Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:41:25 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy's vs Other Configurations for Camping
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What works best for me is the Weekender layout.
I like the cabinet..
and the rear one has the door for the larger compartment facing the bed, not
forward as in a Westy..
so it's handy to stuff unneeded stuff in there.
for a 3-wide rear Z bed...I have so much junk in the van, that the junk is
the way of deploying the bed. ..so that wouldn't work for me so well.
Weekender is just right ...
top pops if you need it to.,
at least on a 85 Wolfsburg version the rear seat is also a big fat trunk ...
easy to fill that with junk too, and easy to get at ...
I don't know why they put a latch on that seat myself...on the bottom part
...
german mentality or safety reasons I suppose...I just remove that latch so I
can lift up the seat bottom any time .
The Wolfsburg also has a rear facing seat behind the driver's seat..
and that is a huge storage bin actually. It's semi secret too...
the seat bottom doesn't open from the front of the seat like you'd think it
would...
it opens from the seat back side of the bottom ....like not obvious that
it's even there at first glance.
for a westy type poptop ...a Weekender like that is very good to me.
I only moved to an Adventurewagon from the Weekender for the manual trans,
and the aerodynamics of the roof shape ...
I'd put a Wolfsburg Weekender interior in it if I had one ..
that cabinet in the left rear....that's the perfect place for something like
that that blocks site lines ..
that's the one place you never need to look through very much ..the left
rear corner..
and it adds some visual privacy from cars passing etc.
so that's my ideal...two person rear seat/bed ...
cabinets in the left rear , and rear seat is a big trunk.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 9:05 PM
Subject: Westy's vs Other Configurations for Camping
> Westy's appear to be a grand vehicle for traveling and camping, but i
> have never had an opportunity to use one that way, let alone even drive
> one to see how they handle. Yet a few years ago, I spent an entire
> summer camping out in Alaska in my '85 GL. I found it convenient,
> flexible, and comfortable for the most part. I never found a need to
> have cooking facilities inside, nor sink, nor even a refrigerator. In
> fact, cooking inside could have created a bear problem with the smells.
>
> So, what are some experiences of others with their various Van
> configurations. And how did you outfit yourselves with your particular
> rig.? I recently came into posession of a Carat, and I alread see
> advantages to having the swing out table and cup holders, yet I'm glad
> half the van isn't filled with cabinets. Gives me lots more flexibility
> - and I hate being cramped for space in the bed area - and the Carat has
> a full bed with the seat back folded down.
>
> Comments?
>
> Thanks
>
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
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