Date:         Mon, 3 Jun 2002 08:44:47 -0400
Reply-To:     Tim Hannink <tjhannink@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Hannink <tjhannink@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Trip Report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Arrived back yesterday from a nine day trip to Michigan. Now I know why I
bought my camper, for vacation trips. Had four adults and an 8 year old and
all were comfortable for the 3,000+ miles of driving. We only camped two
nights, both in the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, OH. I had
purchased a cot and modified it to fit on the front doors, so my 8 year old
had her own little cabin up front and was very happy sleeping there.

Anyway, the van performed almost flawlessly, averaging 19-20 mpg at 70 mph.
I am using a quart of oil every 800-1000 miles, but have been ever since I
installed the 1.25 ratio rocker arms. The low pressure A/C hose parted in
Nashville on the way up. The metal fitting that connects to the  "S" pipe
off the compressor actually broke off inside the fitting. I will be trying
to find a replacement fitting sometime this week.

Since the A/C wasn't working on the way home, I decided to drive straight
through from Ohio to Florida so by the time I hit South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida, the temps were a little more bearable. The net result was 1300+
miles in around 22 hours including some long breaks.

I saw no other Vanagons on the road, but plenty of loaf busses running
around the countryside.

Good to be home,

Tim Hannink
Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
Winter Park, Florida
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink Vanagon Album