On a recent trip long distance trip this weekend of driving for 14+ hours straight thru deserts, over mountains, and such I decided that my 86 Westy is no longer fit for long distance travel in these types of situations. The combination of normal wear and tear for a 16 YO vehicle combined with the engineering flaws that the vanagon has have made the vehicle unpractical and unsafe for this type of use. I estimate that I would have to spend at least $7,000 to make my vanagon fit for this type of use (engine conversion, new coolant lines, brakes, etc). So my newest pipe dream is to buy a late model full size american van preferably a work van with a sliding side door and fit the westfalia camping interior from a vanagon westy inside. I would have a poptop put in by one of the american van camper conversion companies (GTRV or Sportsmobile) and take the full Westy Interior out of a junked vanagon Westy. The result would hopefully be a hybrid that has shares the excellent layout of the Westfalia with the durability, and practicality of a late model american van. Anyone ever seen in done? Any ideas? Andrew Fox 86 Westy Ft. Collins CO |
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