VW camper van - what d'ya think?

[Jim Richards]

My wife and I periodically talk about buying a VW camper van someday. We're thinking it might be nice for travelling around North America. Anyone have any experience / feedback that might persuade / dissuade us? Thanks!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

http://vintagebus.com

[island911]

I'll suggest a vanagon weekender, or standard vanagon.
If you decided otherwise (Full kitchen) your insurance rates go way up, (due to the fire potential), you have to be very careful of what you cook (vinyl really can hold oders) and then you pay a serious premium for the vehicle.

As to Vanagon or Eurovan. . . well, one has the boxer engine in the back.
The newer Eurovans, to the older Vanagons, are like the 928 to a 911.

A buddy of mine, who owns one of each, had his Eurovan water pump seize on him, somewhere in Montana. The waterpump, took out the timing belt, which did-in the motor. It's still in Montana, BTW . . .full kitchen, pop-top. . .wanna buy it?

[Doug Zielke]

Jim,
We had a VW Westphalia camper years ago. It was a great little vehicle. I only wish I knew John Walker back then so he could have put a 3.0 911 motor in it.

I haven't driven one of the newer ones with the motor in the front. I'm sure they'd be fine, especially if there was more power than the old ones.

[Jim Richards]

Thanks guys! I'm clueless about the VW vans so I'll need to do some research. Lu (the wife) and I are thinking about long trips by camper van. I'm even thinking that sometime I'll rent a VW camper (new ones for rent up around Boston) so we can make sure it really is what we want to do.

I didn't realize the new vans are front engined. I also wasn't aware that their engine reliability might be so-so. And the insurance issue was also unexpected. I guess there's lots to learn yet, so I'd better get started! Thanks again.

[island911]

oh, hey, Jim . . .I didn't mean to suggest the newer engine reliability might be so-so. I just was pointing to the design difference. Like a 928, or 944; the Euro uses a belt! (for the cam drive) IMO, too many things can "compromise" a belt. . . .on an "interference motor" it is risky design. (unless the 'design' is planned obsolecence.)

The vanagons are push-rod style (read: bullet proof)

[nostatic]

dammit Jim, now you've got me looking at ads. I've always loved VW vans, and it would be so nice to have for day trips to the beach or mountains here in SoCal. Looks like air cooled up until '83. I love the old ones, but they are so damn slow. Although with a rebuilt 2.7 motor...hmmm..

[nostatic]

here ya go Jim...not a poptop, but $950 and "needs engine". And can you put a price on that paint job?

[Jim Richards]

Todd, that van is sweet! Makes me want to take up surfing. Now if I could just get a day job over at Scripps...

OK, reality check...I'm starting to think about big big rides, as RoninLB calls them. The p-car is nice (esp. the 993) for cruising, but with my better half along (a firm requirement ), it might be more fun in a camper van. Also, we're no longer at that point in life where sleeping on the ground sounds like fun. I think the only VW camper ammenity that I'd forgo is a built-in stove. Of course, all of this is in the conceptual stage...too much I still need to learn.

Thanks for your help and creative suggestions (Todd)!

[Doug Zielke]

Jim,
You should have the stove too. Our old Westy had it all, and was a great vehicle with which to hit the racing circuits. To this day, my wife complains that we should have never sold it.
BTW, the rental idea sounds like a good one.

[island911]

While I agree with Doug, that you should have a stove too; I think you are FAR better off having a portable one. If/when you check market prices on the Westies, you will be shocked by the delta, just for that pair of fixed whimpy burners.

BTW, Jim, the fold-down beds in the vanagons are very comfortable.
I will also add; find a light color exterior. I had a dark-blue vanagon, and found it to be extreamly cold when camping under a clear night sky.
(dark colors under a clear night sky do the opposite of when they are under the sun. . .its a radiant heat thing. --don't under estimate its effects)

[Jim Richards]

island, I was thinking portable stove, too. My wife is Chinese and cooks chinese-style (very hot oil and garlic) about 50% of the time. I can't imagine her doing that inside a van! Refridgerator, sink and water tank seem like must haves. A heater for those cool nights sounds good, too. I like your suggestion about staying with a light color exterior. It makes a lot of sense.

I'm curious about the various years and technologies - air vs. water cooled, front vs. rear engined, creature comforts and safety features of VW camper vans that are new, fairly new, not so new, downright old, etc. Anyone aware of any reference materials for me to look for?

I hope that over the next couple of years we can decide if this type of travel really suits us, and what we really like in a camper van.

Thanks again for all your advice!

[island911]

Vanagon.com is a great place to start off. ( a big site)

A couple other notes:
air vs. water cooled, reads to me as "cold vs heated" . . .the heat exchangers on the air-cooled just dont do the job of heating all that volume.

I currently own a white syncro (all wheel drive). skip the syncro option unless you do a whole lot of snow driving, or serious off-roading.

RE, safety: http://vanagon.com/info/safety/volvo-crash/index.html

[island911]

Oh, yeah. . .I've noticed a lot of folks have the misguided idea of the vehicle being a house on wheels (kitchen sink, etal). My experience says you need to really rethink how you will be handling the daily living while on the road. You no-longer just stack your dishes in the sink to "get to later", for example.

Simple & minimal, generally win the day.

[Jim Richards]

Good point about the change in living style when on the road. That reminds me of the times my wife, son and I would spends a few days living aboard our old sailboat. Everything had to be taken care of and stowed in its place every day.

[speeder]

I have owned older Westies and vans, plus researched Vanagons and Eurovans a bit lately. The Eurovans seem to last, (lots of high-milers on ebay), but nothing can beat the interior layout of the Vanagon, (1980-91). As for air vs. H2o cooled, the later is a LOT better, IMO, in spite of some head gasket issues. If you can get a sorted-out waterboxer, they are great. Real heat and A/C, plus good MPG and OK power. (Both of these become less w/ Westy model and/or Synchro, mucho weight gain).

Having owned full campers and travelled in them, my favorite is now a regular Vanagon w/ folding bed and table, (either a Wolfsburg Ed., Carat, or any '89-'91), nice low roof clearance for parking ramps, less weight and (slightly) better aero, all you need is a cooler, cell phone and laptop w/ DVD player and net card, BINGO! you've got a live-aboard!

[jyl]

Great idea! I currently have a truck camper on a big-block 4x4 3/4 ton Ford - it is such a pain to get ready, drinks so much gas (<7 mpg I kid you not), and handles so poorly that we never use it - it just decorates the local RV storage yard. We are thinking about a compact little Westfalia too.

How do people like the pop-up roof and the upper bunk? Since we have little kids, that's a feature that catches my eye.

I found this inspirational site about living in a Wesfalia: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw/

Edit: corrected the URL.

[speeder]

John, If you have kids, then a pop-top Westy is the way to go. Non- pop-tops only sleep two, and they have to really like each other.

[Jim Richards]

So, for just a couple of adults, is the pop top worthwhile? Is there better headroom? Thanks!

[island911]

I would agree with speeder (!) and say, for just a couple of adults, the pop-top is notworthwhile. You don't gain the headroom, again they get premium price, if in good order. If you figure you will be toting lots of stuff, then, the pop-top is good (no stuff stacked on your bed).