Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 13:50:28 -0400
Reply-To: James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy Mods And Camping Gear
In-Reply-To: <20140327120521.1ZKN2.346589.imail@eastrmwml205>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Dave, if you're willing to have a GM, Mercedes or Dodge/Fiat van under that camper skin, then 'SafariCondo' up here in Canada in Quebec have got the modern, reliable camper for you:
http://www.safaricondo.com/en/motorises
They started out by converting GMC Astro vans into Westfalia-like poptop campers, and moved up to the GMC Safari van when the Astro went out of production. I see they've added the Mercedes Sprinter and Dodge/Fiat to their line-up. We saw a number of the Astros and Safaris on the road and camping last summer. We may someday buy one, as the '91 Westy, much as we love it, is not up to pulling a two-horse horse trailer to equestrian events - whereas the Safari Condo has a towing limit of 5,000 or more pounds.
James
Ottawa, ON
'91 Weekender Westfalia
> Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 11:05:21 -0500
> From: mcneely4@COX.NET
> Subject: Re: Westy Mods And Camping Gear
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> ---- Jeff Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> > Years ago here I posted the story about taking my Westy up on Skyline Drive in Virginia with my motorcycle in tow, and that one evening I watched a movie on my DVD player. I was ridiculed for bringing "electronic poison" camping. Seriously? I'm a 55 year old man, and if I want to bring along a DVD player, air conditioner, microwave, whatever, I will. Anyone who doesn't approve can kiss my...foot. If VW had continued to make the Westfalia, some of these items would have most likely been incorporated into them. It's 2014, not 1991. Jeff
>
> Go for it, I guess, Jeff. I would like to replace my camper with a modern vehicle, one that has the advantages of greater vehicular reliability. The difficulty I have is that I would have to hire the camper build, or do it myself (not practical at all, given my mechanical skills and physical health) in order not to have a bunch of useless crap. All van conversions I have seen have televisions, showers and so on built in. Of course, I realize that the bath is required to qualify for the "motor home as a second home mortgage tax deduction" scam. I might justify the bigger engine, as modern engines get better gas mileage with greater displacement than the Vanagon does.
>
> mcneely
>
>
> --
> David McNeely
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