The Vanagon Dictionary

English · machine-assisted draft

The area where a seat belt is attached in a vehicle's cabin

• vanagon
• t25
• seatbelt

English · machine-assisted draft

A flat, round plate that rotates with the wheel and is squeezed by the brake pads to slow the vehicle

• brakes
• disc

English · machine-assisted draft

Practice of lowering the roof on the body of the vehicle by cutting portions of the frame and door frames

• chop-top
• custom

English · source definition

Any of Volkswagen smaller trucks and vans. known as Type 2 , they evolved through four (4) 'generations': T1 , T2 , T3 , and T4 , but the entire line of vehicles has always been called ' Type 2 '.

English · source definition

A model of bus that had a flat load bed with no fixed roof over the rear half of the vehicle. Optional canvas tents were available to cover the rear flat bed area. (See Single-cab and Double-cab .)

English · source definition

Any of the Volkswagen Transporters from 1992 to present. some were sold in Europe in 1991. generally characterized by their engine located in the front of the vehicle, driving the front wheels, and their very rounded shape and huge rear hatch.

English · source definition

A fuel container and supply connection serving propane appliances fitted to some camper conversions. Tank location, capacity, regulator, lines, and supported appliances are installation-specific; use the vehicle and appliance documentation for operation or service.

• camper
• appliance
• fuel-system

English · source definition

An exterior hose inlet that connects a camper's water system to a pressurized campsite supply. The fitting and plumbing arrangement vary; the vehicle manual distinguishes this mode from drawing water with the onboard pump.

• camper
• water-system
• exterior

English · source definition

The flexible fabric enclosure between a raised camper roof and the fixed vehicle roof. Depending on the design, it may include screened or closable openings; it is an enclosure, not a roof support or fall-protection device.

• camper
• roof
• canvas

English · source definition

The drain pipe and outlet that carry used sink water out of the camper sink. Some vintage camper layouts discharge through an open outlet rather than a grey-water tank, so the installed arrangement should be checked on the vehicle.

• camper
• water-system
• plumbing

English · source definition

The accessible coolant container used to replenish the water-cooled Vanagon system as coolant moves between the pressurized expansion tank and the reservoir. It is not the pressurized expansion tank itself; verify the part by the vehicle's cooling-system layout.

• engine
• water-cooled
• cooling

English · source definition

The 12-volt battery supply used for camper electrical loads such as interior lighting, the water pump, and controls on the documented Vanagon Westfalia. Whether a particular vehicle has a separate auxiliary battery depends on its model and later modifications.

• camper
• electrical
• battery

English · machine-assisted draft

Westfalia is a camper-conversion brand, not a Transporter generation. Gerry’s preserved FAQ describes Westfalia as one of several companies that converted VW Transporters and says it was generally the camper version imported and sold through Volkswagen dealers in the United States at that time. Roof, interior, and equipment depend on the specific vehicle and year.

• westfalia
• camper

English · source definition

Any Volkswagen Transporter . Since the Beetle was the first car produced by VW, it became known within the company as the Type 1. The bus or transporter was the second type of vehicle produced, so it became known as the Type 2. The Squareback/Fastback was the Type 3, and the 411/412 was the Type 4 (which had the same engine as the 1972-1982 Type 2's ( buses ).

English · machine-assisted draft

Adventurewagen was a Fort Bragg, California conversion builder, not a Volkswagen model or Transporter generation. In a December 1998 Gerry thread about camper conversions, a contributor describes its high-roof conversion as common on the U.S. West Coast and distinguishes that fixed high roof from pop-top layouts. A 2001 thread also identifies Adventurewagen as a maker of Vanagon high-top conversions. Roof, interior, and equipment vary by build and vehicle year.

• camper
• conversion

English · machine-assisted draft

In Gerry’s preserved terminology FAQ, “generation” groups Transporters by body series: T1 (1949–1967), T2 (1968–1979), T3 (1980–1991; called Vanagon in North America), and T4 (1992 onward in that FAQ). In Gerry’s September 2008 “lowered and chopped Vanagon” exchange, contributors identify the same T3 generation as Vanagon in North America and T25 in the UK; replies disagree over whether “T25” is proper usage. The name therefore depends on regional convention and is not a precise model-year identifier. These are historical ranges and naming conventions; verify market and model year.

• generation
• model