Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 21:52:36 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Last air cooled model?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Well I'm not making rhyme or reason about the 80-83 vent variety
possibly; it could have something to do with planned POE Air Conditioners
or some such other accessory.
I like to watch westies.org and *-bay to see if there are any nice 80-83
Air Cooled Westies out there.
I seldom see any.
With the Splits and Bays, I've see about fifteen configurations and
various cabinet combinations. Many have been restored but with
improvements to accommodate the owners needs.
I suppose that there are any number of combination of cabinets that were
sold as Westy or Weekender packages. I've just not seen that many at the
VW events I've attended. I've never seen another 80-83 Air Cooled Westy
at any event I've attended. Lots of Bays and Splitties with everything
from little square pop-up hatches, side leaning pop-top, forward and
backward facing screens and a few that I know I'm not remembering.
I really wouldn't like doing without a stove. Many of the campgrounds in
Texas shut down outside fires in the dry months and the stove makes
coffee real quick. It is certainly less expensive to cook from the LP
tank than the 1 pound disposable bottles.
I used Coleman gasoline camp stoves and I liked them for the 30 years I
used them on fishing and camping trips but in cooler weather I much to
watch that coffee pot steam up my windows than watch my toes freeze to
the ground. I still set up Coleman lanterns a distance away around my
Westy to attract the bugs away from the Westy.
I've kept my Westy all stock except for the S&S header system, additional
gauges and Tach. I think that the Westy package was well designed for
good comfort for two persons.
I can see the incentive for side tents but I prefer to have the five
minute knock down and go ability and would not use a tent.
I have noticed that some Westies came with only one table so the extra
table could have been dealer install item.
If I see any interior options that are new to me I'll clip and save the
pics for future reference.
Stan Wilder
On Tue, 5 Feb 2002 22:03:22 -0500 John Reynolds <kayakjr@JUNO.COM>
writes:
> My 81 has plastic vents.
>
> One interior that I have seen only on an air cooled Vanagon is what
> was
> termed the "Basic Camper"- it had full width rear seat and small
> seat
> against the driver's side wall adjacent to the rear seat that formed
> an L
> shaped seating arangement in the back. The seat has storage
> underneath -
> think cabinet with pad on top and back rest. It has an ice box
> instead
> of the fridge, a sink, a slightly bigger water tank but no stove.
>
> I like this interior, while the side seat that butts against the
> rear
> seat make the rear bench effectively a two person seat, like in the
> full
> Westy (De Luxe Camper"), it would offer a full size "couch" to
> sprawl out
> on. That's the feature I would like! I'd also prefer the ice box to
> the
> fridge - I'd guess I'd miss the stove.
>
> This would be good interior for any one converting a hardtop van to
> a
> camper, since you wouldn't be cooking inside. Also would be good
> for
> Syncro's - no propane tank under the vechicle!
>
> John R
>
| 
