Another Kombi Beach Question...

[BrianJ]

link

I just found this link to a place at Mudgeeraba, QLD that has purpose designed screens for the T5, but a bit more expensive than the sunscreen I mentioned.

http://www.topgear2go.com.au/product.aspx?id=40

Brian

[Gripper2111]

Brian,

Certainly more $$, i'll give your one a go first I think. I also turned up some old mozzie net material in the shed and some magnets from the $2 shop so will try that as well....

Mark

[tapsy]

mattress

Hi,

Was wondering if Beach owners were sleeping directly on their beds or using another thiner mattress in between for wear and tear and comfort etc.???

Mark

we finally had our first sleep in the Kombi, with the wool underlay, we both felt like we got hit by a truck both of us had a bad night, pins and needles, sore backs...we better look out for a mattress like BrianJ's he's road tested it and found it good. don't know if you have tried out yours yet gripper but i would before you head off somewhere

[BrianJ]

we finally had our first sleep in the Kombi, with the wool underlay, we both felt like we got hit by a truck both of us had a bad night, pins and needles, sore backs...we better look out for a mattress like BrianJ's he's road tested it and found it good. don't know if you have tried out yours yet gripper but i would before you head off somewhere

That's a pity.

BCF have ones that fold into 3 segments, but ours is an earlier stock type that can be rolled up and has cotton on both sides instead of vinyl on the back. I think both models have the same 2" foam in them.

We were surprised by how comfortable it is, almost preferring it to our $3000 postrapedic!!

Brian

[Gripper2111]

Hmmm, may need to look into the BCF option me thinks! There is one very close to me so I will check it out tomorrow. What size was yours Brian??

Cheers

Mark

[BrianJ]

Hmmm, may need to look into the BCF option me thinks! There is one very close to me so I will check it out tomorrow. What size was yours Brian??

Cheers

Mark

I forget the exact measurement, but there are not many matresses that fit the width when a fridge is installed on the drawer, and the BCF one is just slightly wider. I think I tried to find one without vinyl on the back as it would not shrink in width as easily to fit. I heard at the time that similair ones may be available from clark rubber.

Brian

[tapsy]

mattress

we slept with our heads up the back and our shoulders on the back platform it may be better the other way around with our heads up the front then our shoulders are on the seat?? as its softer? the foam in the back bit is quite thin, we looked at a 50mm latex mattress but quite dear ($350) but can cut it to shape, and it rolls up, we have time to work something out,

[jets]

We purchased our latex mattress overlay from Elite bedding on Port road at Woodville for just under $100 around 4 years ago, don't know what they would cost today. We always sleep with our heads at the rear. Tried the other way once only , pillows kept falling off the end of the bed. Always have the van level or with your head slightly higher if you can't avoid a slope.

[BrianJ]

sleeping

I agree with the previous two posters on the way to sleep. We usually sleep with heads to rear, as it is a simple matter to sit up and put your feet over the edge to get dressed, the other way you have to completely turn around. We did sleep heads to the front one night when the van was on the wrong slope, and it made no difference to comfort with the 2" foam overlay.

The other thing we try to consider is weight, as everything you add to your car affects fuel economy slightly. Although the kombi seems to be little affected by load in its power and economy.

We also leave at least one window open a bit as the humidity builds up during the night and can make it unbearable and condenses all over the windows.

One night we didn't need to use the shades in the country and could see a complete view of the moon and stars, that was pretty impressive.

Brian

[tapsy]

latex

We purchased our latex mattress overlay from Elite bedding on Port road at Woodville for just under $100 around 4 years ago, don't know what they would cost today. We always sleep with our heads at the rear. Tried the other way once only , pillows kept falling off the end of the bed. Always have the van level or with your head slightly higher if you can't avoid a slope.

Hi jets

rang Elite and for a double 1880 x 1370 (38mm) was $199 (better than clark rubber at $350) and they would cut it to shape for free! then we can cut around the fridge and other contours etc. It would then be about 1150mm wide and roll up easier in the back.
and add a custom cover for $50 although it would probably just go in a double quilt cover, won't rush in just yet, but thanks for the contact.

[jets]

Yes from memory ours didn't have a cover but my wife was able to make one. When we wanted to use the seat, we rolled it up & it fitted nicely behind the seat. Also ours is 1500 wide so the price has gone up a lot.

[tapsy]

the bed!

Hi

we finally got the latex overlay 37 mm, Elite Bedding cut it to shape and covered with a strong fire retard cover, ended up costing the $250, but super comfortable, like even on concrete you can kneel on it and you don't touch the bottom, even the more expensive memory foam when knelt on you go straight to the floor. We kept it only the seat width (1150mm) because we have the fridge on the cupboard like BrianJ and x 2m long and just cut around the aircon bit at the back that sticks out a bit. It is a bit heavy but rolls up quite good like a swag We had a sleepover in the carport and had a very good nights sleep
Can't wait for retirement 1468 days to go

[BrianJ]

mattress

That sound very comfortable, and I like the way you tested it in the garage. We couldn't really do that in our apartment lower carpark.

We are going to Stradbroke island at Cylinder beach for 4 days in a couple of weeks, so will be camped very close to the beach and sleeping in our kombi beach.

Should be very relaxing if the weather is nice.

Brian

[unemployed]

Fly screen fixed to glass with Black Gaffa Tape

I know this might sound a bit rough but it actually looks ok and works really well on the darker tinted rear sliding windows of the T5 Kombi Beach.

Make a square out of two inch Water Proof Black Gaffa Tape with inside dimensions of the square the same size as the window opening.

Lay down a square of fly screen material with outside dimensions one inch smaller than the outside of the gaffa tape square.

With four hands stick the pre-prepared sticky fly-screen squares to cover the sliding window opening on the outside of the van.

Mine have been on for 7 months so far and comments are that it still looks good (1mm of the white sticky is now visible at the edges). You can drive with the windows open and the fly-screen stays in place. My kids have pushed on it from the inside and it doesn't seem to have moved. Provides complete freedom of operation of the sliding windows. Amazing stuff that gaffa tape.

[BrianJ]

gaffa tape

Thanks for the idea, I have been thinking about this since my trip to Tasmania where there were many flies and mossies. I am currently using small sunscreens from supercheap, but they leave small gaps aound some corners.

Brian