Date:         Fri, 12 Apr 2002 09:01:54 -0500
Reply-To:     Chuck Hill <hilltech@NETINS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Hill <hilltech@NETINS.NET>
Subject:      Outgrowing your Vanagon?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Cliff Gottschalk writes to the list saying that with 6 in the family the
Vanagon just isn't roomy enough.  That's a problem that has come up
several times on the list.  Often, people feel that they must move on to
a larger RV, even though their Vanagon is what they like best for their
purposes.  Surely there are ways to accomodate the family needs that
don't require parting with the VW.  I would suggest:

    1.  Put the older kids, or whoever, in a tent.  They may like it
just fine, even better, having their privacy, and not having to listen
to Dad snore.  Putting Dad in the tent is an option, and the same stuff
applies.  This is what I did with my family on occasion.  Steve Lashly
sells great tents that go right beside the Vanagon, fitting the doorway,
that you might like a lot.

    2. Consider pulling a little popup camper.  The motorcyclists have
some neat small ones that a Vanagon can pull easily.  These cost lots
less than trading to a bigger camper and give you two more beds.  This
is off the ground and warmer than a tent.

    3.  Keep the VW and rent a camper when you really need the space for
an all family trip.

We've had a Westy in the family as the boys have grown up, and had some
great times travelling and camping together in it.  The Westy is a size
that lets you drive, park, and camp in many more places than a larger
RV.  Now that there are just the two of us, we still have a Westy,  and
a Vanagon or  two that we use often.  Two of the boys have their own
Vanagon.  My 3 kids have grown up and left home in an amazingly short
period of time, even though their arrival was rather spaced out (12
years).  After they get about so old, they won't be coming along with
the family, in all probability.

You can hang on to a Vanagon that you like.  You can't "keep" the kids
that you love.

Chuck Hill