Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 12:05:55 -0400
Reply-To: "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <dfrandolph@TALKAM.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <dfrandolph@TALKAM.NET>
Subject: FS: '86 Syncro Wkndr, ALSO: fridge Q, "weekender cabinet" project
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Saw this ad in the local paper this weekend - call them not me! If you live
far away and after talking with the seller are really (seriously) interested
in it, I'd be willing to take a look at it for you - it's in Oxford, ME (I
think) about 30 miles away from me. Here's the ad exactly as it appeared:
<<VW Vanagon Syncro '86 Exc. Cond. 5 Spd. A/C. Weekend Model, 100K. $6750.
(207) 539-4073>>
Bear in mind this vehicle lives in Maine, so detailed questions about rust
would be really, really good to ask! And if it's been repainted, who knows
what's lurking just beneath the fresh, shiny stuff...
While I'm consuming bandwidth (apologies in advance!), I figured I'd ask a
fridge question: I've got a Dometic fridge - 2 of them, actually, which I
obtained used and that I'm planning to install in my non-Westy van. Right
now, the one that is in better condition is sitting on blocks in my
livingroom. I'd like to test it out on AC first before even delving into the
propane issue. So my question is - is it necessary to hook up the 12-volt
power leads in order for the fridge to operate? Just plugging it in to the
wall has no effect - it seems like the thermostat needs DC to operate - is
this true?
For anyone who's interested about what I'm going to do with the fridge, my
current plan is to build a small cabinet to house the fridge and a small
propane stove (obtained from a junked pop-up camper), and to mount a Westy
propane tank beneath the van. (Carrying a jerry can of water and a washbasin
would be fine for me - I don't want to consume lots of interior space with
the standard sink/tank setup.) The cabinet assembly will be removable and
will be secured by locking into the rear-facing seat mounts behind the
driver's seat. I'm planning to either fabricate a locking mechanism, or use
one from a junkyard seat. I'll likely make the whole cabinet from metal -
washer/dryer scrap sheet metal and a box or angle frame. The cabinet's
propane and electrical connections will be made in a "junction box" that
I'll construct behind the driver's seat, perhaps in the aux. battery box (no
battery there), or mounted just behind it.
I don't really want to cut lots of holes in the side of the van, so I'm
considering the following: For the AC hookup, which I'll likely use for a
power converter as well, I'm thinking I'll construct another "junction box"
beneath the van ahead of the propane tank with one of those waterproof
marine-type shore power hookup ports. For the fridge flue - well, that's a
tough one. I'm thinking about extending the intake and exhaust pipes enough
so they will reach the sliding window, then constructing a narrow
"window-insert" flue with the inlet and outlets stacked vertically. I'm
considering using some of that super-heat-resistant plastic aircraft hose
(from http://aircraft-spruce.com - check out their site and request a free
catalog - it's got some really interesting stuff in it!! If you're like me,
you'll spend an entire evening reading it.) If the removable flue isn't
feasible, I'll just have to make a hole for the standard flue and perhaps
drill 2 holes in it so I can access the 2 fridge mounting plate screws from
outside the van without having to remove the entire flue and gasket every
time I remove the cabinet.
The inspiration: This is all in lieu of installing the full Westy setup. A
friend and I were sitting at the beach one hot summer day, enjoying some
cold beverages while lounging on the nice, wide back seat of my weekender -
feet resting on Rubbermaid the 18 gal totes that all our camping stuff was
stored in - it was then I realized that one of my favorite things about the
van was all the space - that livingroom feeling - and the great views out
all those windows. (As Karl & Kristina Bloss would attest (
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/bev.html ), those Rubbermaid tubs are
wonderful - I even found them in a lovely "oyster" color which coordinates
nicely with my interior!) The prior week I spent some similar down-time with
a friend in his '99 Eurovan Camper - I kind of felt like I was in an
airplane (economy class) - or a cave. I didn't want to go there with my van.
I also didn't want to sacrifice my ability to transport a washer, dryer, 2
bicycles, 2 adults and a dog all in the van at the same time, hence my
desire for something you could leave in place but remove when you needed the
cargo space - or leave in the garage and put in the night before a long
weekend trip. A "weekender cabinet"!
Any comments, thoughts, tips, cautions, advice or encouragement regarding
the above would be most welcome!
Doug Fitz-Randolph
Yarmouth, ME
'90 Syncro
dfrandolph@talkam.net
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