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Hinge/Bracket Snapped on Top Bed

D

davo125

Messages
11
Location
Zurich, Switzerland
Vehicle
T6.1 Ocean 199 4Motion
Hi Folks,

When away at the weekend, I was putting pulling the upper mattress down in order to lower the roof to leave. However, a pack of playing cards had been placed on the ledge above the wardrobe which the bed sits on, not allowing the bed to sit into place correctly. When the bed came down there was a snap and a plastic hinge or bracket (not sure of the proper name) broke, meaning the bed wouldn't come down properly. I had to manoeuvre the bed around a bit so it would sit into place to allow me to lower the roof.

You can see in the picture where the the hinge is. It looks like it's a small bit of plastic that sits around a large screw which keeps it all in place. Does anyone know if this is easily replaced or the part can be purchased. I've already looked around but perhaps what I'm searching for is not worded correctly. I've reached out to my dealer too but if I could do it myself it would likely save a bit of money.

Second picture for attention :) On lake neuchatel in Switzerland at the weekend.

Cheers,
Dave

VW-California-top-bed-1.jpeg

PXL_20210618_164321715.jpg
 
Hi Folks,

When away at the weekend, I was putting pulling the upper mattress down in order to lower the roof to leave. However, a pack of playing cards had been placed on the ledge above the wardrobe which the bed sits on, not allowing the bed to sit into place correctly. When the bed came down there was a snap and a plastic hinge or bracket (not sure of the proper name) broke, meaning the bed wouldn't come down properly. I had to manoeuvre the bed around a bit so it would sit into place to allow me to lower the roof.

You can see in the picture where the the hinge is. It looks like it's a small bit of plastic that sits around a large screw which keeps it all in place. Does anyone know if this is easily replaced or the part can be purchased. I've already looked around but perhaps what I'm searching for is not worded correctly. I've reached out to my dealer too but if I could do it myself it would likely save a bit of money.

Second picture for attention :) On lake neuchatel in Switzerland at the weekend.

Cheers,
Dave

View attachment 80446

View attachment 80447
Firstly, before I look on a VW parts site. Could you update your vehicle details as it says “ Looking to buy “, and it would help to know which model and year?
Can you identify the part here.

 
Last edited:
Firstly, before I look on a VW parts site. Could you update your vehicle details as it says “ Looking to buy “, and it would help to know which model and year?
Can you identify the part here.

@WelshGas Thanks for the reply. Must update my settings in that case. Though I have a T6.1 4 motion Ocean Liberty, which we collected new in November 2020
 
@WelshGas Thanks for the reply. Must update my settings in that case. Though I have a T6.1 4 motion Ocean Liberty, which we collected new in November 2020
Plus I think it might be part 11 or at least in that area. I'll need to possibly put the roof up to take another look. Where does one buy these parts? Looks like it directs me to a Russian website
 
Plus I think it might be part 11 or at least in that area. I'll need to possibly put the roof up to take another look. Where does one buy these parts? Looks like it directs me to a Russian website
Once you’ve identified the Part number it will show you the VW Part number.
You could get your Dealership to order the part or do a Google search using the VW part number.

Here is one site, for Part 11.

 
Once you’ve identified the Part number it will show you the VW Part number.
You could get your Dealership to order the part or do a Google search using the VW part number.

Here is one site, for Part 11.

Thanks for the advice. Really appreciate it! I'll pop up the roof today and take a deeper look to confirm the part and hopefully have a functional top bed for our summer travels!
 
Thanks for the advice. Really appreciate it! I'll pop up the roof today and take a deeper look to confirm the part and hopefully have a functional top bed for our summer travels!
I
Once you’ve identified the Part number it will show you the VW Part number.
You could get your Dealership to order the part or do a Google search using the VW part number.

Here is one site, for Part 11.

I popped up the roof and had a look, with a couple of photo's attached. It looks like the piece that is broken is the connected to the end of part 15 or something similar but it sits into part 11, not actually part 11. I'm not sure if the parts are different on the new models (2020) but I can't find the exact match on the parts page. I'm probably just blind.
In the photo's, it's the underside of the black plastic part which sits into the white metal holder. The black plastic sits all the way around the screw holding it in place. Now that it's snapped it just pops up when I move the bed up or down :/
I have contacted my dealer but no reply yet.

PXL_20210623_140617528.jpg

PXL_20210623_140625689.jpg
 
I

I popped up the roof and had a look, with a couple of photo's attached. It looks like the piece that is broken is the connected to the end of part 15 or something similar but it sits into part 11, not actually part 11. I'm not sure if the parts are different on the new models (2020) but I can't find the exact match on the parts page. I'm probably just blind.
In the photo's, it's the underside of the black plastic part which sits into the white metal holder. The black plastic sits all the way around the screw holding it in place. Now that it's snapped it just pops up when I move the bed up or down :/
I have contacted my dealer but no reply yet.

View attachment 80593

View attachment 80594
Does the broken black connector plug into the end of the Bed Frame. Part 5
IMG_20210625_093018.jpg
 
Looking at that. the black part is held in the end of the long metal square tube with a rivet. I cannot recall any vw part that has been riveted in place being available as a separate item.
Looking at the diagram VW will want you to buy part 40 - ie the complete bed frame.

Have you got the bit that you think has broken off? I cant see anything broken.

Looking at what you have circled I think all you need to do is push the bed base back towards the rear of the van, the black plastic part has a rounded recess to its right hand end underneath & I think that is supposed to be sitting over the bolt ( part 78 on the diagram) to the left of your yellow circle. ( the recess is under your yellow line in the last photo)
 
I would concur with Andy,

it looks like the bed frame has been forced forward, try pushing the bed frame backward to see if the black hinge lug relocates on the pin.
see photo below showing direction push the bed frame and clearly showing the hinge pin not engaging with the black hinge lug.

C089AC4E-8575-42B0-A732-C958FF9698F1.jpeg
 
For clarification the pin should be against the black lug arrow

6B2A3705-273B-41D7-8CD5-C6A5C5C12347.jpeg
Edit, the black lug looks undamaged - did anything visible break off ?
 
For clarification the pin should be against the black lug arrow

View attachment 80603
Edit, the black lug looks undamaged - did anything visible break off ?
I've found the plastic that broke off. It does look like it would wrap around a screw, but perhaps not the whole way around.

1624710150830.png1624710183779.png1624710210612.png1624710234532.png

Also, I've got a photo of the other side

1624710276660.png
As you can see, it sits a bit more towards the back of the van. I've tried pushing the bed further back but it won't seem to sit tight. I can get the bed up and down but as it's not secured when in motion, it tries to shoot forward on the side that snapped.

The dealer has come back to me but hasn't confirmed yet if/what I need to replace. If I could just get the black plastic piece it would be idea but looks as though it might only come with the whole strut thing :/
 
Drill out the rivet and remove the black broken piece. Then glue it together and take it to a 3d printers and get them to scan it in and print one? Or could it be fixed somehow with a screw and washer?
 
Drill out the rivet and remove the black broken piece. Then glue it together and take it to a 3d printers and get them to scan it in and print one? Or could it be fixed somehow with a screw and washer?
This is an awesome idea. I hadn't thought of using a 3D printer.

My dealer just came back to me and shared an image that I haven't seen online so far.

1624864524308.png

It's part number 12. When I look at all the online parts pages, it's always missing number 12 which would explain why I couldn't see it :/
 
That’s got t be good news, if it has its own part number it should be available on its own.
 
Exactly, and apparently they have one in the workshop! Delighted and thanks for all the input. If I can get my hands on the full diagram they showed me, I'll post it here as it looks like it would be useful!
Davo did you find the part number as the same just happened to us !
 
Davo did you find the part number as the same just happened to us !
Yep, so in all the online versions of the top bed diagram I couldn't find the number but my garage sent me a snippet of their diagram.
1629183915742.png

It was piece number 12. One of the issues of installing it myself was that in order to fix the rivets on the side, you need to remove the canvas in the roof. My garage were great and said it was still under warranty so they did it for me at no cost. But it was trickier than it looked initially.
 
Yep, so in all the online versions of the top bed diagram I couldn't find the number but my garage sent me a snippet of their diagram.
View attachment 83235

It was piece number 12. One of the issues of installing it myself was that in order to fix the rivets on the side, you need to remove the canvas in the roof. My garage were great and said it was still under warranty so they did it for me at no cost. But it was trickier than it looked initially.
This site is so helpful. The same has just happened to me but couldn’t see anything under the bed frame to put pressure on this to snap it. Could anyone let me know that the dealer did indeed sort this under warranty. Thanks
 
This site is so helpful. The same has just happened to me but couldn’t see anything under the bed frame to put pressure on this to snap it. Could anyone let me know that the dealer did indeed sort this under warranty. Thanks
Hey there, I'm afraid I don't know what magic they did to ensure it was covered under warranty. They just took it and said as we'd only had the van a few months it would be covered. It could be just their way of being nice but I wasn't complaining due to the money I've given them :) You could give your dealer a call and ask if it might be covered or not. I think it took them around an hour to do the work and the piece itself only cost 10 Euros
 
Yep, so in all the online versions of the top bed diagram I couldn't find the number but my garage sent me a snippet of their diagram.
View attachment 83235

One of the issues of installing it myself was that in order to fix the rivets on the side, you need to remove the canvas in the roof.

That isn't right, if you search for the thread about upgrading the bed springs, the whole bed base can be extracted in one piece relatively easily, the pop rivet that holds the hinge can then be done easily outside the van with no need to touch the canvas.
 
Yep, so in all the online versions of the top bed diagram I couldn't find the number but my garage sent me a snippet of their diagram.
View attachment 83235

It was piece number 12. One of the issues of installing it myself was that in order to fix the rivets on the side, you need to remove the canvas in the roof. My garage were great and said it was still under warranty so they did it for me at no cost. But it was trickier than it looked initially.
Do you know the size of the rivets (pos. 69). I'm seeking information on DIY change of hinge on our new Ocean. Greetings Nich
 
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