Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 12:27:27 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Subject: trip report - addendum
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
couple of things not covered in last posting...
Van reliability
Absolutely no problems with van. 10 years now since i put in the gas
engine replacing the diesel, and it runs just fine. Of course, loaded
as we were we couldn't scream up hwy hills (whereas the soulless mini
vans and pickup trucks were tearing along as if escaping some
calamity), but neither were we the slowest on the road. Plus, at the
campsites, especially the popular provincial ones where 5th wheels and
the like were abundant, I felt no shame and actually superior (if that
doesn't sound arrogant) to the over sized neighbours (and I do mean
more than the vehicles). Why do some equate bigger with better? I can
see using those large units if you have a bunch of people, but lots
were occupied by only 2. The Vanagon, is without doubt, an elegant way
to camp. Of course it was summer and good weather, but still...
Gas milage yet to be calculated, but I estimate I was getting close to
340 miles per tank, down a bit from regular rate of 350. I don't really
know why I get good mileage on these trips, but it has been the case on
all my previous jaunts fully loaded. I suppose that most of the fuel
consumption comes when you push it over 60 mph. Maybe even the canoe on
top helps the airflow round the back of the van?
Van improvements?
only thing i want to do after this trip is to replace fridge external
cooling fan with one that moves more air. I stuck a smallish muffin fan
back there replacing broken stock unit, and in the warm temps we had
the new fan ran almost all the time during the day. Doesn't move enough
I suppose. A while back a fellow list member raised this concern about
muffin fans, now I have to agree with him. Mind you it was hot on this
trip, but temps were those that could be expected elsewhere in the
world :) Also thinking about Dennis Haynes old suggestion of making a
shroud around cooling fin area to direct the cooling air more
efficiently.
The "men with bras" Eurovan campers we saw at Fletcher lake had done
what I have thought about doing for years (but of course never got
around to it) and that is suspend a shiny foil insulating blanket on
the side of the van where the fridge resides. This would reduce the
heat gain from a region where the cooling fins are trying to shed heat.
Even though I have re-insulated that, and all walls of my van, I thinks
its a good idea.
I found that even using just the one VW jack in one of the 3 available
jack points (one behind sliding door not usable when camping) one can
level the van pretty well and reduce rocking. Frank G. has mentioned
that he uses 2 of those neat scissor type VW jacks, and that allows you
to use jack point near sliding door.
Food
we like to eat well :) We do the usual thing of having some frozen meat
in fridge and eat that the first few nights out as it thaws. My wife
found a range of foil packed asian food "sauces" (Asian Home Gourmet)
that were very good. I was surprised that how good the dried coconut
milk was. Cooked outside a lot on small one burner back pack white gas
stove, used Westy stove only for boiling water.
We made some premix flour, salt, baking powder in plastic bags to make
pancakes and bannock. Just knead in butter or oil (trad. is lard) then
milk or water to make the bannock dough. We added grated cheese to one
mix to make a really tasty pan bannock. Other times we wrapped a
sausage shaped lump of dough around stick to cook over fire in the old
way.
Other campers
seemed like there were less around than in other years. I think some
were scared off by forest fires. Didn't see another Vanagon camping,
but did see Eurovans and a neat camperized (pop top) Landcruiser with
European plates.
Misc. gear
wouldn't do without my canvas water buckets. One large US army green
one, and a smaller (French?) army one. My Mountain Equipment "Guides
Tarp" and home made aluminium poles makes a great, if slower to erect,
"awning". For a few years I have been using a home made version of Bill
Mason's (Canadian canoeist) wood burning packable stove. I made mine
out of stainless steel sheet and use it mostly to burn charcoal
briquets. It packs down to a small size (about 13"X24"X3"). Its very
useful if you like to grill. Brought along my son's Coleman fluorescent
lantern (sort of an electric version of the old gas burning unit). It
was surprisingly useful albeit casting a cold light.
Alistair
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94
http://www.members.shaw.ca/albell/
