Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2023 11:34:39 -0700
Reply-To: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Opinions wanted: Overhaul or Eletric?!
In-Reply-To: <1557583831.3417685.1685817072247@mail.yahoo.com>
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Oh, I don't mean that I am beyond hope. I go camping, I garden, I
travel. I have a good and varied life. But so far as the vehicles of the
future, I simply won't be there, and that is reality.
On Sat, Jun 3, 2023 at 11:31 AM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
> Heck! I've got some plywood, I can get fabric and foam. I've got screws.
> I've got Solidworks 3D Solid Model tool. And I have a sewing machine for
> curtains. Yep, in 3 weekends...well maybe 4, I could totally transform
> anything into an object of strong desire. I have done it twice (70 Bus and
> 85 Vanagon). Yep Dave, me too: I will soon turn 70. I still feel like a
> kid though!
>
> On Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 11:19:59 AM PDT, David McNeely <
> davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> It will be too late for me, as I am 78 yo and counting. There WILL be
> electric vans, pickups, and SUVs that have long range, high passenger and
> storing capacity, and can tow. They are just not here YET. Meanwhile, the
> VW ID.Buzz will be here some time next year, and could be converted for
> camping at a price.
>
> On Sat, Jun 3, 2023 at 6:49 AM Steve Williams <sbw@sbw.org> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the link to Cafe Electric. It got me thinking.
> >
> > I sold my '84 Westy some time ago, because it was getting too hard to
> > find people to work on it when traveling around the U.S. And it wasn't
> > very comfortable. And the air conditioner was never gonna work right.
> >
> > Now I'm outfitting a small travel trailer. My tow vehicle is a 2017
> > Outback 2.5i Limited, much more comfortable than my Westy, and easy to
> > get worked on.
> >
> > Towing the trailer, the Outback gets 18-19 mpg over the road, a little
> > lower than the Westy. I'm hoping I can nurse that up a bit over long
> > distances.
> >
> > But it's still gas!
> >
> > I'd like to see a purpose-built EV tow vehicle. I haven't explored Cafe
> > Electric's list of EV related links, but reading a bit about their motor
> > controller clarified my thinking about my tow vehicle a bit:
> >
> > Cafe Electric seems to be about performance and racing. That's fine, but
> > for the tow vehicle, I wouldn't want high performance, since I'd be
> > limited to 55 mph in many areas. Instead, I need it to tow the trailer
> > up a hill and have good range. Fast charging would be nice.
> >
> > So I'm picturing an old VW Rabbit, souped up with big brakes, tons of
> > batteries, and Recaro seats. (Are there aftermarket electric cabin
> > heaters and air conditioners available, efficient enough for EVs?)
> >
> > I can dream.
> >
>
>
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