TheSamba.com :: View topic - Mountainsmith Packs great for Vanagon Westy

Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:11 am

oldhuldy67 wrote: NOW I hear about cardboard boxes..

LOL
yes, haters gonna...
note the people who have never tried the cubes, have all these reasons why they are not going to

while those of us who have used them, recommend them and report happy results

fwiw, cardboard boxes dont have zippers.. I LOVE zippers :-)

Mon Jun 16, 2014 12:09 pm

Great Idea!

I just ordered (2)two Modular Hauler 4's.

$59.96 Each
$12.95 Shipping

$132.87 total from Sierra Trading Post.

Thanks for the storage idea for the Westy! 8)

Mon Jun 16, 2014 12:52 pm

Jon_slider wrote: oldhuldy67 wrote: NOW I hear about cardboard boxes..

LOL
yes, haters gonna...
note the people who have never tried the cubes, have all these reasons why they are not going to

Just because the cubes work for one segment of the Vanagon population, doesn't mean they'll work for everyone. The cubes would be too restricting for my van travels, and I'm not going to spend the money on a set just to prove it, or to be part of the "in" crowd. [Edit due to next post: I'm not "dissing" the cubes, they're a fine product; just pointing out that they simply don't meet everyone's needs as some folks in here would have you believe.]

I use 3 plastic bins for all my miscellaneous stuff, which can also fit under the rear seat bed, can be put outside on wet ground, if need be, and I can just reach over the rear seat to grab what I need without having to deal with all those annoying zippers.

In other words, use whatever works for you and your van, whether they be cubes, bins, or cardboard boxes. 8)

Mon Jun 16, 2014 1:20 pm

No need to diss the cubes... if you don't like em.. move on to another thread.

Cardboard boxes for odd ball groceries.. like chips, French bread, breakfast cereal boxes.. that just don't fit anywhere else. They ride on top of everything else....

Plastic bins of varying sizes for shoes, kids toys, "toss it in" stuff...random bits.

Mountainsmith cubes for clothes and other soft goods.. Replaces duffles, backpacks and suitcases. (I can't believe how many tent/car campers I saw this trip with suitcases... :shock: ... certainly not gear hounds like us, :wink: )

Cubes work best for us because it helps us help the kids keep their things IN a space that we can move about easily.. zippers keep them closed.. and stuff from accumulating all over..

We each have a backpack, too. They hold our daily stuff.. so we can get moving on the feet quick.. without packing and repacking.

Road trippin.. Its a fine ballet.
or
Horses for courses....

I think, after this summer's trip.. I have had enough of packing and repacking the stripped out Westy.. Two growing kids and I fear we may may be outgrowing the Vanagon! :shock:
One more year, at least, with it... I am going to build a gear trailer, I think.
So.... onto a trailer thread....

Mon Jun 16, 2014 2:34 pm

I first regretted buying it, then I used it few times and I'm glad I bought it. Different colors make it useful.

Mon Jun 16, 2014 2:39 pm

These cubes really make a lot of sense when you bring your family/kids with you. As Jim said, we all get one cube, all the clothes are in there, cubes are color coded and can be picked up in a second versus shuffling stuff inside a duffel bag. That simple.

Mon Jun 16, 2014 2:50 pm

madspaniard wrote: These cubes really make a lot of sense when you bring your family/kids with you. As Jim said, we all get one cube, all the clothes are in there, cubes are color coded and can be picked up in a second versus shuffling stuff inside a duffel bag. That simple.

This ^^^ is what I am looking forward to. :D

Mon Jun 16, 2014 5:47 pm

vanagonjr wrote: ...I agree that the 4-bag holder is unwieldy...
FWIW, I use ours to hold all of our PFD's in one easy-to-grab package...

madspaniard wrote: These cubes really make a lot of sense when you bring your family/kids with you...we all get one cube,
all the clothes are in there, cubes are color coded and can be picked up in a second... That simple.
Bingo. 'Nuf said. 8)

Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:31 pm

Got the 3 cube set in the mail today from Sierra Trading post. I looked over every piece carefully and could find literally no flaws on any piece.
Looking forward to the next camping trip to try them out. :)

Thu Jun 19, 2014 8:30 pm

I'd like to give Mountainsmith a nod here. I have an old fanny pack they made and I used it for mountain bike riding for a couple years.It got forgotten behind the seat of my old '67 double cab which I sold to buy my Doka. The zipper got stuck from some kind of corrosion.

I figured I'd send it in for a new zipper because I never had such a great fanny pack as this one. I took it to Nomad Ventures in Escondido, the store from whom I originally bought it and they sent it back for me. Mountainsmith did the zipper replacement as a warrantee, even though I had been willing to pay to have it fixed.

There is a reason I try my best to buy a product that is actually made by a company instead of imitations and knock offs. In the beginning I enjoy the excellent design/construction and in the long run, I value the long run outlook of a closely held company. Not preaching, but, sermon over. :)

Thanks, Mounatinsmith. Thanks, Nomad Ventures.

Chuey

Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:19 am

Well, mine arrived Yesterday morning.
Very pleased, I'll shop Sierra Trading Post again!

I don't know why but I was expecting a bigger box!

The shipping box was small enough but inside was this box......

It is all here, nicely folded...... It will NEVER return into the shipping box! :)

I looked at each bag, I cannot see any color flaws, stitching flaws, whatever. The only issue was the glue holding the box together was all dried out so the box was more of a suggestion than a container!

Dave

Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:02 am

After a thorough inspection, I saw nothing wrong with mine other than a broken silica gel packet and the packaging had a loose back panel.

Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:27 am

It looks like Mountainsmith has done a redesign of bag colors and carrier details,

I'll bet the "closeout / seconds" that we just purchased are simply the VW owners coveted NOS! (New Old Stock)

The new colors and design.......

Dave

Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:59 am

Jon_slider wrote: oldhuldy67 wrote: NOW I hear about cardboard boxes..

LOL
yes, haters gonna...
note the people who have never tried the cubes, have all these reasons why they are not going to

while those of us who have used them, recommend them and report happy results

fwiw, cardboard boxes dont have zippers.. I LOVE zippers :-)

ok, send me a cube & I'll try it

BTW - isn't it ironic that people will do almost anything to avoid spending money to mechanically maintain a Vanagon, but will spend huge $$ to accessorize them?

are they the same people?

Fri Jun 20, 2014 12:08 pm

Merian wrote:

ok, send me a cube & I'll try it

BTW - isn't it ironic that people will do almost anything to avoid spending money to mechanically maintain a Vanagon, but will spend huge $$ to accessorize them?

are they the same people?

Actually almost everyone who has recommended the cubes in this thread have very well-maintained Vanagons, and judging from their other posts are very proactive at keeping them that way.
I can't imagine how you came to this conclusion.

My four cube set is on the way, unfortunately not in time for this weekend's camping trip.

Fri Jun 20, 2014 3:36 pm

Just returned from our 10th major camping trip using the cubes...still lovin' em. We're a family
of four; each gets a personal cube, plus 3 specials: 1) swim suits/towels, 2) rain gear,
3) warm coats. Works for us & has made van travel easier, especially in a Weekender.

PS: FWIW...Merian: We've put almost 25,000 miles on the van with never a problem enroute.

PSS: No bling here; our interior panels are less than perfect; our DIY seatcovers are not
great, but the mechanicals are purposefully sound, and we keep rolling...

YMMV... :lol: :lol: :lol: :roll: :wink:

- Dave

Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:10 pm

Got my 4 pack today. Nothing worn with it at all. Thanks Sierra Trader and whoever posted the sale! I maintain my van and like cool gear like many others! Haters gonna hate!

Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:13 pm

Nothing wrong. Great buy!

Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:44 pm

They arrived! Appear to be high quality to my amateur eye. Seems like a good deal for $56.

These are going to look so nice in my van. I really think they will pull it all together.

Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:50 pm

Merian wrote: BTW - isn't it ironic that people will do almost anything to avoid spending money to mechanically maintain a Vanagon, but will spend huge $$ to accessorize them?

are they the same people?
Hilarious that i just got in from replacing all the brake hard lines from the master cylinder down to the hoses, new brake hoses and new hard lines out to the cylinders- True story.
You need to confer with your magic boxes more before hatin' on fellow members.