Date:         Thu, 15 Apr 1999 00:32:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Graham Challis <gchallis@CENTUM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Graham Challis <gchallis@CENTUM.COM>
Subject:      Re: What is THAT thing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

As the proud owner (since new) of a 1990 GL auto Countryhomes Camper
Conversion I thought I'd let the list know a bit about it and why we picked
it over the Westfalia.

When we bought it it cost roughly the same as a multivan and a bit less than
a westy; the 2 big selling points for us were:
1.  It preserves the full width rear seat/bed
2.  You have the ability to remove the stove/fridge/sink/water tank module
by undoing a few screws, a couple of electrical connections for the fridge
and water tank pump and the propane fitting.  Then you can reinstall the
middle bench or use the extra carrying capacity for hauling junk.  (I
usually do this in winter when I'm not camping or when I have 7 people to
haul - it takes about 1/2 hr to do).

We really wanted to have the people carrying capacity, with the camping
facilities an added bonus.  The multivan almost convinced us except for the
fridge, the fixed rear cabinet and the rear facing jump seats (although the
kids would have liked the seats my wife felt sick not seeing where I was
driving!).

We're not hardcore camp every weekend type people; if so would have chosen
the westy for the extra cabinets and better designed (although heavier) pop
top (the CCC pop top, or penthouse poptop in their parlance, goes straight
up but only about 3 feet - lucky I've slept in a few bunks on boats
otherwise there'd be a head sized hole in the roof by now!).  It also isn't
as rigid as a westy top, the bed isn't as thick or wide, and it bows out at
speed, although it's never leaked.  One nice thing is that it has zip out
panels on 3 sides just like a tent so you can get a lot more ventilation
even when it's raining as the fibreglass top overhangs the window panels.

The window screens are a bit cheesy but could probably be upgraded.

It has a pop-up moonroof up front which I really like (I didn't really want
it when I bought it but they kind of insisted and afterwards I realized that
it was probably easier to stick in a moonroof than to fix the headliner
where the front part of the A/C was removed).

The cabinetry is not as nice as a westy's but is quite a bit lighter (every
extra pound counts when going up to the Sierras!), and it's held up better
than I'd expected.  I haven't really missed the extra westy cabinets.

IMHO the (Sanyo) fridge is better than the westy fridge in that it's bigger,
although it's only 2-way - no propane.  The fridge uses a 2nd marine-type
battery under the back seat on the driver's (LH) side with a Bosch battery
isolator mounted next to the p/s fluid reservoir.
There are interior lights mounted on the poptop and opposite the rear
courtesy light.  The curtain rods suck (house style things that my kids
manage to bend every few months).

It's got 123,000 miles now.  Yes it drips a bit from the right side head
(just did a 2,300 mile trip to snowy Arizona and put in about 1/2 pint
coolant and 2 qts oil).  Still has good compression on all 4 cyls. but when
it dies might go for the 5cyl. conversion; next week I think I'll throw in
the moroso stuff and see what happens.

I recently put in a swivel seat mechansm on the passenger side (thanks
Chris!).

Anyway, thanks for the bandwidth; the list is great even for a "mongrel"
vehicle like mine!

Graham
El Sobrante, CA