Date:         Sat, 7 Jul 2007 15:11:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Heading into hell (up 395) -- any last words of advice?
Comments: To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <469000A2.2090508@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

What I do is rig a simple switch to allow me to select high speed fan at
will. Then when I approach a long grade in hot weather I can turn on the
fan before the coolant is too hot. This head start can make a big
difference. Don't use a lighted switch if you do this as the light
circuit adds an extra reverse ground path that can blow the radiator
fuse just when you need it most.

I prefer to splice the switch wiring in at the radiator temp switch
wiring, to mimic the triggering of the actual high speed temp switch.
Then run the wires up above the radiator through one of the large wiring
grommets and to the instrument cluster area.

Mark

Michael Elliott wrote:

> So tomorrow morning at 4am PDT, I'm leaving Carlsbad, CA and heading
> north. First on I-15, then onto highway 395 to points north. The
> National Weather Service tells me that by the time I get to Bishop, CA
> (lunch-time-ish) the temps will be in the 100's and breaking records. My
> original plan was to get to Deadman Canyon (near Lee Vining) in the
> afternoon, but the heat may melt me.
>
> Where around Bishop (other than a motel) might a fellow camp that would
> not be totally sun-blasted nor require climbing so many thousands of
> feet of elevation that his Westy might overheat?
>
> --
> 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
>