VW camper van - what d'ya think?

[Jim Richards]

CHILI, I'll bet a 911-engined VW van would handle traversing the mountains like a champ.

[CHILI]

Yea, I can only imagine! I forgot to mention it was for sale, but he wanted $25K!!
At first I thought it said $2,500 and it was clean. So I looked a little closer and saw $25,000. Now I'm no expert, but I said "what the..." and had to take a closer look. That's when I saw the rear decklid popped open and the 3.6 crammed in there. Then I saw the lisence plate bracket that said something about being a 3.6 P-car engine. Man, that would be a blast! Probably beat some of our cars

[Jim Richards]

Still thinking about this VW camper thing. Maybe just a Vanagon/Eurovan with portable stove and cooler. Dunno for sure.

I'm wondering about the possibility of it being a tow vehicle. Assumed load is an early (2400#, hopefully less!) 911 and an open aluminum trailer. My wife suggested this possiblity for traveling to my away DE events, in addition to just sightseeing trips.

Are we on drugs for even thinking about this? Thanks and Happy New Year to you all.

[island911]

Originally posted by Jim Richards
. . .
Are we on drugs for even thinking about this?

Yes . . . and even before you started thinking about this.

[Jim Richards]

ROFL! Thanks for the vote of confidence!

[addictionMS]

www.TheSamba.com the Pelican of Vanagons......specifically

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewforum.php?f=20
and another

http://westfalia.org


Jim

[speeder]

Jim, I am a big fan of the VW Vanagon interior layout, but as a tow vehicle you can just forget it. At least w/ the stock drivetrain. If a dead squirrel got hooked on the rear bumper, it would not make it up a mountain.

The only alternative engine that makes any sense at all is the Subaru conversion, (and it makes a lot of sense), the 911 motor conversions mentioned above are novelty items with no practical value whatsoever. Wrong power band for towing, and not exactly going to win any races w/ the aerodynamics of a sail and the handling of a shopping cart. I would imagine that the front wheels leave the ground like a 737 taking off when they hook a trailer up.

Buy a nice diesel pick-up truck, and throw a camper on the back. (Which is removable). I knew someone who traded a syncro Westfalia in on an F-350 4x4 Powerstroke duelly Crewcab. They were enjoying an immediate 5 mpg improvement in highway fuel mileage, and really enjoying the ~500 ft. lbs. of stock torque and 12k lb. towing capacity.

The new Dodge Cummins trucks are beyond belief. ~22 mpg hiway, (empty), and 600 ft. lbs. of torque. They would out-drag race a 3.6 VW van if you gave it a football field head start, then tow it home when it blows up or crashes.

Here is a nice 2001 that is barely broken in:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4599120129&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

And if $$ ain't a thing, here is an '05 that I would like to be driving:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4599667242&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[island911]

Originally posted by speeder
Jim, I am a big fan of the VW Vanagon interior layout, but as a tow vehicle you can just forget it. At least w/ the stock drivetrain. If a dead squirrel got hooked on the rear bumper, it would not make it up a mountain.
. . .

Damn, Denis you are in good form today.

I've had a few Vanagons, a Syncro currently, and yeah, they are fairly weight sensitive. (even though they are heavy to start with.)

The Euro vans have more power now .. .. but forget the full kitchen deal. Waaaay too much a price premium and anything you cook inside will stink-up the place for many miles to come . .. well, boiled water will just fog the hell out of the windows . .. and you'll be doing lots of . . but w/o the smile.

Get a camp-stove, a thermo-electric cooler, and send me half the 6k$ you'll save.

[Jim Richards]

Only half? For all that help you provided? I feel like I'm robbing you, island.

Denis, my wife has been in my ear for a couple of years now for a camper van, preferably of the VW ilk. It's a tough sell to get a bigger vehicle. Still, I appreciate the suggestion.

The Eurovan sounds like the leading candidate. Is the weekender model what you've been referring to, island? Thanks guys!

[island911]

Half is okay . .. I'm not greedy. . .. oh and make sure you send monthly checks for the savings on insurance. (not having a "self-incinerate" option seems to affect rates. -go figure.

Yeah, the weekender model has the extra sleeping space (great for kids) but without the tiny stove/refer.

I saw a full Westy (syncro) f/s the other day. They had the Westy price, and went on to say; Stove and refig not working. -go figure, again. . . . but it does LOOK like it's having fun.

[addictionMS]

we just bought a 1986 Westy weekender and we are loving it. No way could you tow anything with it, but if you get in the mind set that it is for touring, and enjoying the journey not the destination you will enjoy it as well. We have only done one overnight trip, it gets so dark so early it is not much fun now, but we expect to get out one weekend a month this summer. I talked to a fellow racer who has a new one, and it has 260 hp and he tows a light weight trailer and his 911 all the time and said it was ok.

We paid $6K for ours with a documented rebuilt motor and trani and new AC.

I put the Van Cafe (google for it) suspension on it, raised the van about 1.5 inches and stiffened the ride quite a bit, it now drives much better.

Jim

[Doug E]

Jim - sounds like this might be the perfect addition for a DE weekend at SP ... no more commuting home between days

[widebody911]

Yes, I think a VW camper is a great idea. Wish I still had mine

[jrdavid68]

Somebody buy this one!

Here's a '73 Bus I have for sale currently on TheSamba.com. No camping amenities but the price is very negotiable:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=253362

[MichiganMat]

Damn Jim, you and your wife don't have enough arms and legs to drive all the cars you've got these days! Stocking up for future kids I don't know about?

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by Doug E
Jim - sounds like this might be the perfect addition for a DE weekend at SP ... no more commuting home between days

Exactly, Doug. Summit Point, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen and beyond! I think the Eurovan looks like the right choice based on its 4400 # towing capacity. Lots of details to figure out. Thanks for the help guys!

[Eric 951]

Jim,

Just echoing the sentiment of many of the posts. I never personally owned a Vanagon, but 2 of my roomates had them--1 had an 86 Wetsy pop-top and the other had a 77 pop-top. 3 of us lived in the 86 for about a week while searching for an apt. It was comfortable--did lots of cooking in it, didn't have much power, but went good in the snow(we would traverse from Kellog ID. into Couer D Aliene(sp?) and Spokane and going up the mountain was always an exercise in patience. The 77 was driven from Ohio to Idaho--he lost a cylinder in MI(and the heater) but still made it the rest of the way on 3, with a fisherman's heater under the dash. Pretty good vehicles IMHO.

[ckissick]

Jim,

What's your budget? I had an '85 Westy, and drove it around the US and Canada for 6 months over 2 consecutive summers. I spent 3 weeks in Alaska, and went to all 49 states on the continent. I drove it 50,000 miles and never had a single mechanical problem, aside from worn out CV joints, which I had replaced in Florida. So I have some experience with Westy's.

Would I buy another one? In a minute, if I could afford it right now. The '87 to '91 Vanagon types are the best of the Vanagons. The Eurovans ones have more power, and all, but the interior is more cramped. I'd prefer the '87 to '91 for the money.

Here are some good websites:

http://www.poptopheaven.com/
http://www.westfalia.org/
http://www.gowesty.com/directory.html
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/cat.php?id=55

[Jim Richards]

Charlie, thanks for the links. My wife and I are thinking of $20k+/-. If more, it takes away from some other things we want to do, like buying an AL trailer to carry our 911E. Towing our 911E is a big part of this decision process. The Vanagon doesn't appear to have the towing capacity for a ~3700# load (911E, AL trailer, etc.). I may focus on a GLS or MV without pop-top (only need to sleep 2) and look into what camper mods might be made to fit our needs. Hopefully, I'm not delusional about this whole idea.

[Eric 951]

Jim,

I would advise against using a VW van as a tow vehicle. The 86 had a hard enough time chugging up a mountain with 4 adults, let alone towing anything(see "dead squirrel" quote in one of the earlier quotes)