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Gregg in the 603
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2013
Posts: 404
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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 Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2024 1:03 pm Post subject: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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Hey guys, I use my bus all year, winter shouldn't stop you from camping! I installed a pretty cool heating setup, hopefully some of you can use my setup for your camping enjoyment.
I've been here on The Samba for a while, never really shared what I do for a living (not much of a living financially, haha!).
Link
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1979 Mexico Beige Westy auto
Dirty Dover, NH |
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Starbucket
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007
Posts: 4032
Location: WA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2024 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| It's not the cold it's the SALT that will eat your bus, that's why folks store them during winter. |
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richparker
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011
Posts: 6989
Location: Durango, CO
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jjvincent
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2016
Posts: 1271
Location: Bethlehem, PA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2024 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| Good to see you use the official meal for snow storms. If you notice, people hear there is a snowstorm and they go get milk, eggs and bread. It's obvious to me, it's because they all want french toast when a big snow storm is coming in. |
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dodger tom
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2013
Posts: 1273
Location: Central Coast, CA, but we're all still Ukrainian
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| Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2024 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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hey gregg, i camp in the winter. course i live on the beach in california. does that count?
great to see you making it work in slightly more extreme conditions.
dt
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1978 Champaign Edition 2 Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled. |
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Gregg in the 603
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2013
Posts: 404
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2024 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| It's not the cold it's the SALT that will eat your bus, that's why folks store them during winter. |
And I used to be one of those folks. But then someone asked what I was saving it for, the next guy?
There's a lot of truth in that question.
I have hot water plumbed in to my outdoor spigot, and wash it off thoroughly after each trip.
These things are meant to be used.
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| Good to see you use the official meal for snow storms. If you notice, people hear there is a snowstorm and they go get milk, eggs and bread. It's obvious to me, it's because they all want french toast when a big snow storm is coming in. |
Haha, very good point! That must be the official meal of snowstorms! Good call!
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| i camp in the winter. course i live on the beach in california. does that count? |
Yeah man, that counts! I'd kill to be there camping! I'll trade with you six months a year?!
Thanks for checking it out everyone, I don't usually whore myself on here for my channel but figured you'd all appreciate it.
So, Thanks guys
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1979 Mexico Beige Westy auto
Dirty Dover, NH |
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Gregg in the 603
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2013
Posts: 404
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2024 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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Cool, I VDub all year too!
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Hell yeah man! Let me know if you ever want some camping company in Colorado! I could use an excuse to head that way, besides the obvious excuses haha!
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1979 Mexico Beige Westy auto
Dirty Dover, NH |
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Shonandb
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2019
Posts: 1209
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2024 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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We don't mind below freezing temps and snow at all and drive the Bus and camp year round too. A good undercarriage spray down and a quick wash after the trip works well.
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image |
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jjvincent
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2016
Posts: 1271
Location: Bethlehem, PA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2024 7:45 am Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| Starbucket wrote: |
| It's not the cold it's the SALT that will eat your bus, that's why folks store them during winter. |
A good test case was my dad's bus. He bought it in 1969 when we lived in Tucson. Then moved to St. Louis in 1972. It spent from then to 2024 in St. Louis. It was driven one winter and my mom told my dad that she wanted a car because the bus had terrible heat and having me stand up and reach over to keep the inside of the windscreen clear while she drove it was not going to cut it.
So for 52 years it was never driven in the winter again. Guess what, it's rust free. All while I watched many busses in the area rust to the ground. For me, I'm not driving it in the winter, I'm over that point in my life. I did enough winter camping in my Eurovan and that was enough for me. Thus why it was sold and I have an RV. |
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jjvincent
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2016
Posts: 1271
Location: Bethlehem, PA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2024 8:01 am Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| Gregg in the 603 wrote: |
And I used to be one of those folks. But then someone asked what I was saving it for |
There is something to be said about that. I watched my dad just park that bus for years and then get it out and drive it for a bit and then park it again. When he sold his repair shop, I expected him to drive it more. Did he? Nope. It was driven to just get things like pavers, lumber and mulch because he had projects around the house. After he got done with those, he just parked it again. He then got dementia and thus no way he was doing any driving. For something he loved, he could have enjoyed it more, yet is now dead and thus it's mine. He wasted at least 10 years of enjoyment out of it before he couldn't drive. It's like his 1980 Yamaha 650 (he bought new) that looks like brand new and has 738 miles on it. I got to get rid of that thing because I could care less about motorcycles.
I see this with the Corvette crowd. Old white guys buy a Corvette, only drive it on sunny days in the summer. Keep it all waxed up (today it's getting the most expensive ceramic coating) plus put like 1000 miles per year and change the oil like crazy. Then keep it under a cover. Driving it in the winter with snow tires? No way. Even though a Corvette has an aluminum frame and SMC panels (even the floor panels) they are pretty much not going to rust. Yet most sit for 8 months. They typically go through batteries because the sit so much.
I never understand that. Most get too old to drive or die and then the family needs to unload it. |
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tjrm63
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2007
Posts: 116
Location: Jersey Shore
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| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2024 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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Winter camping is the best, especially during a massive snow storm. We camp year round but winter is the best. This was in the Poconos this year.
https://youtu.be/i1fUA4CyzSc?si=fypjPKBl5HlM1jpG
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I don’t care how much it’s worth now.
I care how much this bus makes me happy |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22682
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2024 2:30 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| jjvincent wrote: |
| Good to see you use the official meal for snow storms. If you notice, people hear there is a snowstorm and they go get milk, eggs and bread. It's obvious to me, it's because they all want french toast when a big snow storm is coming in. |
Strawberry pop tarts
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.ssS! |
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LeeE
Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2004
Posts: 389
Location: Orlando
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| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2024 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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Winter camped in October,November, twice In December, February, Sebring race infield in March, and one last time next weekend.
Too hot here to summer camp. May to September it's parked, October to April is camping.
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1978 Westfalia stock 2.0 FI
Welcome to the Okeedokee Swamp |
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Ceckert64
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2015
Posts: 1966
Location: Manitowoc, WI
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| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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Awesome video! I’ve done a little winter camping in my bus and it’s definitely pretty camping in the snow. For my current bus build I’m planning on installing a wood stove similar to what you did.
I also highly recommend to undercoat/ cavity prevention with fluid film, I’ve driven my bus in a few winters and I haven’t seen any rust come up.
Driving a bus in the winter with good heat is one of the best things, my favorite driving is on a sunny day where everything is covered in a blanket of snow, even the road and just being warm inside and enjoying the beauty of it all.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22682
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 2:51 am Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| Quote: |
| see this with the Corvette crowd. Old white guys buy a Corvette, only drive it on sunny days in the summer. Keep it all waxed up (today it's getting the most expensive ceramic coating) plus put like 1000 miles per year and change the oil like crazy. Then keep it under a cover. Driving it in the winter with snow tires? No way. Even though a Corvette has an aluminum frame and SMC panels (even the floor panels) they are pretty much not going to rust. Yet most sit for 8 months. They typically go through batteries because the sit so much |
You left off…
You get fat and high blood pressure from sitting and watching your car
Your blood pressure meds give you limp member so now you are on the blue pill club list…we all know that’s not Advil
You pull your pants up too high and complain about the government , full time
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.ssS! |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50362
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| Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 8:34 am Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| I have had two buses rust out on me and get scrapped, which wasn't a big deal when I could get another body from a west coast wrecker for almost nothing. Today I would rather not have to spend months scrounging for another body that is barely decent enough to use, yet cost a pretty penny. |
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Globespotter
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2012
Posts: 1770
Location: Newmarket, ON
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Gregg in the 603
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2013
Posts: 404
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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I'm not daily-ing the thing guys! I'm just saying they don't need to be moth-balled for 6 months a year, haha!
| tjrm63 wrote: |
Winter camping is the best, especially during a massive snow storm. We camp year round but winter is the best. This was in the Poconos this year.
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Hell yeah buddy! Love this!
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1979 Mexico Beige Westy auto
Dirty Dover, NH |
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tjrm63
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2007
Posts: 116
Location: Jersey Shore
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| Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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Great video Gregg, next time we head up towards Vermont we should get together and camp. We camp at the Somerset Reservoir off of 9 in the National Forest in southern Vermont
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I don’t care how much it’s worth now.
I care how much this bus makes me happy |
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Gregg in the 603
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2013
Posts: 404
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Winter shouldn't stop you from using your Bus! |
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| I never understand that. Most get too old to drive or die and then the family needs to unload it. |
That's what I'm saying. Use them, have fun and then die. Or, don't use them, have no fun and still die.
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1979 Mexico Beige Westy auto
Dirty Dover, NH |
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