I sleep with my head at the rear hatch and the foam pad in the rear (in
great shape BTW) is where my back rests on when sleeping, so there's not
really a problem there.  I know some people who sleep with their head
towards the front of the vehicle and yes, that would present a problem with
their back.  Eventually I'll probably order some velour or cloth material
from Carol at Sewfine and get some padding locally to "get 'r' done".  Do
you happen to remember the thickness of the foam pieces you used?

To be honest, the bottom bed is perhaps the most comfortable I've ever slept
on, comparing it with a "real" bed.  Lessee, the last time I slept on a
"real" bed was a few months back at a friend's in Phoenix (which will be
repeated when I go to Bug-O-Rama next month) and I kept waking up about
every 45 minutes.  Nothing hurting, just wasn't use to it.

Quit being a wuss and try camping in your Westy.  You might just like it.
:-)
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On 3/2/07, JordanVw@aol.com <JordanVw@aol.com> wrote:
jim..i dont know how you do it..  i would get claustrophobia living in a
westy for 8 years..     as far as the rear  sofabed...thats just regular
foam... and the upholstry is just stapled on..    i recovered a sofabed in a
westy a few yrs ago and i just went to a upholstry shop and they cut me some
new foam sections..i glued the foam to the plywood just like Westfalia-werke
did.. and then i got some velour upholstry and simply used the old upholstry
as a pattern...cut the new upholstry and stapled it on.. just like Westfalia
did. all and all it was pretty simple..and made a big difference in how the
interior looked.

your back will thank you!    sleeping on a worn out foam is like sleeping on
a bed mattress that is too soft..your back will suffer..

i still dont know how ya do it, though..

of course, this is coming from me... who has owned over 20 vanagons and
campers and never ONCE spent the night in any of them (never on purpose,
that is)
:<)

chris
'91 westy (i'll prolly never even use it for camping)
'84 sunroof
'85 doka
many others