TheSamba.com :: View topic - Driving our Kombi through mexico, central america and beyond

Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:14 am

Sorry we havent gotten around to this sooner, but thought it was well past time to start a thread of our journeys and meet others currently doing the same.

Huge thanks, as many of you have helped out as we prepared for the trip others have helped along the way already, but we spent the last 5 years downsizing, prepping and building a camper into our bus for this journey.

We have also gone from "never driven much less worked on a vw" to fledgling wrenchers learning as we go, again thanks to many of you

From this:

to this:

Yes, we know it isn't a traditional westy, but it does have more storage and allows us to live full time in our bus and is working well for our change in "lifestyle".

You can read about all of our build/remodel/gear additions in http://www.thedangerz.com/the-vw-bus/

As of July 2012 we officially are jobless, homeless and destination-less. We left our home in vancouver BC in August, toured the states to visit a few friends in Portland and Colorado, and have been in Baja for the past 2 months...as of today, we are in mainland mexico and excited for the remainder of our journey chasing sunsets, taking photos, hanging out with the locals, looking for surf and driving our van like it was a synchro. :shock:

yes, we still need to work on our video editing skills! :wink:

you can follow our story by watching theDangerz blog at
http://www.thedangerz.com
or, if you prefer to like and communicate with us on theDangerz facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/followthedangerz

Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:25 am

Good luck and be safe~!!!

Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:10 am

Very nice! Living the life is how I see it, and what I want to do eventually.
BTW, love the interior design you came up with! 8)

Coming from a married man who wishes his wife would show off her 50 year old hot bod in a bikini, your wife looks hot in hers. :wink:

Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:12 am

So envious! You are living the dream man! Stoked for you!

There are several killer bus road trips going on this forum right now.

Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:27 pm

That video is Too Cool!!!!
Looks like a great time.

Oh, Nice Bus! :D

Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:40 pm

Great video!! I saw a shot down Newport in OB! :o

Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:56 pm

so the homeless and jobless is intentional I hope. Must be a total lifetime thrill to be literally living in your bus.

Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:08 pm

Say hello to Jason and Angela for me should you cross paths...

http://bodeswell.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/BodesWellcom/107015412660967

Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:28 pm

homeless and jobless (for now) is intentional...but we'll see how long we can keep the trip going as we are also incomeless and burning through savings (although living cheaply)

ive been in touch with bodeswell for some time through email and definitely hope to connect should we eve find ourselves in the same country at the same time!

on to more important topics- -
quick question for anyone reading...
im under the bus trying to make the accelerator pedal work. The "L" shaped lever is badly bent and i dont really know if the rest is assembled properly.

if anyone has, or could take a pic of the underside of the pedal assembly (where pedal meets L meets cable) it would be great!!

just want to make sure im striving for the right thing as i rig it together...but eventually it looks like i need one of these
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=211798001

Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:44 pm

dangerbus wrote: quick question for anyone reading...
im under the bus trying to make the accelerator pedal work. The "L" shaped lever is badly bent and i dont really know if the rest is assembled properly.

if anyone has, or could take a pic of the underside of the pedal assembly (where pedal meets L meets cable) it would be great!!

just want to make sure im striving for the right thing as i rig it together...but eventually it looks like i need one of these
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=211798001

Yes, that's the kit you want. See this thread for pics:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=297464

You can make all kinds of "field repairs" that should tide you over until you can get the right parts.
Good luck!

Great video and blog postings, keep it up!

Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:50 pm

roamer wrote: dangerbus wrote: quick question for anyone reading...
im under the bus trying to make the accelerator pedal work. The "L" shaped lever is badly bent and i dont really know if the rest is assembled properly.

if anyone has, or could take a pic of the underside of the pedal assembly (where pedal meets L meets cable) it would be great!!

just want to make sure im striving for the right thing as i rig it together...but eventually it looks like i need one of these
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=211798001

Yes, that's the kit you want. See this thread for pics:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=297464

You can make all kinds of "field repairs" that should tide you over until you can get the right parts.
Good luck!

Great video and blog postings, keep it up!

thanks for that quick response!!
i was still reading through the search results, but at the speed of the internet im on, i would have been sitting here a while!

I'll go assess the damage :?

Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:00 pm

Great video, bryan I hope you were able to get that lever repaired or replaced. Great blog and facebook too, bookmarked. Enjoy a few hundred miles for all of us 8)

Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:40 pm

OK I'm literally speechless it's like watching it ....all time stopped for me ... a mirror image of a life only dreamed of ..literally ......this video has the power to change lives and I mean that just how it sounds ... thinking it is one thing but seeing it in motion is another and I must say I AM MOVED ! and honestly proud to be a part of the vw community and all it stands for. I applaud you two and wish you much peace.

Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:55 pm

Tune in, turn on,drop out! Worked great for me, amazing trip. That is the stuff of great memories. I really like the interior layout, very clever.

Thu Oct 04, 2012 6:40 am

WOW!! My wife and I sat down and went through your pics and video.

We are so jeolous. maybe one day when all the kids are gone we can take a trip like that.

congrats and thanks for sharing.

Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:41 am

wow, we are so excited and moved by all of your words of support.
i have to admit i was hesitant to even start this thread but im so glad i did!

you also motivated us to keep working on the videos...
since its the end of another month and we have moved from baja to the mainland (a big milestone at least for us)
we posted another...along with some nice words from jen looking back at the last month.
http://www.thedangerz.com/hasta-luego-baja/

but...no- the accelerator pedal assembly has not yet been resolved...gotta go get back under the bus for that (also, if anyone wants to drive down with the repair kit...we would happily take you out for a taco and cerveza!)

thanks again :)

Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:15 pm

I will be living vicariously through you in this thread. Great video! I only HOPE to be able to do this someday on some scale.

Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:43 pm

This is exactly what I've been working towards over the past 2 years. We are still about 3 years out but seeing you doing just that is just what is needed to keep me inspired! I will be following your blog closely! :D

Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:50 pm

dirtylawnchair wrote: I will be living vicariously through you in this thread. Great video! I only HOPE to be able to do this someday on some scale.

Loved the latest video. I too am living vicariously through your posts and videos. Keep it up.

Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:55 pm

From one Bus bum to another, I envy your journey, and hope to embark on one soon myself. I've been living in my Bus since February of this year, and have loved every minute of it, and plan to continue to live this way for a long time to come. You guys have been an inspiration to me, and I thank you for that. Good luck on your travels, and be safe! Hopefully we can cross paths at some point and share some stories :D