Date:         Tue, 9 Feb 1999 10:29:13 -0500
Reply-To:     Mark Gajewski <mgajewski@MANVILLERUBBER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Gajewski <mgajewski@MANVILLERUBBER.COM>
Subject:      Re: just bought '82 diesel Vanagon-few questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jim Snyder wrote:

> Hi
>
> I am new to this list as of today and will also be picking up my 29th VW
> (since 1970), an '82 diesel Vanagon. I currently own 2 other VW diesels, an
> '81 Rabbit (daily driver) and '81 Pickup (waiting for a rebuild).
>
> Is it possible to use some Westy parts inside to make this Vanagon better
> for camping? I would eventually like to have a sink, stove, and fridge and
> be able to sleep two.
>
> Jim Snyder

  Yes, it is possible to put just about any westy parts that you
desire onto your vanagon.  However, as one who has considered
"converting" a
plain jane passenger vanagon to a camping vehicle I realized why westys
have
pop-tops.  Although all vanagons are great for sleeping, there really
isn't
enough head room to have a stove and be able to use it without getting
cramps in
your neck and back, unless you have a pop-top.  My advice would be to
set up a
nice convertible seat/bed (like the weekender bed) and build in some
storage
nooks/cabinets. For a stove, buy a camp stove and cook outside.  Forget
about
the sink; bring jugs of water if you need water.  An icebox is nice and
will
stay cold for a couple days with some dry ice packs in there.  If you
travel for
weeks and months you can just pick up bags of ice here and there.  Put
in some
rear facing passenger seats (a la wolfsburg/carat) and a folding table.
Rewire
the radio so you can play it without having the key on and running the
fuel pump
etc and you'll have a nice, social, night time environment.  You'll also
want
curtains and maybe fit some screens for the windows.  May not be quite
as
luxurious as a full Westy, but you'll have a functional
camping/traveling
vehicle nonetheless.
Mark