Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:03:05 -0600
Reply-To: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Propex 2000
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I went over to Richard Jones' to help him with some work (read:
fun-time-investment) on his rig (pop top canvas .... MAN! does it look
great!) and he pretty much installed my Propex, fresh from Karl
Mullendore (thanks Karl).
I'm writing this from a sandstone fin-top in Moab, overlooking the
canyon road (Long Canyon) I drove up yesterday, next door to Dead
Horse Point with a great view of Back-of-Behind fins just above Moab,
and the La Sals east of me. A little cloudy right now, but the sun is
shining nicely. High expected today of 61. I'll head for the San
Rafael Swell later today or tomorrow.
The heater: I set it on about 63 degrees last night and it came on
periodically to ramp the cabin temp back up. I think the low here last
night was in the mid-30's so it did a great job of making the van very
comfortable. I have to add that I installed "the-thermal-barrier" that
Richard "invented" a few years ago. This thing separates the
cavas-area air from the cabin air and really traps the outputs of
anything that is producing BTU's. Even without the heater it can make
a 10 degree difference just from breathing and body BTU's (350 per
hour IIRC).
This unit was having some starting-up mis-starts when first installed
(a few days ago) and I attribute that to everything adjusting to the
brand new Manchester tank, first tank-fill and the heater being new.
Every time I ask it to start now, it starts right up. Very sweet job
of cabinet-making by Richard to cover it under my bench. I no longer
have the OE heater back there so I just eliminated one of the blue
plastic tubs I was carrying "stuff" in, and everything I had back
there fits with some space to spare.
So, although I get no Madoff-bonuses for it, I strongly recommend this
heater as a perfect addition for anyone doing winter camping, or
taking the chill off the morning van cabin temps.
Best,
Bob Stevens
Salt Lake City
'87 Syncro Westy
OH ... Long Canyon was in perfect condition for climbing up. Not
dry/dusty, rather damp, not muddy, and very easy to get tire-purchase
on the slightly difficult part just beyond "the rock". I could throw a
rock due-north and it would land on the LC road, from where I'm
camping just above.
Further addemdum: I drove from Richard's in Boulder to Moab yesterday.
Between Glenwood Srings and Grand Junction, CO, I came across a
Eurovan being pushed along the edge of the freeway (I-70 westbound) by
someone, while the driver steered. I pulled ahead of them and stopped.
They got up to me and we briefly chatted. They had run out of gas! Dad
was helping his son celebrate his (son's) birthday. I carry a 5 gal.
gerry-can on the back so I popped it off and dumped about 4 gal. in
his van. They could have breathed in the filler tube and easily made
it to GJ, no problemo. I'd guess beer!?? Neither was within .08 AFAIC.
OH, they started their trip in Glenwood ... ran outta gas??? That's
about 3 gallons of gas .. 88 miles or so.
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