Date:         Wed, 18 Jun 2003 11:16:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Roy Olynick <rrh@AUTOBAHN.MB.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roy Olynick <rrh@AUTOBAHN.MB.CA>
Subject:      Re: Camping question
Comments: To: Chuck Hill <hilltech@NETINS.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

| This year the mosquitos are doing really well in my part of the country,
| which raises a question in my mind.  Does anybody know of a gadget or
| whatever to trap, catch, or get rid of the ones that have gotten into
| the van and want to happily feast on you overnight

Chuck, firstly, make sure the little buggers are not coming in through other
"less than hermetically sealed" openings. Other than not knowing much about real
winters, the VW engineers don't know much about mosquitoes either.

The main culprits here are the skylight and the rear hatch screen.  I improved
the seal on my Westy's skylight through which many of the blood thirsty
creatures were entering the van.

The rear hatch screen, IMHO, should have some sort of "hem" at the bottom, which
could be tucked under the mattress to prevent those winged vultures from getting
in under the screen. This mod is easy to do if you're handy with a sewing
machine.

As for an MTG (mosquito trapping gadget), come up with one that works, you'll
make Bill Gates look like a pauper. We've always climbed into our bunks, thirty
minutes or so before bedtime, turned off the lights, turned on a flashlight,
waited for the mini-vampires to fly towards the light, and let 'em have it!
About half an hour or so of this, it'll be safe to close your eyes and drift off
to sleep, lulled by the sounds of frogs, crickets, loons, or the sub-woofer from
your neighbour's campsite.

Roy Olynick
'87 VW Westfalia GL (For Sale)
'91 Honda Civic SE
'01 Honda Civic LX-G
www.autobahn.mb.ca/~rrh/Westy_Home.htm