Well, re what John said about knowing where the mechanics are - in case anyone on the list doesn't already know about it, do take a look at http://www.roadhaus.com/shops.php, and add to it whenever you have additional information!
Joy
On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 6:10 PM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote: > I can't address Vanagon specific repair shops across country, but this > thread reminded me of the drive down from Alaska in '96. I was in my first > Vanagon, an '85 GL. I did not have a clue about the Vanagon list back then > and knew of no one with any knowledge about these vans. I made the 75 hour > 4500 mile drive from Anchorage to Birmingham with no flats, and only one > relatively minor trip stopping event and one major one. The minor one - .one > of the collector pipes cracked and separated, making it noisy as all blazes > if you were behind the van. I was in Wyoming somewhere - I've forgotten just > where - and a mechanic told me that it would be really difficult to weld > back up where the break was, and he recommended I just continue my journey > if I could handle the noise. Being in front of the engine, rather than > behind it, it was no real problem. It was obviously louder, but not > unendurable even for long hours in the saddle. The second event - and a trip > stopper - was near Jasper, AL 60 miles north of my destination at > Birmingham. Water pump failed. I caught it quickly enough it didn't damage > the engine, but I had to get a roll-back to come and pick up the van and > take it the rest of the way. That was a pricey 60 miles, but not near as > pricey as a later trip in my later "88 GL. when it melted a piston. > > But the point is - it's really nice to be aware of and know of shops across > the country recommended by Vanagon owners. That gets to be majorly > important. And probably even more important, is being part of this community > of Vanagon owners who are so willing to help each other out when there is > trouble. The Vanagon list, and it's Vendors are the greatest!!! > ** > > John Rodgers > Clayartist and Moldmaker > 88'GL VW Bus Driver > Chelsea, AL > Http://www.moldhaus.com > > > > Joy Hecht wrote: > >> Hi all, >> >> I recently found myself in Roanoke Virginia, where two nice women drove up >> alongside my van and handed me a slip of paper with the name of a repair >> shop, saying "if you have any trouble with your van while you're here, >> come >> visit us, we work on all kinds of VW vans." >> >> Well, Matilda was having some slight incontinence problems (otherwise >> known >> as dripping fluids), and I figured maybe I should have this looked at >> while >> I was in town. So I took her over to Salem Imports, Mark Dearing's repair >> place in Salem, VA (next town over from Roanoke), and he replaced my water >> pump. >> >> But what struck me was the wonderful character of his shop! Especially as >> I'd had a dream, the night before going there, that it was clean and >> pretty, >> with red-and-white checked curtains and a cleaning staff scrubbing the >> bathrooms (plural). Not! >> >> I thought it would be fun to seek out the vanagon repair place with the >> best >> character - Mark's is definitely a contender! So do have a look at some >> pix, and see if you can top this: >> >> http://picasaweb.google.com/hecht.joy/VanagonRepairShopsSalemImportsSalemVA# >> >> >> >> >> Joy >> >> >> >> > > |
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