Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 08:43:34 -0500
Reply-To: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject: questions from a Vanagon novice
In-Reply-To: <002501c3f93e$b4fa58a0$7ea93e18@ne1.client2.attbi.com>
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Hi folks,
I've been reading the list with interest and thought it was time to send in
a few questions. I'm sorry if these seem naive - I'm a newbie to Vanagons.
I just got my (first?) vanagon in November, and mostly haven't gone anywhere
in it - though for not going anywhere, I've had enough repairs done! I hope
this isn't a trend.
Matilda is a 1989 burgundy Westy with 130K miles on original engine. I am
moving into her - I kind of already have, gave up my apartment, sold all my
furniture, gave away much of my stuff, and put the rest in the basement of a
house where some friends live, though I own it. At the moment I'm still
parked in "my" driveway while I finish off some work, but by mid-March I
should be on the road. (I consult for a living, can do that from anywhere -
that's how I can, I hope, pull this off and stay solvent.)
I'm a real non-techie, regarding both auto mechanics and everything else, so
I have lots of questions. Here's a few to start - none related to actually
keeping Matilda running:
- Electric power. Here in the driveway, Matilda is plugged into the garage
outlet, so I have light, heat, computer, radio, and the ability to recharge
my cellphone. On the road that won't be so easy. Does anyone have
experience with having a second battery to provide these services? What
kind of battery should I get, how do I connect it to the first battery, how
do I plug things into it, and how much can I expect to be able to run off a
second battery?
- Pop-top canvas. Mine is in okay condition, not too beat up. I was
thinking of replacing it in order to have three windows, but then started to
think I might be able to put additional windows in the current canvas. (I
have no other technical skills, but I can sew.) Has anyone ever done that?
Do you have any advice?
- Roof racks. I will be carrying a long skinny kayak on my roof. I'm
looking at Yakima racks. A friend is giving me most of the pieces,
actually, ones he doesn't use any more. I have not yet sorted out how to
attach them to the pop top. Does anyone have experience with Yakima racks
on their Westy, and which hardware did you need?
- Refrigerator. The previous owner of Matilda said the refrigerator didn't
work, but I said he had to fix it before I'd buy. So he did - but when I
actually showed up to buy her, we could not get the pilot lit. We tried and
tried and tried, to no avail. Finally he cut the price and I took her.
Other than this, the refrigerator (apparently - according to the repair
place) does work - electric and battery are okay. (I can't really test it
now, as it's cold outside and the refrigerator is very cold even without
being in operation.) Does anyone have experience with uncooperative Dometic
refrigerator pilot lights? I've read some of the stuff on the web about
repairs on Dometic refrigerators, and tried to find repair people, without
success. I assume there's some kind of starter for the pilot? Anyhow, if
anyone knows much about pilot lights on these refrigerators, please let me
know!
I'll be heading south from the DC area in March when I hit the road - Chapel
Hill, Outer Banks, Charleston, Savannah, Georgia coast (good kayaking), and
I don't know where after that. I'm open to suggestions, and would love to
meet other Vanagoners. Are there networks among you for people who want to
meet each other in their travelers?
I'm looking forward to hearing from you with any advice you can offer!
Joy
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Joy E. Hecht
Consultant on Environmental Policy and Information
jhecht@alum.mit.edu
http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
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