Date:         Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:04:18 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      A good excuse for a trip in the van..more (Long Post)
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About a week ago, I posted that I planned on using a trip to the dentist as an excuse for a vanagon trip.  Well, I be  doin' that now and having a great trip, so far.
  I am currently in Borrego Springs, California,(East of San Diego)  spending some time here riding bikes and waiting while my "teeth" are being built in Algodones, Mx. (across the border from Yuma, Az.)  It's costing me just over $1000 to have the work done and a 4 tooth bridge installed there, a savings of about $1500 over what I was quoted near my home east of Portland, Or.  So, it has been worth the drive for the money savings, and it certainly is fun traveling in the Vanagon.
  I came down the east side of the mountains on Hwy 395, for the most part, enjoying spring weather.  The van has been running very well, despite my leaving with known headgasket leak. (Inline-4 transplant motor) Stuck some Barr's "headgasket repair" compound into the cooling system and it has pretty much stopped the leak.  I did bleed some minor air from the radiator upon my arrival here after 1200 miles at 70+mph through the Sierras...About half a pint of coolant filled it back up.
  The only complaint I have, so far, is that the van is a real handful in crosswinds, and there seems to be crosswinds a lot, this trip.  I've not really driven long distances in a Vanagon before, but I imagine this may be somewhat normal.  I went through the steering and suspension and found nothing I wanted to repair..I guess the shape and Aero characteristics of the 'shoebox' Van may be what makes it touchy in the big winds and behind semis.
  I have been getting 24mpg (averaged) and fuel is in the $3.20/gal range, average.  With some planning and attention to coming hills, I have been able to comfortably maintain 70mph, but here in California, 70mph gets me flipped off occaiaionally, especially on the freeways, where , when the traffic is not 'grid-locked' (very rare)  the locals often drive in the 90s, nose to tail, 5 lanes wide...Whew, scary!
  So, I have one more trip across to Yuma from here, then I plan on heading back north, probably cut through Death Valley and maybe take a side trip into Idaho before returning to the Columbia River Gorge...with new teeth and "money left over" after about a 3000 mile two week trip to the dentist..
  Don Hanson