Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 11:58:57 -0400
Reply-To: "Carlen, Gregg" <Gregg.Carlen@DYNCORP.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Carlen, Gregg" <Gregg.Carlen@DYNCORP.COM>
Subject: Re: camping/parts list
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Of course there's the 'What do you carry in your van' that is online
(http://www.vanagon.com/info/what/).
I usually carry enough to make sure I can not only get home, but perhaps
save the weekend as well. I carry, besides a cell phone and some food, my
Bentley, enough tools and parts to replace the following: all three fan
belts, change the oil, fuel filter, major (accessible) coolant hoses, spare
rotor, cap and wires, throttle cable, a GOOD spare tire and wheel bearings.
If it comes down to one of those failing, I'll try to save the weekend. If
its more that that, I'll try to do a temp fix and/or get a shop to fix, but
realize that I've probably lost the weekend and the only focus is to return
home. Oh yeah, I also carry duct tape and bailing wire. I usually have the
on-board water tank full should I need to have emergency water for the
coolant system.
The key thought I always have when I travel in my van is try to relax and
enjoy things. If I realize I'm going to loose the weekend to the van
breaking down, I accept it and don't try to salvage the 'entire' weekend as
well. I've spent plenty of weekends 'camping' on the side of the road, just
so I could get some relaxation for part of the weekend. I've cut short trips
due to the van quitting on me such as a 8 hour trip became a 2 hour trip and
I just camped in a different place than I was originally planning because I
lost 4 hours in repairs. Still had a good weekend, just a different location
than originally planned.
Changing the subject, do you have any pictures of some of the upgrades
you've done? The extra 12v lights and compass are on my list of things to
do.
Gregg
85 Westy (203k, mostly stops where I tell it to).
-----Original Message-----
From: woody [mailto:vwwoody@HOTMAIL.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2001 11:41 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: camping/parts list
Hey All,
I'm about to set off on my first real camping trip in a vanagon
(I've been camping for years in splitties).I'm off to Somerset Wisc. for a
long weekend to see Phil Lesh and friends and String Cheese Incident.I've
done alot of work to my 89 Westy and I'm confident in it's performance.In
the last few months I've rebuilt the brakes , flushed and
bleed the cooling system, exhaust seems ok., tuned her up, she runs very
well, I've got the fridge to work on all three settings etc etc...However
I'll admit my ignorance to these waterboxers and wondered if anybody has a
list of parts which they carry with them on road trips which a weekend
warrior,like myself, could use in a pinch ? (ie. I'm not going to rebuild
the heads on the side of the road)
Thanks in advance !!!
Some creature comforts I've added since buying the "bus".
1)additional fuse panel under sink
2)12v hella marine fan over bed and one in front cab
3)12v. light in rear hatch area and in one in the upper bunk
4) Ritchie marine compass on dash, which I wired it's light to the headlight
switch
5) Aiwa c.d./ mp3 player and new speaks
6)12v. accessory plug ins in sink cabinet
more to come....
I'm planning a Chicago to Seattle(Olympic Park)camping trip this August.
Any cool camp grounds any of you know of in the great state of Washington ??
woody
"keep on pushin'''
http://www.dreamwater.com/dbg
Der Busbesitzer Gruppe's home page, a Neato chapter
89 westy "the couch"
64 kombi slow (big nut)
61 panel slower (small nut)
60 westy slowest (no nut)
57 oval (for sale)
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