Frank, did the upper bunk fixed portion =
of the bed
actually sit on top of a moulded fiberglass panel? This sits directly on =
the
roof as the roof section is not cut out as far back as in the westy. =
(hence the
need for the upper bunk to fold out in 2 pieces, you do not have =
the same
distance from the van roof to the pop top). You can see this by =
looking at
the roof section above the lower bed, it is not flat as in a westy, but =
follows
the contour of the roof the same as the head lining in a standard =
van
does.
If it is as described this is an =
aftermarket
conversion not done by westfalia but it does use westy =
parts.
Also the windows sound like the items =
available
from Reimo, they are listed in their catalogue.
I have the actual VW factory manual for =
the Joker
conversion, 1979 thru 1982, the joker 1 version is almost identical =
to the
US version, the joker 2 is different, has a full width rear seat, small =
child
seat in the left rear corner by the kitchen unit, but the top bunk is =
the same,
ie one piece fold out section.
Regards
John.
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 =
11:16
Subject: Volkwagen Westfalia =
JOKER
sighting
Yes, JOKER ! I had a =
fellow from
Hull, QC come here to my shop in
Almonte yesterday with a guanine
Volkswagen JOKER that he just brought in
from Germany. =
Picked it up
in Halifax, drove it here to have a muffler
installed so it would =
pass QC
inspection to get registered and plated.
It is a 1982, 1.6 diesel =
engined true
Volkswagen (Vanagon style)
Westfalia JOKER camper with pop top =
like ours.
Front grille with four, large
rectangular headlamps like our =
N. A.
models outer headlamps but four of them
! No VW badge on the =
grille,
no place for it ! Side windows are all
Plexiglas and sort of =
bubble
shaped. Middle ones each side tilt open from
the bottom, =
hinged at
top.
Propane tank, =
twice
the size of ours, has gauge, YES I SAID A REAL
LIVE GAUGE !, =
auxiliary
quick connect outlet on tank to go to whatever
accessory you would =
want to
connect. All the controls are covered up
securely by a =
formed metal
cover, painted the same colour as the Van, that is
held in place =
by big
black threaded knob. =
The Fridge
is Electolux, sort of the same as our Dometic but different =
controls.
It is self lighting ! Just push a button and hold the =
safety
valve. It pulses spark until lit then a light comes on =
indicating
it's lit
and running. The fridge is also 12 volt & 220 =
VOLT -
This is gonna be a
problem ! Anyone out there know if this =
can be
made to run on 110 volt ?
Big question !
Sink is twice the size of =
ours.
Stove, two burner, is 90 degrees out
from ours. One =
burner in
front of the other rather than side by side.
Controls on =
top not in
front. Burners have safety elements that you must
hold on =
till hot.
Cabinets say Westfalia on =
them, they
are shorter in length,
compartment and drawer under sink are =
narrower.
Holding tank for water is
under sink and is just a plastic =
jug with
a submersible pump in it. Storage
cabinets to rear of =
fridge, only
one rear most. Then there is a small 16" x
16" x 6" propane =
heater
installed, looked to be installed other than by
Westfalia, in this =
space,
on the floor with a bit of shelved storage above it
and an =
upholstered
seat on top of that.
The upper =
bunk
part that folds out is in two pieces rather that like
our one =
piece.
The walls of the van are not upholstered like ours but just =
the
painted metal.
Cigarette =
lighter on
side of drivers seat pedestal, near the seat belt
receptacle.
Battery is in the engine =
compartment
not under passenger seat. =
Passenger
seat swivels, not drivers. No arm rests on front seats nor =
on rear
bench seat.
No, city water =
hook up for
sink. Exhaust port for fridge is just a
small square PLASTIC =
cover, like a
dryer vent but smaller. One large oblong
lateral port of 220 =
volt
plug in, humongous male European style plug, hinged
in place under =
the
flap. No extension cord attached.
Came with original Westfalia =
side tent
in BURGUNDY. Only been set up
ONCE ! I did not see the =
tent.....yet.....Simon is bringing the JOKER to
BusFusion =
and he
will set up the tent for all BusFusionites to see.
Aluminium wheels were =
different from
the ones we see here. VW emblem
in centre were indicating =
stock VW
items. Hard to describe ! =
It was
pretty cool all around and I spent way too much time checking
it =
out.
I did get a new muffler installed for him as well as repairing a =
broken water faucet, lubricating the sticking shift rod, and =
checking out
the
propane system and getting all the gadgets to work. Yes, =
the
fridge lit
right up ! After we learned what Auf & Zu =
mean on all
the valves between the
tank the stove, fridge & heater. =
There
are two valves on the tank, main and
aux. Four more under =
the sink,
one main, one for stove, one for the fridge
one for the heater ! =
I hope to have some pics =
of it
soon and will let you all know when I
post them to a website where =
we can
all have a look see. He's thinking about
reselling this gem, =
no idea
why but he did say he would let me know and send
me more details.
Anyways, it will be at BusFusion so =
any of you
coming will
see it and those of you who want to see it get on over =
to
BusFusion in
Almonte June 7, 8, 9, 10. Don't know about =
BusFusion ?
Then click on the
link !
Cheers
Frank =
Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
BusFusion a =
VW Camper
event in Almonte, June 7-10
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains =
Member: Vanagon List, LiMBO, IWCCC & =
Capital City
VW Club
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley =
STEBRO/Vanagon =
Stainless Steel
Mufflers
Frank Condelli =
&
Associates or http://frankcondelli.com