I agree with all the comments = said about porta potties we never leave home without ours, it's a very useful = accessory and fits in it's own cupboard in our Autosleeper conversion with the gaz = bottles. Our {now} six year old has been used to using it on every trip. = Often whilst travelling across Europe she says she is desperate to 'go' and = not being able to stop on the Motorway she has sat quite happily at 60-65mph in = the van and performed!

It's also useful when you do = get the Services, as more than likely those Tour coaches have got there before = you and there is a queue of 40-50 people standing crossed legged when you get there!

On many French service areas, = they only have French loos, have any of you come across these ? They resemble holes in the ground over which = you have to squat; my wife refuses to use them. In Holland the Porta Pottie = was invaluable as there are very few Ladies toilets around.

I also placed silver = reflective tint on the windows of our van, to reflect the heat of the sun in Italy = and to prevent drawing all the curtains when we stop to use the loo - mind you = it's an odd feeling sitting on the loo being able to look out knowing those = looking at the van cannot see in.................if only they knew!!!

We tend to leave the trap = door open slightly when going through the EuroTunnel and crossing the Swiss Alps = and during sudden changes of temperature to prevent pressure build up. = We always use granulated chemicals - it's less messy and the packets store = easily in the van.......they don't roll like liquid containers on mountain roads.

I have had the water = reservoir freeze whilst at home several times in the UK with no ill effect on the = plastic, don't overfill and leave the ice somewhere to expand - does take a while = to thaw out though!!

Instant coffee everytime, no = time when we are on the move. Now a good cup of tea is an entirely different matter...........................but then you'd expect that from an Englishman!

Whilst in Italy the year = before last we had water pump problems and had to spend a day at a VW garage = whilst they found and replaced the pump. My Haynes manual says the front of = the van should be raised, and by the look of the postings on this list = the Bentley manual says the same. I was amazed that the mechanic actually = raised the rear of the van after replacing the pump then raised the revs. I = was told by the Manager he knew what he was doing when I queried it. The = van was OK for the rest of the holiday and all the way home1500 miles and has been = ever since................ any comments?

We have a hot air heating = system built into our van. It runs off the gaz and auxiliary battery, and works = fine takes about half an hour before the thermometer hits 80f. However, = I would not like to leave it on for too long because of the battery drain. = We use a household fan heater which is quieter, and have used this a couple of = times when on a site. The fibreglass hi-top on our van keeps the heat in = better than the raising roof campers, and my daughter soon says "it's too = hot up here"if we leave the heating on for too long.

I was suprised at the = interest about this van, compared with the T3 VW {Vanagon} it's quite small, and front wheel = drive, it feels smaller that the T4 VW. Give me the T3 any day! = Good quality van!

David Clark
1985 VW = Autosleeper VHT 1.9 2WD
www.soft.net.uk/vwt2oc
{see= members rides}
1960 Humber Super Snipe Estate 3L
www.humberonia.freeserve.c= o.uk
1985 Fiat Uno 1.1L automatic {wife's}