The coolness of an old Westfalia

DaewooOfDeath wrote: No experience with Westies but I will say that the Yota camper thing is a good idea. Tough, kind of cute, comfy. Used to go camping with my granddad in one. It was nice not worrying about getting stranded.

Did it have a 22r or re? Weren't you worried about head gaskets?

As far as the bus. I like them and have looked at a few early ones, but I'm curious to see how well they do in your environment. I'm no stranger to slow (see avatar), but I do like to make it to the top of the hill.

bastomatic wrote: Flip-Pac?

That thing is AWESOME!!!!! I want one for my F350.

Woody wrote: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1206750

DUDE! 15k!?! Ouch...pricey.

NOHOME wrote: Well, since they went to all the trouble to make the damn thing, maybe someone should try this... Ugly enough that it should scare the bears away.

The Looks-Like-Ass-Tec really isn't a bad option. Modern drive train and it is useful. My Mom and Step-dad rented one and actually drove it on the beach in the Outer Banks. They said it did just fine much to my surprise.

Matt B wrote: The Ford van suggestion made me think of this: http://jalopnik.com/399958/napoleon-dynamites-uncle-rico-selling-van-on-ebay-sweet

These are actually really useful. They're water tight, reliable, can be driven long distances comfortably, and have some sort of tow rating worth using. My Dad had one for years and we camped in it a few times. You need camping facilities with a shower but living in the Van wasn't all that bad. Especially if the weather was bad. Drag a generator a long and I'll bet you'd be in great shape camping for two.

Topical.

That said, do it. There's no other van on earth quite like it, so if that's what you want you're kind of stuck no matter how bad they are.

Oh E36 M3. It's fate.

1979 VW BUS - $5000 (Varina) - Corvair motor conversion already done. - He's got pics of it in the Outer Banks so it will actually make a 3.5 hour trip! Unless it was towed....

I just remembered.....a board member has a corvair swapped bus....wcelliot. I think his wife and daughter took a pretty serious road trip in it, but I can't find the thread.

edit: The trip info should be on his website www.fnader.com.

Co-worker has an aztek with that tent attachment. he uses it all the time. says the main problem (much like using my MPV as a camper) is space. You have to put all your E36 M3 somwhere to make room for you to sleep. So that either means in the front seats, or outside the vehicle.

Thinking practical, a fullsize van is the best way to go IMO, either a camper, a cargo built into a camper van by yourself, or even a lightly modified conversion van to suit camping needs. Plenty of space to be self contained. And you can find 80s-90s conversion vans DIRT cheap, likely owned by a family for vacations, not insane milage as a fleet vehicle like a cargo or something, etc..

I REALLY miss my Chevy G20.

that said. its not a westy.

I had a thing called a Safari Soft Shell for my 1994 Rodeo. It looked a lot like the Aztek thing when it was installed and I loved it! Plenty of room to stretch out. Of course, no bathroom. http://www.xocom.com/ss/Sleepers.html They have versions to fit just about anything with a drop tailgate and when not in use take up about as much room as a helmet bag.

Xceler8x wrote: Oh E36 M3. It's fate. 1979 VW BUS - $5000 (Varina) - Corvair motor conversion already done. - He's got pics of it in the Outer Banks so it will actually make a 3.5 hour trip! Unless it was towed....

Two speed trans: I would alter the gear selector so it had a rabbit and a turtle on it.

One of the things that hooked Janel on the idea of a Westie was the storage. Everything's stashed away in drawers and cubbyholes. This appeals to her nature It also makes it easy to set up/break camp, so you're not as limited by the fact that you're living in your vehicle. At least, that was my impression. Want to leave? Just drop the pop top and move off. A modified conversion van would be similar if it was built with cabinetry and wasn't just a mattress thrown in the back under the disco ball.

The ability to tow is not important to me. If I'm gonna tow, it'll be with the Cummins

Good stuff guys, keep it coming.

In reply to Keith:

In regards to the no repacking thing, I wouldn't strictly say that. Yes there are ton of nooks and crannies, but during the BABE rally we spent an amazing amount of time repacking stuff each day. Far more than I ever expected when we left.

I think if we weren't loaded for bear we'd have spent less time repacking/playing VW tetris. I'm sure you wouldn't need a 50lb jack, a spare generator 10qts of oil 4 qts of transmission fluid, 2 complete ignition sets, cloths(including 3 complete clint eastwood costumes), coolers and supplies for 3 people for 10 days, etc for a weekend outing.

Keep the packing light and I think you'll fare much better on the drop and go strategy.

As seen today.

tpwalsh wrote: Keep the packing light and I think you'll fare much better on the drop and go strategy.

I lived in a VW camper for a summer. I also lived in a 25' sailboat for a summer. Both required the same - "a place for everything and everything in place" mentality. Both also required aggressive "odor management" - cooking, soiled clothing, you get the idea. Both sucked during rainy spells.

Thirty years later, I think two weeks would be my limit but I have great memories of both experiences.

A co-worker has one, and is convinced he'll be able to stuff a modern VW TDI engine into it. He already has a TDI Golf, so he has some experience with the engine...but I dunno. They're very cool, if you can overlook the severe underpoweredness.

Got one in citrus county fl http://s1008.photobucket.com/albums/af210/jarrodburrito/Vw%20van/

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Oh snap! I'm on a Craigslist roll!

1967 Ford falcon camper van - $5500 (Seaford)

But it's in Maryland...

You've got a 3/4 ton truck? Get a slide in camper for it. Done. Cummins power, self contained, great off or on road. I want one for track weekends for my 3/4 ton Dodge. It's on my shopping list once the locost is done.

If you really want a VW bus, I'll just leave this here: Race Taxi Not much good for camping but much better for everything else.

What about those safari tops for the land rover? Basically a pop up on the roof. You've already got the vehicle, if you don't care about getting there fast.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: What about those safari tops for the land rover? Basically a pop up on the roof. You've already got the vehicle, if you don't care about getting there fast.

roof top tents and you can get them for pretty much anything with a roof rack. I almost got one for our cherokee but the fear was falling out of it in the middle of the night.

I have nothing to add other than if you want one, get it. If you don't like it, you can sell it. I like the Vanagon version a little better. Those will go 75mph on the highway (flat and don't be in a hurry.

When I first moved out to CA some climber friends still had them. They were great for camping. Something so right about being out in the desert sitting around a fire with a Westy in the background.

I am really starting to get the desire for either of these:

or

I'd like to see what can be done with used Dodge Sprinter.

I love the Airstream versions, but they're not exactly Challenge friendly...

vw_jason79 wrote: I am really starting to get the desire for either of these:

My desire: ahhh......That would be so cool.

I've had car crushes on westies several times and talked myself out of them each time. I've passed many a westy on the mountain climbs here in BC, either barely moving with a long line of traffic behind them(think getting passed by a motorhome) or just plain dead with the engine lid up. And having no heat in a damp climate with lot's of rain does not excite me. Let's face it, by the time the engine heat gets to the front of a vw van it'll be the same temp as the air you're trying to heat. And it always smells like oily exhaust. I have a friend here who's restored and modded many an award winning VW and he says don't do it. Nice idea, poor execution and a massive hole to flush money down into. Too bad no one else stepped up with such a cool, compact camping solution. I don't camp because I hate tents. A reliable westy type camper would be ideal.

As an option, what about a JDM version van like a Toyota Townace, Hiace, etc. or a Mitsu Delica?

Did it have a 22r or re? Weren't you worried about head gaskets?

I actually put a headgasket on one of those things as a tech. It still wouldnt do more than 45mph up a hill. So, similar in that regard but probably not QUITE as bad as the vw.

I love me some Eurovan Camper but hell, 10k at a minimum doesnt really do it for me, especially when i'd STILL be tempted to do a semi-expensive TDI swap..