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Date:         Sun, 27 Oct 2013 11:25:27 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: idea? The Vanagon in RV parks.
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <iD0g1m02A08X5Fr01D0j6h>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

At 68, I still haven't found the need to stay at RV parks. I do bivouac when I travel on the highway, but manage to find places to do so without using an RV park. So far as air conditioning making camping doable in summer in hot places, I camp in summer in the Ozarks. High humidity, afternoon temperatures usually in the nineties. A nearby cool stream makes for a nice cool off. If I wanted air conditioning, and other "necessities" of "civilization, I'd stay home. It would be more enjoyable than an RV park.

Just my take on the matter. McNeely

---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote: > Fir years and I still use these parks for traveling in the Westy. Many of > these parks even have tent sites and the Vanagon works well in those. While > there are some high end RV parks that won't allow them, (some also won't > allow my aging 39 ft.) I have never felt out of place in the Westy. Usually > it becomes a conversation starter even for folks in the monsters. Having > power and real restroom-shower facilities makes things nicer for other > family members. > > Air conditioning is one comfort that still requires a lot of power and even > in my motorhome it is the comfort that immediately makes me dependent on the > generator. Take away that and batteries can cover me for few days. I've > done the battery-inverter thing to run an RV generator overnight. Then you > need the 300 amp alternator to charge them or carry a small generator. At > some point it gets silly. There are many RVs even small ones that have this > need covered. That was my point. Especially to be considered as you consider > $20 or $30 k invested. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > Don Hanson > Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2013 9:55 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: idea? > > Having shore power AC means you probably aren't camping, you are RV-ing > (at least in MY world). > > My SO was at Camping World (big box outlet store here in the west) > recently, where the counter-person kept trying to sell her a membership to > Good Sam club...so she could "save money when camping" according to the > clerk...My SO tried to explain that staying in a commercial RV space was a > bit different than camping, but the clerk just did not understand...In the > clerks mind, camping was driving from RV park to RV park on the interstate > system and plugging everything in each night...'roughing it'... > > I, too use my Vanagon for non-camping bivouacs but if I were wanting to > 'camp' in Good Samaritan or 1000 Trails or other Non-chain RV parks all the > while, I guess Dennis might be right...the Vanagon seems a bit under-sized > for that....and you would be 'looked down upon' by all the other RV-ers, > quite out of place in your vanagon.. > > I think if I traveled the south in summer I might be tempted to just > motel-it...It IS really uncomfortably hot and humid there at times.. > > > On Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 8:07 PM, Dennis Haynes > <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote: > > > Most all window AC use a single motor to drive both the evaporator and > > condenser fans. You also have to consider the position of the coils in > > relationship to the compressor so the oil circulates and travels > > through the compressor. Needing AC while camped is often the first > > sign your out growing the Westy. > > > > Dennis > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On > > Behalf Of Jim Felder > > Sent: Friday, October 25, 2013 9:07 AM > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > > Subject: Re: idea? > > > > My brother and I were discussing cutting an AC unit in two and > > mounting part outside, part inside, under the rear seat. > > > > Also, it would be possible--but more difficult--to mount a split unit > > like that in the luggage rack with only vents down into the cabin, but > > the cabin roof would have to be penetrated and all the controls would > > have to be completely remoted. A weather cover would have to be > > created for the luggage rack mount. While the unit would not have to > > be "split" like it would if mounted under the seat (the whole thing > > would be mounted outside the > > vehicle) it would benefit from being rearranged to better fit the > > space in the luggage rack to keep the profile low. > > > > The underseat mount would allow you to use the faceplate of the unit > > just as it came from the factory as long as it was not more than 13 > > inches tall. > > > > The problem of making up some mounts is not trivial but not much > > harder than some intercooler mounts. I have a friend who works on this > > type of small window unit AC, and he said the only problem would be > > knowing where to cut the lines and then installing the valves and > > plumbing to allow evacuation and refill. He said he would show me when > > we had a unit to look at, which hasn't happened yet. > > > > You could put one in the closet, too, I think but it wold be even > > harder to split the unit using that space. > > > > Would love to hear from anyone who has modified a unit by cutting and > > modifying the tubing. > > > > Jim > > > > > > On Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 7:47 AM, ralph meyermann > > <ralphmeyermann@gmail.com>wrote: > > > > > Correct placement is a must for issues like that. If I use the front > > > part of the original unit, it would simplify the controls too? > > > > > > Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy > > > On Oct 25, 2013 7:40 AM, <ddbjorkman@verizon.net> wrote: > > > > > > > Careful how you use that space above the transaxle. It could > > > > cause a space restriction should you decide to remove the engine or > starter. > > > > > > > > Dave B. > > > > > > > > On 10/25/13, ralph meyermann<ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > > > > > > > > Still thinking/brainstorming/planning on how I could make it work. > > > > > > > > Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy > > > > On Oct 24, 2013 8:57 PM, "Scott Daniel" > > > > <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > There's quite a bit of unused space above the transaxle in a 2WD > > > vanagon. > > > > > huge 'outside' area there ....just integrate the unit into that > > > > > rear firewall behind the rear seat. > > > > > > > > > > On 10/24/2013 5:33 PM, Mike B wrote: > > > > > > > > > >> You can't integrate "everything" into the interior. The > > > > >> condenser and it's fan still must be mounted outside or be able > > > > >> to exhaust it's hot air to the outside or it won't cool the > interior. > > > > >> > > > > >> On 10/24/2013 8:09 PM, ralph meyermann wrote: > > > > >> > > > > >>> Hi Volks! I have a possibly crazy but possibly doable idea. I > > > > >>> am thinking about getting a new 110v window a/c unit, > > > > >>> disassembling it and integrating it into the interior and > > > > >>> underneath reconnect everything recharge > > > with > > > > >>> refrigerant and tie it into the the 110v of the van. Some slim > > > > >>> low > > > amp > > > > >>> 110v fans will be needed. Am I the only one thinking with this > > > possible > > > > >>> nonsense? > > > > >>> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy > > > > >>> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >

-- David McNeely


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