I have a 77 Westy Berlin with a 3/4 rnr bed and the wife really wants more seats in the back so we can head off in the van with our two and maybe one of their friends....along with a bigger full size rnr bed So it is making the Berlin a bit more like a Helsinki, hence a Berlinski. And before some smart ass pipes up why didnt you get a Helsinki - i didnt want one so get lost. I assume we need to mirror the bracket that attaches the current bed to the wheel arch, as now the second bracket also needs to attach in a similar fashion. Anyone know the best way to achieve this or any relevant threads. From looking at it I think I need to do the following: Get an additional bracket to attach bed to wheel arch. Do people sell these westy brackets for full size rnr bed? Will need to get some new bed boards with extended width, foam and covers. The front board will need replacing. I can repurpose my grill holes, lock but the the steel support on the top of this facia board will now be too short. Does anyone know if you can buy these or even if it will really matter that much beyond looking a bit unfinished? The side boards for my bed look like they are the same so should work when converting to full rnr. Any thoughts? I will post some photos later as the camper interior is currently hogging the dining room.
@rob.e @PeaSoup How did you do your 3/4 to full rnr bed Westy conv exactly? Did you get new hinges or work with the ones you had? Sounds like what I outlined above isnt far out and achievable with minimal grief. Peasoup : I like the shortening the cupboard to fit the seatbelt bracket - might have to do the same. Top idea.
@Cov1987 we reused the existing hinges, just mirror what you have on the other side of the van - you'll need wider boards / foam etc and a wider front panel. The metal strip that runs across the top of the front panel needs to be retained as it supports the weight of the bed/occupants- we just centred this up and it works fine like that. I ditched the wardrobe entirely (where @PeaSoup shortened his) as this makes fitting two proper three point belts easier - we bought two of the brackets @davidoft sells to fit these.. One of the OG lap belts is used in the middle so we can now carry three across the back belted properly.
Thanks for clarifying. I have 2 diferent style hinges; one fixes to the engine deck and the wheel arch, the other fixed to the engine deck only - I dont think it had any additinal fixings into the freezer/coolbox unit etc. Did you not worry about the latter, and if so what is it like for stability? Already have the seatbelt brackets from you know who - hoping to fit the first one next week before we go camping and the other for next year when hopefully we will be full width
tbh i can't remember. i don't recall adding anything new at the fridge end.. seems stable enough. you're welcome to come and take a look if you're not too far away (or passing through).
Thanks but I think I have worked it out. You can ptobably get away with it on the ex-fridge/coolbox end as there is still the engine deck fixing, however potentially a small loss in "sturdyness" as dont have the wheel arch fixing. As you say dont think that is a potentially huge problem. I prefer that to spending 60 quid on some repro hinges. I may make up a simple screw-on bracket to attach to the wheel arch and also the bed side board- mimicking what is on the other side as far as is possible. Thanks again. I think looking at yours, @PeaSoup and @Dicky build thread helped alot.
