen:

 

[BARKING MARK]

Just a thought... There are a couple of books on interiors both by David Eccles of VW Camper and Commercial Magazine .one is called VW Camper-The inside story which covers professional conversions and the other is called Inspirational Interiors which covers bespoke and custom interiors. Loads of pictures and some amazing conversions have been done.
Hope this helps.

 

[SiDev]

I've had a Devon, a Devon Moonraker, a bespoke Reimo and looked long and hard for the Dormobile I have now. The Dormobile is the best to me as the cooker is in the front under the passenger seat leaving a load more storage space in the back main cabinet, you also get a sink and cool box. I replaced the original bed with a rock and roll which is quick and easy and gives room for a rear overhead locker from a Westfalia. Best thing for you to do is arrange to meet a few of us at a show and have a good look around at what would suit you best. I have a wife and 2 young kids and the Dormie works best for us. I have been in Westalias and it was just cupboards and bits everywhere, to me is was really clunky and as Ozziedog says, claustrophobic.