TheSamba.com :: View topic - Winston Goes Camping: Voluminous Volks Verbosity

Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:14 pm

Well, that was a trip... On the whole, I am very glad that I bought Winston, my '84 1.9L Westfalia, and he did not let me down at all in a fairly long and interesting weekend.

I spent most of last week trying to put every last thing he needed into him--I ended up forgetting a spatula and some of the food I needed, but did pretty well on everything else. Thursday night I plugged him into the house current to get the Dometic cooling down and, via the Schumacher battery charger I rigged into the 'secret' outlet, to top off both of his batteries.

The gadget I made to fill his water tank was more than a complete success--and very similar to the drain hose I made for his sink drain. I took a female 1/2" hose end, put a strainer on the washer there, and got one of those thumb-switch hose-end off valves for that. Screwed the end of the hose into the female fitting. On the other end was a foot of 1/2" ID clear vinyl tubing. That slid right down Winston's water tank intake and DID NOT SPILL A DROP as I filled his tank as close as I could come to half full. What a gratifying success!

The drain unit has no valve or strainer and much longer hose that runs into one of those collapsible water tanks--that's for the gray water, and to keep from making a big puddle on the campsite. That also worked well, don't forget to leave the sink stopper in to trap the bigger gunk left over from washing dishes.

I had also put some white lithium grease on the drain outlet, that helped me in taking the cap and drain tube off. I used that Dr. Brenner's Hemp Peppermint soap on the dishes and myself, it worked great and has that hippy bling thing, I used a soap-dispensing brush with great results for low-water-use dishwashing. Gray water didn't smell bad when I emptied it, either.

I didn't want to run the propane on the road--although I forgot to turn off the regulator on the way back, good thing I didn't hit or get hit. Accordingly, I put in two small and one large cakes of that re-freezable 'Blue Ice,' and since I was worried about how hot it's been--in the heat of the day with Winston closed up, the Dometic on AC only managed 50 degrees--I also froze one of my two quarts of milk. GOOD IDEA!

The drive down was lovely. I put a CD into Winston and enjoyed that very much, he took the road and ran perfectly and I was very pleased at how he handled a thickly graveled road and a deeply eroded and rutted road. That early '80's clearance has its uses, folks. The campsite where I parked him was, however, not level. That wasn't good--just for starters, I had to scramble my eggs, they kept sliding over to the far side of the pan.

What was worse was that I couldn't get his refrigerator to light. I had pulled it, and cleaned it (except that I forgot to disassmble the burner pot) and after a great deal of work got it to light and run for two days. I tried for over two hours at the campsite and it only lit very briefly. Two reasons for that, I think--NOT being level, and the altitude of the campsite--7,000 feet plus. Manual says that the Dometic's jet doesn't like that altitude--I'd say it didn't.

The good thing was that--with the help of that little battery fan--by Heaven's grace, that blue ice was enough to keep the milk from spoiling for TWO DAYS of 90 degree heat. At least Dometic insulated that thing! I should look into getting the fridge re-jetted, and I'll try pumping air into the burner and lighting it after cooling down here at a mile high, but it's USEABLE, at least for Friday through Sunday camping. That'll get me through the time at the job site, that's something.

Y'know, that lower bed is HARD. It had been so warm I tried sleeping at first in a sleeping bag liner, and I actually felt uncomfortable because of that, then it cooled down and I switched to a sleeping bag and felt better. Notice to newbie Westy campers: PUT UP THE CURTAINS. I was twice interrupted by people wondering what I was doing--both times, it was peacefully reading by the light from my new LED passenger-side dome light. I wanted the air, but I'll trade it for privacy.

Be careful that you've turned off the gas on the stove, not just killed the flame--that only happened once, fortunately. I got a cheap piezo-electric lighter to work for lighting the stove, that'll save fluid and money. The passenger's side rotating seat was my recliner, the stool from this rig:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3661078

which Coleman no longer makes, but which you can get for a lot more from people like REI. That was great as a footstool, a seat while I cooked, and it will hold my weight to get up into the upper bunk. It fits very nicely under the storage seat, and I'm sure I'll use that table and the other stool someday.

Had trouble at times getting the bed to fold back up--it seemed to lock early in the wrong position, I'll oil everything. My 2nd map light in the auxiliary jack behind the fridge interior vent kept getting hung up on the compartment hatch, I'll only use it when I'm not always getting into that compartment. I had plenty of light--those two LED arrays over the sink and stove were wonderful, and the flourescent over the bed was just perfect.

Another thing that worked was the little microwave under the sink--I'd slipped two frozen burritos into the Dometic for Saturday dinner, that little Sharp and my inverter heated them perfectly, also the grits I had for Saturday breakfast. I think I used the microwave for no more than 15 minutes, the lights for much longer. Winston had plenty of auxiliary battery left when I pulled out Sunday evening, all that work proved to be worth it.

I used both the front and back tables a great deal, you have to think of where to lock them at a given time to get the most use out of them. Used that trick of putting the paper towels around the front table leg, that worked great. The back table is annoying in terms of getting into the compartments and closet, but, it's certainly handy for eating, cooking, or getting ready for the day.

The big test was starting him again and pulling out. This came after packing away everything and clearing away the damage from a microburst that leveled a good portion of the camp where Winston was parked, that damaged several tents and bothered Winston--not at all. Heavy with a low center of gravity DOES have its advantages, for all the drift on the roads.

He started--he backed obediently and steered well. He took the bad roads, again, very well. He climbed a very steep hill easily, at low speed, mind, and coasted down it effortlessly. By that time night was falling and I was thanking Heaven that I'd put those big Hella H4 Halogens on him, because it was a long empty country road and I could see where we were going. I may have done a bad job of putting him into first, he did buck and shudder ONCE--otherwise, he ran cool and well and got me safely home.

He's a pretty good van.

Best!

Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:49 pm

I can't wait untill I have a camper.

Mon Jun 12, 2006 3:40 pm

Nice report. I also think the lower bed is too dang hard, and the upper is pretty hard too. I put a Thermarest pad into the not-so-secret storage space at the rear of the top bunk (when the top is down and front half is folded up). That Thermarest pad takes the edge off the hard matress, so I don't wake up with sore ribs.

I camped in some high winds a few weeks ago, and all the folks in tents were in pretty bad shape in the morning. The Westy was fine. If it ever rains again in Colorado I'm sure I'll be glad we've got the Westy. But frankly, I think our days of seeing rain ever again are over.

Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:12 pm

Nice report. What was your driving route, beginning and destination?
Gas mileage? I apologize for being so anal. My grandparents were German.
Al

Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:20 am

Great write-up, I too have found that my 82 Vanagon handles bad gravel roads and ruts better than I ever imagined. Did you get any pics?

Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:36 am

On two dry runs to the campsite, I averaged 21.1 MPG, which was VERY good news--it may have gone down a bit because he's more heavily loaded now, although I also drove more slowly due to construction on whatever road it was I used. Some data aint going out.

I will get some photos of Winston in the campground, look up my photos in the gallery for some looks at his interior and exterior.

Best!

Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:00 pm

Happy camping! I can't wait 'til I get to enjoy a roadtrip later this summer.

I've got a great packing/supply list for my Westy if you're interested. I got it from another great VW site, and modified it for my personal needs. I use it every time I camp.

I've always found the lower bunk to be quite comfy! I like a firm mattress though. I found that if I slept up top, with my head toward the front, I'd spend most of the night chasing my pillow. One of these days I'll make a top bunk extender. For now, the top bunk is a great place for extra storage while in camp.

Props on the gray water tank & tank filler! Bummer about the fridge. Once you get it up and running on propane, life will be much better I'm sure.

Thanks for the great report!

Cheers!
-Jared

Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:18 pm

Thank you all very much for your kind words and anatomically possible suggestions... :lol: Winston continues to improve...

With a cleaning rod, a great deal of compressed air, and my stubborn up, I did at last get Winston's Dometic to light and run on propane--it's running now. I hadn't realized that the 'B' button allows the gas into the combustion chamber--so you only click-pump to light the gas in the chamber once you're hitting that button. Pump too much, you push the gas OUT again. I considered a whiff of starter fluid... Didn't try it.

I think I'll light the fridge at least once a week, but only try to light it at the job site if Winston's level. I need to install those RV levelers, I'll see if I can find 'em at Wal Mart. Otherwise, I'll use it as an ice box.

103 today, and the refrigerator fan didn't come on... Not sure if it's shot, which is likely, or Winston's coils just didn't get that hot. I think I will put on a fan upgrade when things cool down in Autumn... It's just so miserable getting the fridge out with Winston's Pergo floor, although it should be easier with the rubber anti-vibration hoses I installed than it was with the old intricately bent copper tubing.

There was an old blanket over Winston's bench seat, which I prefer wearing out to the upholstery. I finally decided to wash and mend the one big rip in it, soaked it in Oxy-Clean, and the water around it came out BLACK. Gad, that was sitting on the upholstery I'd cleaned so laboriously. But, mended and washed, it goes a bit further toward giving Winston back his self-respect, and it's fleece backed, so it should make a good mattress pad, upper or lower berth. I lubricated the mechanism for the bench/mattress, with white lithium, and, what do you know, THAT worked.

Trying to be brave and virtuous, I also got into Winston's engine compartment, a place at times one is afraid to explore, lest one find bad news within. Huzzah, the news was GOOD! First--the overflow tank was almost full. Winston had gulped some coolant the last two times I took him out in this heat, that's stopped. I think that's the last of the air that got in when his rear heater leaked. Feeling virtuous and daring, I then pulled his alternator brushes/voltage regulator to see if they were okay--his 'alternator' LED has been staying on 'til the engine was gunned.

They're supposed to be a minimum, on an '84, of 7mm long. Can you say, 'Nubs?' :shock: Fortunately I'd already ordered a Bosch BMW unit (as noted elsewhere, there's one that's equivalent and scads cheaper). Got that in, although I need to find a better right-angle screwdriver, and I also found that the green wire connected to the alternator was about corroded through. Cut that back to sound wire, put on a new insulated female connector, and some shrink-wrap.

Winston started, no 'alternator' LED, and purred around the block. I think he wants to go camping again, soon.

Best!

Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:33 pm

First of all, I feel tremendously vindicated for wanting one of the factors that took me to a Vanagon Westy--CLEARANCE. The roads in that campground and around the job site are absolutely ghastly. There's a ditch about six inches deep with sides fairly sharp in some areas.

Winston takes that and some other eroded spans of horror VERY calmly in 1st, as long as I keep his speed very slow. Those thick Big O R/T's and his KYB shocks are up to it, at least in dry conditions. And, again, at low speed in low gear, he doesn't complain at all about the roads and some fairly steep angles. It's SCARY being on those, but Winston's never lurched at all... Just not used to leaning to the side like that. Engine ran cool and never complained, and I didn't have the trouble getting going from a stop that I've had. I've tried to be more careful about shifting into 1st.

Another thing I liked about Winston from the first was his maneuverability. Between tents, scrub oak, and rutted roads, I was very, very proud of those old Bavarian engineers as I got him out of there without hitting anything. He is noisy at speed, but I can hear the radio. Most of the racket seems to be from the tables and things in the cabinets vibrating. About the fastest I've had him at altitude on the flat is 67 MPH, but I've not been trying for speed.

Added some more Blue Ice and Winston's refrigerator was at 30 the first night, 48 the second, and the milk didn't go bad, nor did the ham and the sodas--thank Heaven! were still cold. I did run the fridge on DC down to the job site, then just turned everything off and ran the little battery fan. I'm not sure if I should put on my refrigerator vent cover if I'm not using either propane or the electricity, input welcome.

Developing a real appreciation for that neat little stove. It even toasted a bagel quite efficiently with a 'camp' toaster. I'm working out the routine for the tables and dishwashing, and the microwave in the cabinet does everything I ask of it. I think the new alternator VR and brushes are helping--the wretched 'Battery' indicator light read 'green' after the drive home, despite using the microwave, faucet, radio and interior lights all weekend.

The graywater tank and Dr. Bronner's are a very good combination, it's not disgusting to empty it out at the end of a HOT day. That little Coleman stool fits very nicely between the front seats when I'm not using it. I added a bit more water to the tank, after two fills and flushes the water tastes just fine, now. Gad, that sink is lovely. I woke up terribly thirsty in the middle of the night and got a drink and just appreciated everything tremendously much.

Some problems--the adhesive on the Velcro I used to secure my mosquito net to the skylight just failed in the heat. I may glue it onto the rubber insulation, or use those rare earth magnets on either side of the top to hold it on, if I can find any. I might make some screens for the front windows from that fiberglass mesh, it's very cheap, and the magnets would hold that on, too. Got plenty of air in cool condtions from the skylight and side windows.

Lessee... Gas gauge continues erratic, I should order a new instrument panel voltage regulator on general principles, things DO wear out. Dang I love that tach... Lets me baby the engine, which is something I like to do. I did get a cheap pair of spirit levels mounted... Amazing how often they went to maximum lean. He was more level this weekend, but still not level at all. I wonder how much that DOES affect the Dometic 182B. Don't want to kill the thing.

Bed was less hard at further acquaintance, next mission is to sleep in the upper berth during the next hot spell. It's been so cold up there of late that I've been glad to be in a sleeping bag on the lower one. A Navy watch cap over one's eyes and nose and the earplugs in one's ears can be a lovely thing for sleeping through sunrise, trains, and birds on a cold night.

An apologetic note--if I seem to be crowing, it's only because Winston's actual performance is vindicating a LOT of work and expectations. That happens so rarely, and when it does, it's wonderful.

Best!

Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:06 am

Go ahead, crow loudly.

You put a lot of work into Winston and now you deserve that pride as you drive around town and go camping.

Realize that even though you may feel that you do not know as much as you would like about Winston, you are way more in tune with your vehicle than 99% of the drivers you pass.

Enjoy, Life is Good when viewed from the drivers seat! :D

Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:29 pm

Thanks for taking the time to write your reports. I really enjoy them, it makes me look forward to similar experiences in Sarah when we get her on the road. Seems like all the hard work and thoughtful planning are paying off, like instruments in a symphony of westharmony.