I've been daydreaming a pop-ou side panel for a very long time. I even
tried to get a dual van to turn the left side into a pop-out. Deal on
double door didn't work out so project got shelved.

The second idea was to make a fiberglass copy of the side and use that
as a pop-out.

Third idea was use the slider as the pop-out. I've seen pics of the
one Alistair is referring to. That one is erected at the campsite.
It's made of wood. Looks like they use it as an area to leave their
shoes when camping and as a portapotti room at night.

After seeing Otmar's stretch, I thought the mow useless extra slider
can be made into another hatch with a tent or use as a slide-out.
Stretching would be another expensive project for another dream
sequence.;-)

Fourth idea was the slide the rear door. I've seen these for sale in
Europe. Most are crude and homemade looking. The one which was painted
blue and for sale on eBay was a one piece non-collapsible affair. The
idea has possibilities but don't like having to deal with engine
access issues.

Fifth idea was to apply the same concepts to a Doka. Thinking it
wouldn't be so hard since I am presently having 4th doors installed
anyway. After some reflection, I've decided it is am impractical idea
for me. I don't camp and if I did, something on the cargo bed is more
usable.

BenT
Sent from my dream slide-out

On May 19, 2010, at 7:00 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>  This occured to me recently while on my bizarre long-mile/short-term
> daily commute.  I can  easily see my spring-time jobsite ( a new
> house,
> remember those?) from our porch..but it is across the Gorge, on the
> south
> side of the Columbia River in Oregon and I live on the Northshore, in
> Washington.  My place and the jobsite are both about half-way
> between the
> nearest bridges across the Columbia, so getting over there by
> Vanagon is
> about 45minutes.  Some 'idle time' to come up with hare-brained ideas
> like....
>
>  Has anyone ever tried putting a 'pop-out' or tip-out or whatever
> the RV
> crowd calls those fancy slide out expanders that seem to be all the
> rage in
> motorhomes and 5th wheel trailers now a days?  It'd be nice to maybe
> put
> something in the rear of the van...we have about 5' across, inside,
> now.  A
> pop-out or maybe two, one each side, that let you sleep cross wise
> inside
> would be nice.  Westies have that rear  cabinet-box on the drivers
> side
> anyhow.
>
>  I know, probably silly.  But we do all kinds of really silly other
> stuff
> to campmobiles....Like those with the extra big full length+
> plastic tubs
> on the tops of some American vans, the Adventure wagons with the
> very tall
> tops, the Westie pop up roof, the Alaskan telescoping slide-in truck
> bed
> campers, some of the 'expando' low-boy trail behind camping
> trailers...
>
>  Just an idle idea, though I plan on taking a closer look at how the
> mechanisims work in motorhomes and trailers next time I get the
> chance..
>
>  Don Hanson