| Author |
Message |
campism
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4487
Location: Richmond VA
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 9:16 am Post subject: |
 |
|
Every time I drive the Westy I appreciate this one. I'd tried a couple of mirror extension projects before in order to see out below the upper cabinet and they worked but looked clunky. The 1/2" copper pipe was suggested by another Sambanista and this approach is much cleaner looking and is very easy to do:
1) hacksaw the mirror stalk,
2) cut a length of pipe to give you enough extension,
3) use JB Weld or the like to glue everything together again,
4) drive your Westy with an actual view out to the rear.
_________________
'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
axiomtherapy
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2015
Posts: 4
Location: Rhode Island
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 5:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Can someone tell what fridge that is? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 5:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This one?
Edgestar |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
axiomtherapy
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2015
Posts: 4
Location: Rhode Island
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 5:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| yes. Thank you very much. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GUAPO _ VANAGON
Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2014
Posts: 4
Location: San Antonio
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 11:18 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
Best Mods are:
1. Rebuild of suspension, Belstin custom shocks with gowesty springs fully progressive design
2. Custom rear bumper awesome!
3. Radio upgrade, DVD, GPS, Bluetooth, Tracking and much more (soundstream flip out screen)
4. gel memory topper for comfy nights rest
5. upgraded LP gas valve for external use and adding extra tank
6. 4" 200 watt speakers, mid range
7. AC rebuild, in Texas a must!
8. $5 collapsible toilet, no comment necessary!
9. Front seat WP covers, keep them clean
10. 4 outlet with USB connections in glove box[/img] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
0to60in6min
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006
Posts: 3416
Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 11:24 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
| Vanistan oil cooler... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pinetreeporsche
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009
Posts: 752
Location: Falls Church, VA
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 7:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| campism wrote: |
I'd tried a couple of mirror extension projects before in order to see out below the upper cabinet and they worked but looked clunky. The 1/2" copper pipe was suggested by another Sambanista and this approach is much cleaner looking and is very easy to do:
1) hacksaw the mirror stalk,
2) cut a length of pipe to give you enough extension,
3) use JB Weld or the like to glue everything together again,
4) drive your Westy with an actual view out to the rear.
|
I did pretty much the same thing, not quite as long as yours. I assumed that the combination of the extra load of the Westy gradually compressing the rear springs, and the upper cabinetry with the AC outlets together made the problem. Anyone know how much sag the springs suffer- in other words, how much the rear would be raised just by putting in new stock rear springs? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Noblecr
Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2011
Posts: 103
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:55 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
Trucker fridge
Recaro seats
2211 propex heater
New carpet and flooring
Adding doors to the rear bench!! Game changer
Next on list is Big brakes and new springs!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7455
Location: WA/ID
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
The Recaros look soooo comfortable. My GTI seats were some of the best I've had and I've considered looking for some as a swap but I really like the arm rests (so does my traveling partner).
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
|
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32561
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
physast
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2005
Posts: 675
Location: DC
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7455
Location: WA/ID
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
| Noblecr wrote: |
2211 propex heater
|
Ahhh... Propex 2211 vents in the floor. I had not thought about that but like the way it saves cabinet space in that hoses aren't coming up through the floor and making a 90* bend out the cabinet wall.
Good food for thought.
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
|
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32561
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Stephenmarklay
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2016
Posts: 526
Location: Spokane
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
| Noblecr wrote: |
Trucker fridge
Recaro seats
2211 propex heater
New carpet and flooring
Adding doors to the rear bench!! Game changer
Next on list is Big brakes and new springs!
|
Tell me about your DC plugs! This looks like what I have been thinking about in place of the city water.
_________________
1985 Westfalia. Project 2017. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Fuzzyip
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2016
Posts: 40
Location: 90029
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
| Alarm, GPS and remote communication. I can see the status of my van from anywhere in the world, it will text me if the alarm goes off. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7455
Location: WA/ID
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 7:07 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
| Fuzzyip wrote: |
| Alarm, GPS and remote communication. I can see the status of my van from anywhere in the world, it will text me if the alarm goes off. |
Which gps locator did you install? I'm on the verge of buying one.
FYI for others, here's the thread on gps locators...
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568723
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
|
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Waldi
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014
Posts: 1752
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:18 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
My coolest mod is for sure my engine system which allows me to drive with pure raps oil.
Saved me around 5000€ fuel costs the last 10 years.
Edit:
And my money goes to a local farmer and not to oil companys. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mtnride1
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2011
Posts: 194
Location: la quinta, CA
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 10:27 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
I really like the battery tray from peace vans holds a 160ah battery fits under the sliding door so I did not lose any storage, kept my 48ah battery under the seat so even if I do not hook up my portable solar I have been able to stay out 6 days. Oh and my heated Recaros and the t-49 truck fridge, if I keep looking at everyone else's mods on this forum I am going to go broke.
_________________
87 westy 2wd (NED) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Stephenmarklay
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2016
Posts: 526
Location: Spokane
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
| Waldi wrote: |
My coolest mod is for sure my engine system which allows me to drive with pure raps oil.
Saved me around 5000€ fuel costs the last 10 years.
Edit:
And my money goes to a local farmer and not to oil companys. |
Yeah thats a pretty nice mod!
_________________
1985 Westfalia. Project 2017. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7455
Location: WA/ID
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? |
|
|
| djkeev wrote: |
I never saw this reflector idea, I'll be copying this!
|
I really liked this when I saw it on TexasVanagons but here's how my thinking went:
- not all events that force us to the shoulder require us to remove the engine cover;
- when forced to the side of the road we should have warning triangles or flares at the ready and they should be adequate to meet the needs of safety for my party as well as those approaching me;
- the engine cover may be buried under all sorts of stuff;
- therefore, this idea is a secondary back-up measure, a nice-to-have but certainly not anything I'd rely on to alert oncoming traffic to my situation.
Before this, ensure that primary precautions are taken.
I'd also suggest putting the reflective tap in the vallies of of the lid (versus the peaks) to protect it a bit from wear and snags.
That's all. Carry on.
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
|
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro).
Last edited by jimf909 on Sun Aug 28, 2016 10:54 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
