Here are a few very modest modifications/additions I�ve made to my �82 Westy
recently. 

- installed a pop top skylight. Got a clear plastic skylight from Trevor,
The SkyLight Guy, scrounged the seal and lift mechanism from a wrecker and
ended up making the hinges myself from some stainless channel (heating,
bashing and grinding). The vent made a big difference in the amount of
condensation formed on the pop top roof when sleeping on the upper bunk.

-For the last year or so I have been using 2 small (size of a box of
matches) bike lights as reading lights for the upper bunk. They are �Planet
Bike� brand, single white LED units. They emit a sexy blue-tinged white
light, narrow focused beam, that is quite good for reading by. They are
attached to the transverse metal tube of the pop-top lifting mechanism as if
it were a bike�s handlebars.
I am going to buy at least 2 more, they are a great buy at around Can$9.00
each.

-Found a few more uses for the strong rare earth magnets I purchased from
Lee Valley Tools. Great for holding curtains back, or the front windshield
curtain in place, slip one into  a box of kleenex to secure it to the
underside the storage trough, glued one to the back of a Planet Bike 3 LED
(yellow) bike light - for a positionable source of �battle stations
lighting� that is surprisingly useful.

-Bought a cheap foam mattress pad from Zellers, a double, needed only minor
trimming to fit the upper bunk. Wavy, waffle pattern, only about 1.5� thick,
but makes the bunk much more comfy. Stores folded up behind the folded upper
bunk.

-Anyone else hate the screeching noise generated by the metal on metal
contact of the hinge unit of the upper bunk when the bed is unfolded? I cut
a narrow strip of 1.5mm thick telfon and using one of the screws attaching
the hinge the van, I installed it on the wear surface of the hinge (both
left and right hinges). Now the bunk folds out smoothly and quietly.

-Took a tip from Phaedra Savage and bought some pile material (heavy weight)
to go over the mattress pad. Got (not that I had much choice) some in a
chocolate colour that matches the brown trim on the westy cabinets. Luxury!

-Second year of using a small (30 A/hr.) gel cell lead acid battery as an
aux. Mounted beside the main battery and in front of the right hand side
tail light. Works perfectly well for our needs.

-New no-see-um netting in canvas. My wife followed Dave Baker�s posted
instructions and had no problems instlling the new mesh. We had already
glued no-see-um netting over the existing netting (no-butterfly netting)
that used for the rear hatch. Now have to make a screen for the sliding
door.

-Second or third the motion to endorse brighter (halogen) back-up lights.
However I have mixed feelings about the back-up beeper that I installed (was
a cheap unit given to me, originally supposed to mount on rear license
plate). Sometimes you wish you could shut it off.

Couple of old mods I still find useful:

-12V cpu fan in the fridge, my version of the battery powered �Fridgemate�.
-my H4 headlights with 100/80 watt bulbs (upgraded wiring, relys etc)
-250 watt halogen spot (aviation, have it on good authority that this
paarticluar model us sed to illuminate the tail fin of 747s etc) in a nice
old heavy chrome housing (lucky Sally Ann find, 4 of them, 2 had red bulbs
installed). Mounted above the front bumper using a simple bent aluminium
piece and the hidden 3 holes on the bumper �subframe�. Also separately
fused, powered and relayed.

Alistair

albell@uvic.ca
'82 Westy, diesel=>I4 gas

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