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DropgateLefty
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2011
Posts: 126
Location: Auburn, CA
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DropgateLefty
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2011
Posts: 126
Location: Auburn, CA
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 Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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So I downloaded a turn by turn nav app for the iPhone, got a new set of KYB's all around (fronts were shot, been polishing wheel wells with two in the cab on the big dips in the road), a clutch cable, throttle cable, oil and filter. I also nabbed a 6gal marine fuel cell (free!) which will reside under the tonneau in the bed- I will keep it full. Got a hose with a primer bulb, so if I should run out of gas, I can shove one end in the cell, the other in the filler neck below, and squeeze the bulb a few times. No muss, no fuss, and six more gallons to get me to the next gas station. I have an iPod dock in the ash tray hooked to an amp with an EQ under the dash, so the nav system calls out directions over the speakers, and automatically lowers the stereo volume so I can hear it. Tomorrow I will do a dry run of changing out a spare, and get some working turn signals/hazards/reverse lights installed. Then it's tune up and oil change time, and valve adjust. I will be using a two man tent in the bed of the truck, hitting up all the KOA's along the way, and checking out any cool stuff I see near the I10 corridor.
I will head to Baton Rouge the first day, which should be about 11 hours, breaking that up into smaller pieces with rest stops along the route.
Don't worry, I am also packing a laptop and my Canon Rebel. We'll see if the sunsets are any prettier in the Big Easy. Pics will be forthcoming. 
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April '59 dove blue single cab, coast to coast run Dec 2011 -
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=488658&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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DropgateLefty
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2011
Posts: 126
Location: Auburn, CA
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Old Paint
Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2010
Posts: 331
Location: Battle Ground, Washington
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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I went from LA to Nebraska to Dallas, back to LA in December many years ago. Crashed the Westy but the only mechanical problem was the carb spring broke (unrelated to the crash) So I always carry an extra. Other than that make sure your timing is set properly, I once had too much advance and burned the #3 piston. If its your daily driver, you should be fine mechanically.
I was able to lay the seats flat in the single cab and sleep in the cab....it was cold outside. Have fun!!!
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Greg
1961 Ragtop
1961 Single Cab (Old Paint) |
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KombiMonster
Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2001
Posts: 2746
Location: Central Cal.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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a cb radio, you'll be seeing a lot of truckers and some of the same ones for many miles.
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FOOK CANCER
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roamer 
Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2009
Posts: 243
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: Cross country trip in my SC.. am I nuts?!?! |
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| ohana59single wrote: |
Contemplating driving to Sacramento from Tampa, FL. [...]
Any ideas as to absolute neccesities (spares, tools, etc) to bring? [...]and a gas can (i have no gas gauge).
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Go for it. We went on a 6000 mile round trip from Massachusetts to Colorado and back in Aug/Sept in our '66 Deluxe, camping all the way, a great trip, no breakdowns but a few minor issues along the way, got some maintenance and minor repairs done in Denver (thanks to Ian Strack  !). Bus ran great through the mountains and across the plains. Brought lots of spares and tools and they kept the demons away.
Didn't bring spare headlight lens, so broke one on the third day.  Taped it up with clear tape and it lasted the trip.
Shorted the battery when it got loose and touched the taillight, popped a bunch of fuses as we diagnosed the trouble. No problem, I had lots of spare fuses. They're cheap.
Lost a hex nut for the oil cover plate, didn't have a spare but got one from Ian. Got some spares for next time.
My distributor fell apart when Ian was working on it, but he was able to build me a replacement. (I actually had a brand new spare on board, but he didn't know it; so I still have a spare if the time comes)
Brought 2 spare tires, used them both. Wheel swap was a breeze with my Masada bottle jack.
Brought transmission oil/pump/17mm allen socket since I knew I had a slow leak. You could skip this but it doesn't hurt to have it.
The gas can was my insurance policy. Never used it, but once put 10.6 gallons in the 10.5 gal. tank. 
Spare fuses, bulbs are good. Obviously extra oil; plan for oil change and valve adjust en route. Spare accel. & clutch cables are good. Nitrile gloves, shop towels, ground tarp for working. Include some wooden blocking in case you need to use the jack on soft ground. If you have 12v aux. sockets, bring a small air compressor for tires. Check your tire pressure periodically. Bring flashlights for night work.
Bring the Bentley and Idiot guides or something similar.
iPad with MiFi cellular hotspot was very useful wherever we could get coverage. Nice maps for navigating the city, and you can surf The Samba to find help if you need it. Of course we also brought batteries charged by solar panels to keep the electronic devices alive 
I tried to subscribe to the Kombisutra preparedness policy. Be overprepared if possible. Ideally you have enough parts to build an entire bus if yours gives up What I lacked in knowledge, I brought in spare parts, manuals, and a phone to call for help.
As others have noted, watch the weather and if traveling through cold areas, bring supplies/blankets/ice scraper & snowbrush/whatever for in-case.
See this thread for more ideas http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=470979
Tell us how it all worked out after you get there! |
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Sidbus
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 660
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:09 am Post subject: |
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| Culito wrote: |
Print out the contacts of the states you'll be going through:
http://www.type2.com/rescue/
And let me know if you cruise by on 70! |
Excellent suggestion.
This site saved my butt this past spring. We got stuck and a super nice family came out with their trailer to rescue us. Not only did we get the bus running but we spent the night in their driveway and had the most awesome breakfast the next morning!
Having just done a 2,055 mile road trip with my wife and 3 year old my biggest takeaway is how remote and isolated much our our country can be. There are still a lot of places without cell phone coverage and you might sit for a long while waiting for another motorist to come by. I'm used to 24 hour gas station mini marts but once you get out in the boondocks you're kind of on your own.
In Western Virginia I asked a woman if there was a Cold Stone Creamery in town. She said "nope, we aint a big city like Bristol or Roanoke". And that's exaclty they type of place we wanted to be
Here's the breakfast the AIRS family made for us:
Enjoy your trip!
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57 Panel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453943
62 so34 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533160
76 Westy http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520076 |
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roamer
Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2009
Posts: 243
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| Sidbus wrote: |
We got stuck and a super nice family came out with their trailer to rescue us. Not only did we get the bus running but we spent the night in their driveway and had the most awesome breakfast the next morning! [...]
Here's the breakfast the AIRS family made for us:
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I want to break down where this guy did! |
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DropgateLefty
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2011
Posts: 126
Location: Auburn, CA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:03 am Post subject: |
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Wow- all excellent suggestions. The hardest part for me is paring down the list so I can fit it all in the treasure chest! I like the idea of an oil change during the trip- and the A.I.R.S. site is fantastic.
Roamer, i wil be documenting as I go, so you guys will get the play-by-play. I hope it is a tenth as entertaining as Kombisutra's epic tales 
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April '59 dove blue single cab, coast to coast run Dec 2011 -
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=488658&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
[o \/ o] |
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BarryL
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2004
Posts: 6381
Location: Casa de Oro, California
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:10 am Post subject: |
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| You're going to get some good memories and have some experiences. I was waiting to post because I wasn't sure that I ever saw "when" you said you were going. Now I see it's during soon. The one thing I've needed that I don't see listed here is a pony propane keg and a twist-on-top catalytic burner. You can refill it and burn it all night aimed at you in the corner of your truck bed. Lots of ventilation, of course, is mandatory while using it. You can sit by it and cook and just use it to keep chipper if it's cold. I've crossed the east, greater midwest, and the mountain ranges in winter and it could even save your life. I've had blizzards in Texas in winter and been buried in Colorado. Just sayin'. |
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Sidbus
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 660
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| BarryL wrote: |
| You're going to get some good memories and have some experiences. I was waiting to post because I wasn't sure that I ever saw "when" you said you were going. Now I see it's during soon. The one thing I've needed that I don't see listed here is a pony propane keg and a twist-on-top catalytic burner. You can refill it and burn it all night aimed at you in the corner of your truck bed. Lots of ventilation, of course, is mandatory while using it. You can sit by it and cook and just use it to keep chipper if it's cold. I've crossed the east, greater midwest, and the mountain ranges in winter and it could even save your life. I've had blizzards in Texas in winter and been buried in Colorado. Just sayin'. |
BarryL's post reminded that I used to carry a bottle of windshield de-icer in my bus when I lived in Pennsylvania back in the 80s. No heater, no defroster. The water vapor from my exhalations would actually collect as frost on the inside of the glass and of course at the right temperature rain will turn to ice on the outside of the glass. A coat of de-icer was enough to allow the wipers to clear ice/frost. I'm not sure if that stuff is harmful to paint...then again, poor visibility can be harmful to paint also
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57 Panel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453943
62 so34 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533160
76 Westy http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520076 |
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RPGreg2600
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2010
Posts: 1065
Location: Vallejo, CA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: |
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| Do yourself a favor and don't just stay at KOA's They suck! |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 2354
Location: Running Springs, CA, USA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:53 am Post subject: |
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I have been from LA to Chicago and Northern Michigan many times in my 65 bus. Lot's of conversations about old cars and buses along the way. As above worst I ever had happen on these trips was a broken accelerator return spring in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The spring was lost in the engine bay and it took awhile to find it in the dark. The fix was easy once I found it. I just bent another hook and had a slightly shorter spring for 2000 miles.
DO NOT restrict yourself to KOA's. They are commercial jungles. There are lot's of city, county, state and national parks and forests that offer so much more. Does require a little more research but it's worth it.
_________________
Roads Scholar & distributor restorations
1956 oval third owner 36 hp
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equiped M 178
1960 sunroof beetle owned since 1991 36 hp
1965 hrdtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc |
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Tomasz
Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2005
Posts: 922
Location: in a van down by the river
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DropgateLefty
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2011
Posts: 126
Location: Auburn, CA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:31 am Post subject: |
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| Tomasz wrote: |
| If you have time stay off I-10 and take some scenic back/contry roads. |
The GPS will make sure that I can deviate from the interstate as whim allows.
Heard on staying only at KOA's- and I value you folk's experience. I will have a propane bottle and camp stove with me- not a whole lot of call for de-icer, as I will be hugging the southern borders of the US most of the way. So it seems I will be doing some searching for state parks along the I10 corridor. I have a rough "itinerary" of sorts- plan on driving no more that 500 miles a day, with stops in/near:
Mobile, AL
Houston, TX
Ozona, TX (thought they'd enjoy the logos on the truck )
El Paso, TX
Phoenix, AZ
LA, CA
Final destination, Sacramento CA.
I will of course be stopping at any attractions along the route, i.e. Carlsbad Caverns, the Grand Canyon, etc. and hanging out for a bit.
At least that list will allow me to narrow down research on state parks/public camping in those areas. Anyone that knows a cool spot or lives along the route is free to hit me up and maybe share a beverage and some stories...
_________________
April '59 dove blue single cab, coast to coast run Dec 2011 -
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=488658&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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DropgateLefty
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2011
Posts: 126
Location: Auburn, CA
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DropgateLefty
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2011
Posts: 126
Location: Auburn, CA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:45 am Post subject: |
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Noticed upon pulling out my spares that the back one is minty, but the front has excessive wear and cracked sidewalls. It was one of the original wheels, and was run for a WHILE with bad camber (the inside of the tire is almost a slick).
Had to laugh when I rolled up to a tire shop and the guy behind the counter asked me if it was a donut spare 
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April '59 dove blue single cab, coast to coast run Dec 2011 -
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=488658&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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Buspilot67
Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2005
Posts: 191
Location: Flagstaff AZ
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:34 am Post subject: |
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Give me a shout when you get to Tucson. I'm right off the interstate and have room for you to crash.
Jim |
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KombiMonster
Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2001
Posts: 2746
Location: Central Cal.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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| ohana59single wrote: |
| KombiMonster wrote: |
| a cb radio, you'll be seeing a lot of truckers and some of the same ones for many miles. |
I wonder if the iPhone has an app for that
I should be in your neighborhood ~ mid december, give or take. |
I'm between Bakersfield and Fresno and 17 miles from HWY99. The cb was the only entertainment I had on my trip. I found myself laughing (alone) at what truck drivers talk about (it was hard to understand what they were saying the farther east I went).
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Sidbus
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 660
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| ohana59single wrote: |
| Tomasz wrote: |
| If you have time stay off I-10 and take some scenic back/contry roads. |
At least that list will allow me to narrow down research on state parks/public camping in those areas. Anyone that knows a cool spot or lives along the route is free to hit me up and maybe share a beverage and some stories... |
We usually pick a direction and go. Then at some point we start looking for those brown state park signs with the little triangle icon for camping. Then the next morning as other campers come to see the bus and tell me they or their parents "had one just like it" back in 1970something we pick their brain for other nice camping spots in our direction of travel. There's usually a few folks who have great suggestions.
Following this thread makes me want to get up and go!!!
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57 Panel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453943
62 so34 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533160
76 Westy http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520076 |
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