Help Purchasing Van

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I am in the process of finding a Camper Van to purchase. I am looking for a full camper with poptop to sleep 4.

I am new to these and am wondering if I could get some help as to which years to look for and which ones to stay away from. Through my recent attempts to find one, I have been told that there are a couple of years that VW changed the cooling systems, and was told to stay away from those models, but I was unable to find out exactly which models they are.

Any and all information that you could give me would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Rob

[crukab]

Are you looking for a Vanagon or bubble window (68-79 )Bus ?
Tom

[[email protected]]

I am looking for a Westy type van...full camper with stove, fridge and sink, as well as a poptop with bed. I am open to any and all models and years with these options. It will be my only vehicle, so reliability is a must.

Thanks again.
Rob

[jeremysmithatshawdotca]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forums/latebus/forum.ph...ld=message
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forums/latebus/forum.ph...ld=message
check these threads, Jeremy

[jeremysmithatshawdotca]

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This is Kathy, her man has a 74 highroof for sale in Vegas, you might check it out. She'd emailed me, about a pic I had posted, and I pointed her in your direction too. Jeremy

[jeremysmithatshawdotca]

Sorry wrong thread!

[[email protected]]

Can someone tell me what a bubble window is?

[NeverHadaBeetle]

Bubble window, loaf, bay window, late bus, bread box, all refer to 1968-79 VW busses. Some people distinguish between 1968-71 as "early bay" because they had upright Beetle type engines and "late bay" as 1972-79 since they had the pancake or type IV engine. These two engine types are quite different, but the bodies remained much the same from 1968-79. Split window is 1967 earlier bus. Vanagon is 1980 later. Waterboxer or wasserboxer is 1983 later Vanagons.

[[email protected]]

There is alot more to these than I thought.

Is there anyway to simplify my purchase at all? It will be my only vehicle, so it will be used for everyday driving, plus many roadtrips, so reliability is a must.

I am from Canada, but it is not a huge problem, I would love to break it in with a great first roadtrip, but finance and registration could be difficult. Any tips?

Thanks for all your help!

Rob

[4 banger]

reliability
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob - as i'm sure you know - sometimes reliability and dollars go hand in hand - all of our air-cooled motor vehicles are getting old - unless you have the dollars to spend on a full resto - there will always be something that can & will break on these 25/40 year old cars - if you buy a van with a new engine there is still a thousand other thing that can break or just wear out - i see VW's here in northern california every day used as daily drivers - beetles and van's - but i don't see that many anymore on the big road - with 4 kids piled inside - mon & dad & the the dog - with a big sign saying DisneyWorld or bust in the back window - i do hope you find a camper you like & can afford - really a fun vehicle - just don't forget non of these rigs are spring chickens anymore - like me - they are getting old - t
http://www.picturetrail.com/tommyhudson

[[email protected]]

To be honest, I am expecting to pay some money...I am a big believer in "You get what you pay for." But I also want to get my monies worth, which is why I am enlisting help from the experts.

I am having trouble getting started finding the right one.

Rob