Because I’m gonna pretty much live out of the camper for close to two months, often camp and hike in places that won’t always have hookups, and want to be able to have flexible food choices, for me the fridge will be something I’ll want, although I don’t like giving up the floor space. I traveled a bit this summer with a friend who has the unit, and I loved it, and was impressed by how well it runs. I’ll absolutely have a Coleman stove with me, and am likely to use the interior stove during wet weather only, probably. I’m ambivalent about the A/C, and have read that story. I’ll assess when I get my hands on it and will listen to the mechanic as well. Who knows, if all else is solid, I may try to get it going once...probably $600 or so, and see what happens...or maybe not. No enlightenment here from me. We all adapt to what works for us. That’s half the fun. I’ll also look for a side door canopy. Once again...this is the fun but not important stuff, and it can all change as things crop up that end up being mechanically important. 

Art

From: Richard Koerner 
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 9:47 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM ; Art 
Subject: Re: Advice request; 1986 WESTY Vanagon automatic

      Art,  do you really need a refrigerator?  So much hassle I think.  Been camping in my Vanagon for 20 years with just an ice chest; ice is available everywhere.  Get two bags if you're going for 3 days from civilization and then you've got to get some more food anyway.  Trying to turn a Vanagon into a full-on motor-home is sometimes not the answer.  My opinion.  Also, a coleman stove used outside, either liquid fuel or propane, works every time and solves the "smells" attached to the interior surfaces problem.   Keep it simple and reliable, and I think you'll have a great time.  But for sure, get an auxiliary battery; I bought the GoWesty kit to add that with the relay, and the peace of mind to start the van the next morning is worth it.  But fridge and inside stove?....in MY opinion not worth the hassle.  And the A/C system in a Vanagon?; well, read the story in the Technical section on the GoWesty website...be prepared for a lot of bucks...over and over...just too many places to leak.  By the way, my rig is a tin-top not a Westy, so yes, I am biased in my opinion having never experienced the "good life"...I welcome opposing opinions and enlightenment.

      Rich
      San Diego

      --- On Wed, 11/30/11, Art <awa0330@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

        From: Art <awa0330@GMAIL.COM>
        Subject: Re: Advice request; 1986 WESTY Vanagon automatic
        To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
        Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 6:15 PM

        Thanks.

        Although I'm told that there is not anything that needs to happen
        right now with the vehicle, I'll bring it down to a fairly local mechanic
        that comes recommended through some of you and get a once over. I should
        have it in my possession within two weeks as transportation is already
        arranged.  Assuming there are no huge surprises, I want to get it ready for
        a couple of months of road travel in February, as I head south and west.
        I'll replace the fridge with an Engel MT45, remove the old fridge and pick
        up some storage,  add an auxiliary battery of course, and an inverter.
        Because I use iPods and iPads and iStuff, I'll need to assess places to plug
        in, radio stuff, etc. My travels for now will not be during the hottest
        summer months, but I will assess, based on the rest of the mechanical
        condition, whether I should bother reconnecting and converting the A/C
        system.  I won't really have a ton of time between acquisition and hitting
        the road.  If I can get those things out of the way, I'll use it a bit and
        come home with a better understanding of "what's next".

        Thanks for the shifting tips and have a ball with your project.

        A

        -----Original Message-----
        From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans
        Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 7:11 PM
        To: Art ; wlmailhtml:/mc/compose?to=vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
        Subject: Re: Re: Advice request; 1986 WESTY Vanagon automatic

        hi Art...
        congratulations.
        Now .....just having it arrive safely is your next hurtle..
        hopefully no issues at all in that department.

        and yes...it IS handy to be able to rest back there if broken down and
        waiting.
        it's also awfully handy that the rear hatch makes a fine rain roof while
        working on the engine.

        What is the first upgrade or modification you are contemplating ?

        I'll tell you two things about the auto trans shifter..
        one ......
        it is not that hard at all to accidentally have it in 2nd and be going down
        the freeway at 65mph ..
        it's easy to do ..
        the engine does not sound or feel any different at 65 mph whether in 2nd or
        3rd. ( but the rpm's sure will be higher )

        the lack of good console lighting ( or none ) at the shifter doesn't help at
        night either.
        I like to rig a little red LED that shins on the shift lever and pattern.

        also ..
        many auto trans Vanagon  owners don't know this trick..
        any time you are in 3rd ...........like say loosing speed heading up a hill,
        2nd is available with a quick slap on the shifter.........no need to push in
        the button.
        There's an interlock so it can't get below 2nd .
        so just slap it back into 2nd ...no button pushing, no worry about going
        into 1st.

        ( on the upshift back to 3rd ...you also don't have to push the button in,
        but you do have to be careful to not go into Neutral ) .

        it's not uncommon for the neutral safety switch in the shift console to not
        make contact ..
        so if it doesn't start from the key in Park, , wiggle the shift lever some.

        I climb hills at about 4,200 in 2nd.
        oh .,.
        I don't just put it in 'D' and drive normally..
        I keep it in 2nd until I'm going fast enough to want top gear, then I
        manually shift to 3rd.
        I never use the kick-down feature with the gas pedal..
        I do most shifting manually.

        and now ..think I mentioned this ..
        I have this 2.2 Subaru engine and I realize it can go into one of my
        vanagons the easiest and with least expense by putting it into my 86 GL with
        auto trans..
        and I'll have to take that trans apart too....currently it only goes in
        Reverse.
          Besides replacing the wear item parts in it ..
        I probably will buy a dyno-tested rebuilt Valve Body from German Transaxle
        for it.

        what fun !
        congrats again !
        Scott
        www.turbovans.com
        ----- Original Message -----
        From: "Art" <wlmailhtml:/mc/compose?to=awa0330@GMAIL.COM>
        To: <wlmailhtml:/mc/compose?to=vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
        Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:03 PM
        Subject: Re: Advice request; 1986 WESTY Vanagon automatic

        > Ladies & Gentlemen, I have in fact just sealed the deal.  I am now
        > somewhat
        > officially a member of your (our) crazed group of masochists.  Here's
        > hoping
        > that my next post has nothing to do with being on the side of the road,
        > questioning my sanity and being thankful that at least I'd have a bed to
        > sleep in whilst stranded somewhere. I still have to ship it up to N.E.
        > from
        > Jacksonville way, which may prove to be the longest (approximately) 2
        > weeks
        > ever.
        >
        > And indeed, I do look forward to being "checked out", once my travels
        > commence.
        >
        > Thanks again,
        > Art
        >
        >