Date:         Mon, 1 Jun 1998 18:43:06 -0700
Reply-To:     Austin <austins@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Austin <austins@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Re: i need trip advice
Comments: To: susan hafler <ceezuu@HOTMAIL.COM>, vanagon@vanagon.com
In-Reply-To:  <19980601130117.4953.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 06:01 AM 6/1/98 PDT, you wrote:
>hello, all,
>
>in two weeks i'm leaving for a six-week cross-country trip. i've gotten
>good advice on what to take with me -- tools, supplies, etc. -- from
>several list members. what things should i watch for/know about/check
>consistently on/in my 87 syncro GL to ensure a safe, trouble-free trip?
>my trusted mechanic says she'll get me to california and back, no
>problem.
>
>thanks in advance!
>
>susan

Bring a laptop+modem with ya (so we can help on the way!) - & don't bother
calling the car-talk guys...they weren't any help at all to the lady
traveling through Mexico with her Dad!  There is *no* way to _ensure_
(assure?) a trouble free trip - any vehicle can leave you stranded...& keep
in mind there was a time when taking off 'cross country in a model T was
doable - not to mention covered wagons (but then they didn't have
computerized/digital fuel injection, etc).

In truth since being on this list I'd become *very* hesitant to take ol'
Moby (Great White Adventurewagen) on any long trips, esp since he turned
100k/10 yrs old.  But last month  I said the heck with it-need a little
excitement in my life, so instead of taking the burb I packed the VG
w/tools, coolant, 5 gals of distilled water, & headed off across the most
remote parts of Nevada heading for Arizona...made it & back w/only 1 bit of
trouble.  A dissertation for the list regarding what I've discovered about
the coolant level sensor (2 legged spider next to the 'radiator cap')
follows RSN*.

Austin

*(RSN = TLA for Real Soon Now...TLA is of course a TLA for