Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 16:36:01 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Westy Mods And Camping Gear
In-Reply-To: <ihqz1n00c08X5Fr01hr0nw>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Hi James, thanks for pointing this out. Similar conversions are available in the U.S. of course. My desire is for a van about the size of the Vanagon, small, efficient engine, and camping interior no more elaborate than the VW Campmobile. Sportsmobile is the best known U.S. converter. From what I can tell, all their conversions meet the "Class B Motorhome" definition, complete with shower and toilet. I don't want anything with an engine that will glug fuel.
I've been hoping to get a look at the new, bigger Ford Transit with the small engine, but so far Ford keeps holding back. There are conversions of the small Transit (not from Sportsmobile), but that is really pretty small, and has to use external camping gear. Basically, it only has a bed.
The Sprinter comes with a 4 cylinder diesel engine, but the whole affair is just too big.
The Campmobile is just perfect, if it would be resurrected. Next best appears to be the Transit, but I guess hide and watch to see if it ever shows up.
mcneely
---- James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 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
>
--
David McNeely
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