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Date:         Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:10:08 -0800
Reply-To:     Richard Koerner <RKoerner@AVANTMEDICAL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Koerner <RKoerner@AVANTMEDICAL.COM>
Subject:      Re: As nice as, but better?
Comments: To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Mike, Randy's Foreign Car (619-299-2994) in the Morena District does Subie conversions: $10,000 which also includes a complete new cooling system and regearing of transmission; he says about a 10 week waiting list, and about 2 weeks to do the job. I think he's done quite a few, maybe ask for some references to see how customers like the result.

Rich '85 Vanagon GL San Diego

-----Original Message----- From: Michael Elliott [mailto:camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM] Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 7:20 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: As nice as, but better?

Robert, that's a very interesting idea. I have no - zero - interest in doing a subie conversion, but if there is a shop in Southern California that does good work, I'd look into it. I can't tell from KEP's website if they do the work.

So, I wonder how happy a subie-powered 84 Westy with an automatic transmission would be hauling some small putt-putt vehicle?

-- Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano KG6RCR

Robert Fisher typed: > It just occurred to me that if you already have that Forester (assuming > it would do well as a toad- I think modern autos tow better than older > ones), probably the simplest solution is to do something like a Subie > conversion to the Westy and tow the Forester. There's a whole bunch of > Subie converts around here that'd mentor that project and in fact KEP is > in Lancaster/Palmdale. > > Cya, > Robert > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Elliott" > <camping.elliott@gmail.com> > To: "Robert Fisher" <refisher@mchsi.com> > Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 5:33 PM > Subject: Re: As nice as, but better? > > >> Hi Robert, >> >> What an interesting idea! I wonder how well an automatic transmission >> Vanagon tows? >> >> -- >> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott >> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus >> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") >> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano >> KG6RCR >> >> >> >> Robert Fisher typed: >>> Well this may sound kind of strange but that never stopped me before. >>> I think if I were considering all of those circumstances I'd get one >>> of the stronger mid-sized pickups or SUVs and put a tow bar on the >>> Westy. The Westy serves as the trailer, the reliabilty issue is less >>> of an issue, you get less miles on the Westy, more storage space, you >>> get to disconnect and run around and if one or the other breaks down >>> you have a tow vehicle. You can also still fit into most of the >>> places you would have gone with the Westy alone. Depending on the >>> vehicle you chose you might even get close to the same milage as you >>> would in the Westy, even with it as a toad. >>> You also have the option of parking the tow vehicle and making >>> shorter trips in the Westy; for instance say you went to the Grand >>> Canyon and wanted to camp in various places nearby for a night each >>> or so- you park the truck/suv in the park and take the Westy to the >>> campground. Aside from that anybody can use a good pickup. :) >>> Anyway that's probably what I'd do. >>> >>> Cya, >>> Robert >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Elliott" >>> <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> >>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> >>> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 3:52 PM >>> Subject: As nice as, but better? >>> >>> >>>> Mrs Squirrel and I are tossing around ideas for fulltiming, or at least >>>> long-terming. We love Mellow Yellow, we love its floorplan, we love its >>>> 360-degree views. We don't love its reliability vis a vis a newer >>>> vehicle, and while van camping is nearly ideal, because it lets us >>>> visit >>>> places too out of the way for the "generator people," a van makes a >>>> quick trip into town for a bottle of aspirin, a restaurant dinner, or a >>>> movie more difficult than a trailer because you can't just drive away >>>> from camp without some tear down and setup. >>>> >>>> So while a small trailer is another option, with a husky little vehicle >>>> like a Subaru Forester, the eentsier campgrounds might be harder to get >>>> into, and none of the trailers we've seen (Casita, Scamp, T@B, >>>> [Airstreams are too heavy]) have the tidy and sensible floorplan >>>> that we >>>> love about our Westy, nor do they have anywhere the window space. I >>>> expect that just about everyone on this group knows what we're talking >>>> about. It's all about finding the right balance of compromises for the >>>> individual camping style. >>>> >>>> Mrs Squirrel asked me to write this group, figuring that there may be >>>> some folks here that have seen alternatives that they've found to be >>>> nearly as good. Main things: more reliable and windows, maybe all this >>>> in small trailer format. >>>> >>>> While this thread isn't one that I'd like to see take up much bandwidth >>>> on the Vanagon list, but the list membership are nevertheless the ideal >>>> folk to ask this question of, so if anyone has thoughts, please p-mail >>>> me. Mrs Squirrel will receive a copy of anything you send, for her >>>> consideration. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott >>>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus >>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") >>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano >>>> KG6RCR >>> >


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