Anyone got a camper van and very young kids?

[bohemianbint]

Am hoping to buy a VW this week, but the one I'm eyeing up has a very different layout to my old one. And last time I had one it was just me, but this time there's me, DH, DS1 who is 22 months old and am 31 weeks pregnant.

I'm just wondering where you physically put everyone; this van has a pop top but I don't think we could put DS up there just yet, would be terrified he'd fall out. The travel cot we have won't fit in with the rock and roll bed that's in there. He could sleep in between us, but

a) we'd have to all go to bed at the same time, and he's a 7pm kid, and

b) not sure how well that would work in practice.

Can you get teeny weeny travel cots? Any suggestions?

Just to say, we have a 1967 VW splitty called Bobby. All done up, with original Canterbury Pitt interior. Deep green and cream top.

We're selling him because we need the cash and also because with one kid aged 11 and another aged 14 months and us, it JUST DOESN'T WORK.

Let me know if anyone wants him - he is still lovely.

We bought a Bongo pop top in March and we love it. DC are 2 and 4 (pics on profile). We have installed bed boards and use them instead of the original 'ceiling', so that we can check on the DC whilst they sleep. We don't have any kind of net - they sleep with their heads about a foot from the edge and feet down the other end, and have not shown any sign of wriggling towards the opening.

So far DH and I have slept on the seats below, but we have a khyam awning (FAB!) that attaches to the side, so in better weather we will probably sleep in there, with van door open.

Off to Europe for 3 1/3 months in 7 weeks...so a BIG test for the bongo!

how much puppymonkey?
I'm in the market for my own van but limited budget

We have a VW T4 and have made an extra bed for a small one by buying a junior readybed and squishing it into the space where the driver's and passengers seats are (we use the small table top under the readybed to bridge the small gap between the seats). It is a tight fit (we have to let a little air out to get it to fit) and was intended for our 2 year old to sleep in because it makes an enclosed bed with no real way to fall out, but our 7 year old has claimed it for his own and sleeps really well on it.
Have been camping in a tent and now have van and we think it is the very best way to spend weekends and holidays.

Helga - what is a junior ready bed, can you link me?

And can anyone link me to these hammocks you can put nippers in?

Cheers muchly!

And would a safety net fix to a pop top?

Paddlechick, I'm afraid he's been valued at £14,000. He is pristine though!

We used to travel up to Scotland when we were kids with our neighbours in a VW camper van. There were 4 kids, 2 adults, 3 dogs, a few guinea pigs and a cat! I kid you not.

Apostrophe, that looks so much fun

We've got a Devon conversion... when DD1 was younger, she used to sleep on the bit behind the back seats (that forms part of the rock and roll bed iyswim) so it made a kind of little bedroom for her - we'd hang up a curtain too to make it really cosy and dark. Now she's 4 and we've got a 1 year old, so we haven't quite worked out the dynamics yet, but DP has cobbled together constructed a dodgy looking piece of plywood bed to go in the front over the seats. DD1 will sleep on that, and DD2 can go in the back and we'll sleep up top. Or me and the squawker will go out in the awning and DD1 and DP will have the whole van to themselves. Ah, we'll find a way somehow.

Sorry, I seem to be wittering on here...

Anyway, the main point is, just get the van - you'll love it (as you already know) and you'll find a way

puppymonkey, about 10k outta my price range then

apostrophe, are those babylegs i spy in your profile pics?! are you a sling mama?

well, 4 more sleeps for us then it's off on our next road trip.

i truly cannot wait!

{babylegs, yes they are! Slingmama? - well I really discovered slings too late for DS - bought an Ellaroo when he was 18 months! Before that I used a baby bjorn when he was small enough ('bout 3 weeks!), then just got tired arms for a year or so! Looking forward to baby number 3 (yet to be conceived!) so I can give ellaroo a full work out. Bought a Moby for a mate's new bub today...tempted to keep it }

Have a great Road Trip!

Wow Paddle, I just read down the thread - you're taking DD to Glastonbury!?

yeah Glasto next week and Latitude next month. can't wait!

Slings are a bit addictive LOL. I still use my Ergo for dd even tho she's 18kg and 97cm tall at the last count. Can't remember the last time I used a buggy and the next time certainly won't be Glasto!

I've put some new pics on my profile of our last jaunt......

nice van Paddlechick

BB you could also get a little canvas bunk that fits across the driver/passenger seats when needed (the side supports of the bunk pop into little cups that are fitted onto the body of the van). At your dcs' ages/weights they might be able to top and tail in one of these. Think they are fairly reasonably priced, and think you can get them at Just Kampers, I would link but my links never work.
The supports might need professional fitting, if so don't forget me! Very reasonable! But I am just south of London, you may be in Sutherland!

Just been catching up.

Only one thing to add really, about fitting seatbelts in a vw, or any other older vehicle for that matter.

I know you can buy DIY kits but it is a much better idea to get a professional to do it for you, although on occasion a little difficult to find someone to actually do the job.

In an aircooled VW, the petrol tank is perilously close to the bottom rear of the back seat and many a tank has been pierced by DIY seatbelt fitters. This is obviously bad news as it means a huge and expensive job to replace the tank. Also, it is possible to 'nick' the tank but not realise it and this could obviously be extremely dangerous.

In addition, fitting seatbelts to an older vehicle relies on them being securely anchored to the appropriate area of the bodywork. You will need to make sure that the bodywork and surrounding area are completely free of corrosion and then a strengthening plate must be welded on to the back of the point where the belt will be anchored. If this isn't done the belt could just rip a hole in the bodywork in the event of an accident.

Finally, make sure your rock'n'roll bed is securely anchored to the bodywork and that the mechanism is well maintained and not working loose. If your back seat has a lot of forward/backward play in it this can cause a childseat to slip out of the correctly fitted position.

Sorry, don't mean to be a panic merchant, but this is something I feel very strongly about - after all why bother going to all the trouble of fitting a belt if it isn't going to be safe anyway.

In some ways we are fortunate to have a tin-top as we have a double passenger seat in the front with 2 3-point belts and have had 2 3-points fitted in the rear. Ironically this means when DC3 arrives there will be plenty of room for all the carseats, but not enough room for us all to sleep without using the awning - doh!

thanks fullmoonfiend, just wish it was mine instead of H's

vwlady, is that your line of work then?

moosemama, good points. we currently put dd in the front and i sit on the bench seat at the back.

something to bear in mind tho.....

Good point moosemama. Would be very surprised if a DIY sealtbelt job passed an MOT test too. Seatbelt needs proper anchorage into appropriate points.
We add extra seatbelts to older campers on a regular basis - I have never come across anyone who has attempted to fit their own, bearing in mind they are transporting their own precious DCs!

X post Paddlechick.

Yes, I am co-owner with DH of a classic VW restoration co. I'm not a particular lover of the marque really, but seem to have ended up with a bit of a fleet of our own -
1963 Splitty
1972 Bay
1974 Beetle
1976 beetle (drag-racing beetle!)
1955 Oval (awaiting restoration).
My DCs adore anything VW. Dd(6) already has plans for her first Bay camper, which of course, Daddy will have ready the day she passes her test!
Personally, I don't even do a day trip without my 2 bed awning.

Quick update.
DH is just home from workshop - says that yesterday he fitted 4 seatbelts into the back of a Bay camper - 1 3 point, 2 lapbelts on the rock n roll bed, and 1 diagonal onto the buddy seat!
Apparently, the anchor points are usually already there in Bays.

Am back - have just collected the van and it's bloomin fabulous. Much nippier than my old 1972 bus as well!

Was chuffed to find there is one 3-point belt in the back, so that should do us for now. Still looking into the bed solution - VWLady, I would look you up but am in Manchester! Will look into the hammock thing though - I saw them on JustKampers but still not entirely sure how it would work, and not sure I want to start screwing things in. Would probably rather shell out for one of those rail things that keeps kids/luggage in.

Can't wait to get out in it this week!

how much did he charge for that VW if you don't mind my asking.

if h is going to be spending more time with dd in his van then i'd be interested in getting that work done.

Yep the anchor points are there from manufacture - unless like ours it started life as a panel van. But on a lower priced van, especially if you are new to the vw game its worth checking that there is no corrosion likely to affect these points. Obviously in your case your DH has loads of experience and is a professional who knows what he is doing and not a DIYer.

Believe it or not both we and our friendly neighbourhood vw guy have come across a few people who have fitted rear seatbelts (badly) themselves. Its not such a popular thing to try at home now, but a few years ago people were really keen to have a go themselves. Its fairly easy to buy eg. securon seatbelts online and 'try' to fit them yourself - but it really is a bad idea unless, like your DH, you know what you are doing.

I agree that poorly fitted belts would usually not pass an MOT, but, depending on the time of year you fit them, you could be using an unsafe belt for months before any problems are picked up by an MOT centre.

Anyway, I think we are both agreeing really, get the professionals, in for any job which relates to the safety of your LO's.

My boys are vw obsessed as well - DH and I would really like a change now - I feel that despite the useful double front seat a walk-though would be much more useful to us now and a pop-top would save my poor old back when I'm cooking! BUT, they won't hear of us getting rid of 'him'. They both have plans for driving Bays when they are old enough and have clear ideas of exactly what they will be like! Only 11 and 13 years for them to wait then!

Sorry, been out on the town for a couple of hrs.
Have quizzed dh and he says he charges £75 for a diagonal inertia and £60 for a lapbelt, prices include the belts.