These folks are doin’ it…..living the dream.

[Hads930]

Like many here on PPOT I am always giving VW vans a closer look than other cars. We went down to our non-picturesque beach to drink cold beers on the sand. I drove by this van and backed up to give it a closer look as it was obviously an import and not an old survivor. The owner approached, we got to talking and I realized these folks are living the dream. They are Brazilian and drove this van from Brazil all the way to Alaska. They could not have been nicer, showed me the very cozy inside of the van and its workings.

My wife and I have dreams of doing something similar although not near to this extreme. As we drove away she asked’ “Is that what you’re thinking?”. I let her know I did not love her near enough to travel in something that slow and small, she politely agreed. Anyway you can look them up on all of the social media platforms, I have found them but with no accounts I don’t think I have the ability to get past the first page.

[Tidybuoy]

Cool. The bus definitely looks a little different than the usual ones sold in America.

[masraum]

I can't imagine the missus going along for that sort of ride in that sort of vehicle.

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

Cool. The bus definitely looks a little different than the usual ones sold in America.

air cooled VWs (beetles & busses) were made in many parts of the world until modern times.

Brazil contained the last factory in the world that produced the T2 series of Type 2, which ceased production on 31 December 2013, due to the introduction of more stringent safety regulations in the country.[7] This (after the 2002 termination of its T3 successor in South Africa) marked the end of the era of rear-engine Volkswagens, which originated in 1935 with their Type 1 prototypes.

According to Google, it's ~8100 miles as the crow flies from Sao Paolo to Anchorage. I can only assume that driving may add at the very least several hundred miles, or maybe as many as 1000 which I would think would be the most direct route without detouring to see other things.

[herr_oberst]

Seeing the world at 35 MPH (56kph)!
What year is that van? That is so freaking cool. It looks like an amalgam of different years, with a lot of region-only features. That's one for the Car Paparazzi!
It's my guess that the little dog ("Snowball"?) is the glue that keeps that relationship from falling apart! Don't want to fight in front of the kids!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Seeing the world at 35 MPH (56kph)!
What year is that van? That is so freaking cool. It looks like an amalgam of different years, with a lot of region-only features. That's one for the Car Paparazzi!
It's my guess that the little dog ("Snowball"?) is the glue that keeps that relationship from falling apart! Don't want to fight in front of the kids!

They stopped making new buses in Brazil in 2013. My guess is that it's 2000 - 2013.

They made air cooled beetles in Brazil until 1996 and Mexico until 2003. The old VW air cooled stuff was much longer lived than most Americans realize.

[Billiam 911 2.8]

https://kindredmotorworks.com/models/kindred-vw-bus/tailgate-edition?color=Seafoam+Green

Starting at a mere $249K

[A930Rocket]

^^^ 1 year warranty and 200 mile range for $249k?

[Dixie]

I too had the dream of traversing the continent in a van. The freedom, adventure, and romance of the vagabond life spoke to my gypsy soul.

But before I committed my dream to reality, I did a test run. I moved into my closet for the weekend, in July, in Florida, with the AC off. Then, to complete the effect, I misted everything with water and some dirt.

My dream lasted 15 minutes.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I think one of the best ways to drive around the country in retirement is a new(ish) 911, a tent for adventure, boutique hotels for comfort. I don't get the RV thing at all. Huge, hard to park, expensive to drive, depreciates $1000 per mile driven.

[Rick Lee]

Man, the RV lots in AZ go on for as far as the eye can see. It's hard to believe they can ever sell a fraction of them. But there must be a market for them. I'll never own one.

[flatbutt]

My dream is a modified small RV that can safely carry a couple of telescopes and accoutrements and of course the creature comforts.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

My dream is a modified small RV that can safely carry a couple of telescopes and accoutrements and of course the creature comforts.

There are some really neat truck bed slides for smaller trucks.

https://fourwheelcampers.com/the-best-toyota-tacoma-lightweight-truck-camper/

Everything is a trade-off, but there is some very interesting designs out there!



I had a 1968 VW van in HS for about six months...loved the look, but let's be frank: less power than an electric toothbrush, handled like a shopping cart and had a 6 volt electrical system!

[vonsmog]

I've got this VW RV that is perfect for 2 and has all the amenities of a large one, full bathroom with shower, kitchen and large bed over the cab. Gets 18+ MPG and is only 21' long.

[vonsmog]

I've got this VW RV that is perfect for 2 and has all the amenities of a large one, full bathroom with shower, kitchen and large bed over the cab. Gets 18+ MPG and is only 21' long. Winnebago only made 944 of them from 2001-2003.

[Seahawk]

^^^ I have always thought that that RV is the coolest.

Best.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I think one of the best ways to drive around the country in retirement is a new(ish) 911, a tent for adventure, boutique hotels for comfort. I don't get the RV thing at all. Huge, hard to park, expensive to drive, depreciates $1000 per mile driven.

That’s at the top of my wife and i’s post-kids to do list. Except probably minus the camping part. Also no interstates, back roads only.

We actually kicked around buying an RV and keeping it at the lake where we already keep our boat. Reality quickly kicked in when we started looking around. $100k gets you an RV that’s made out of cardboard, the quality is absolute garbage. If you want quality you either buy a used one and remodel, or add another zero to the price tag. As for towing or driving something around massive around the country, hell no. There’s nothing less relaxing in my mind.

[thingmon]

Originally Posted by Dixie

I too had the dream of traversing the continent in a van. The freedom, adventure, and romance of the vagabond life spoke to my gypsy soul.

But before I committed my dream to reality, I did a test run. I moved into my closet for the weekend, in July, in Florida, with the AC off. Then, to complete the effect, I misted everything with water and some dirt.

My dream lasted 15 minutes.

Yep. Imagine a motorcycle...

[thingmon]

Driving across Houston in my Beetle is enough for me. Not terrible, if traffic is moving and the ragtop's open, but it rarely is moving and then there's the rain...

[thingmon]

Heck of an achievement. Here's another couple:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DDLKQ6yEj/

[varmint]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

^^^ 1 year warranty and 200 mile range for $249k?

You could buy a used Lincoln and stay in nice hotels for five year for that.