TheSamba.com :: View topic - Traveling after Building a bus for travel in Europe "euroBus"

Sun May 06, 2018 9:15 am

Shipping RORO is cheap. Around $1200-1500. And I live only 30 minutes from the Baltimore harbor...

No work around on the registration. I contacted several knowledgeable folks. Kinda like a Spanish citizen trying to buy a Vanagon here and registering it in a state. No way....

Wed May 09, 2018 9:16 am

dobryan wrote:
So far a preliminary list of what I plan to do is:

EXTERIOR/BODY
Tires, replace, new spare too, use stock steel wheels not alloys
Awning, add one, include clips for poles to mount to body
Degrease and power wash underside, let dry a few weeks
Waxoyl underside as work is done.
Remove body cladding and brackets and inspect for rust on body, rehab as needed, reinstall cladding.
Window gaskets, inspect and pull up and apply waxoyl under all lips
Solar panels, add thin flexible panels to top of the NAHT, as many Watts as will reasonably fit.
Gary Lee rack on rear hatch and add bike rack/clips for three bikes.
Jalousie windows drivers middle and passenger rear
Replace rear hatch (existing one is in bad shape)
Etc.

INTERIOR/CAMPER
Remove entire rear interior including panels and insulation, inspect seams.
Treat seams with wire brush and ospho (or equal) to neutralize any rust even if unseen. Douse seams in Waxoyl.
Add sound deadening to body and install insulation encapsulated in sealed bags.
Passenger seat, install swivel base
Add Westy kitchen unit behind drivers seat. Replace stock fridge with Truckfridge, add water supply and waste water bottles under sink area, add gas bottle under sink area for stove and add vent in floor.
House batteries under rear bench on passenger side with combiner and Bluetooth MPPT controller for solar.
Add several 12V outlet plugs through interior.
Install power supply for 220V to 12V (similar to an Iota 30, but for 220V)
Install NAHT with windows and ceiling vent/fan, use locking tambour door for front storage area
Add storage cubbies everywhere.
Etc….

MECHANICAL
Radiator, replace, inspect fan and resistor
Radiator fan sender, replace
Plastic underbody coolant hoses, replace with SS
Coolant hoses, replace all
Shifter, inspect and likely rehab front ears, etc, and lube bushings all the way to trans
Front brakes, inspect and replace discs, pads, bearings, rubber lines, calipers (rebuild with new seals, or replace)
Front suspension, inspect all bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc replace or rehab as needed. Replace front shocks and maybe springs.
Power steering rack, inspect for leaks, replace bushings.
Headlight relays, add
Ignition switch, replace
Inspect clutch pedal clevis area and rehab as needed
Brake and clutch masters, replace?
Gas tank, drop it and replace all grommets, inspect interior, check overflow tanks in wheel wells too.
Transmission, pull it and send for rebuild with MR GAS, add a Peloquin TBD
Engine, pull it and replace with Rocky Jennings 2.1l long block
Replace engine wiring harness with Kyle Automotive
Replace any suspect engine components/accessories.
Remove A/C?
Etc……

Holy Smokes, you don't mess around! :shock:

Wed May 09, 2018 9:52 am

epowell wrote: dobryan wrote:
So far a preliminary list of what I plan to do is:

EXTERIOR/BODY
Tires, replace, new spare too, use stock steel wheels not alloys
Awning, add one, include clips for poles to mount to body
Degrease and power wash underside, let dry a few weeks
Waxoyl underside as work is done.
Remove body cladding and brackets and inspect for rust on body, rehab as needed, reinstall cladding.
Window gaskets, inspect and pull up and apply waxoyl under all lips
Solar panels, add thin flexible panels to top of the NAHT, as many Watts as will reasonably fit.
Gary Lee rack on rear hatch and add bike rack/clips for three bikes.
Jalousie windows drivers middle and passenger rear
Replace rear hatch (existing one is in bad shape)
Etc.

INTERIOR/CAMPER
Remove entire rear interior including panels and insulation, inspect seams.
Treat seams with wire brush and ospho (or equal) to neutralize any rust even if unseen. Douse seams in Waxoyl.
Add sound deadening to body and install insulation encapsulated in sealed bags.
Passenger seat, install swivel base
Add Westy kitchen unit behind drivers seat. Replace stock fridge with Truckfridge, add water supply and waste water bottles under sink area, add gas bottle under sink area for stove and add vent in floor.
House batteries under rear bench on passenger side with combiner and Bluetooth MPPT controller for solar.
Add several 12V outlet plugs through interior.
Install power supply for 220V to 12V (similar to an Iota 30, but for 220V)
Install NAHT with windows and ceiling vent/fan, use locking tambour door for front storage area
Add storage cubbies everywhere.
Etc….

MECHANICAL
Radiator, replace, inspect fan and resistor
Radiator fan sender, replace
Plastic underbody coolant hoses, replace with SS
Coolant hoses, replace all
Shifter, inspect and likely rehab front ears, etc, and lube bushings all the way to trans
Front brakes, inspect and replace discs, pads, bearings, rubber lines, calipers (rebuild with new seals, or replace)
Front suspension, inspect all bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc replace or rehab as needed. Replace front shocks and maybe springs.
Power steering rack, inspect for leaks, replace bushings.
Headlight relays, add
Ignition switch, replace
Inspect clutch pedal clevis area and rehab as needed
Brake and clutch masters, replace?
Gas tank, drop it and replace all grommets, inspect interior, check overflow tanks in wheel wells too.
Transmission, pull it and send for rebuild with MR GAS, add a Peloquin TBD
Engine, pull it and replace with Rocky Jennings 2.1l long block
Replace engine wiring harness with Kyle Automotive
Replace any suspect engine components/accessories.
Remove A/C?
Etc……

Holy Smokes, you don't mess around! :shock:

Dave's doing it correctly.

If you want a unit that is dependable and you don,t waste travel time making repairs, this is the only way to go about it.

I did darn near everything he has listed mechanically.

Dave

Wed May 09, 2018 10:09 am

Well especially for a bus to be left in EUR. He goes there for 4 weeks to have fun and doesn't want any breakdowns.

Drillock can tell you about that :)

Wed May 09, 2018 10:00 pm

You'll want to keep the AC. It's getting warmer over there too and in the summer it was hot, even at night! I've thought about buying over there since my wife is a German citizen, but it's worth way more than the cost of shipping for me to build one here and know it's good before sending it over. I bought a very rust free 2wd out of Idaho way way cheaper than I can find a rust free shell in Germany!

Thu May 10, 2018 3:05 am

There was a day when A/C was offered by European car manufacturers as a State side add on for us "Wimpy" Americans. Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, VW......... They were never designed in, our Vanagons demonstrate this fact quite well!

Today? Europeans LOVE A/C and it is now an integral design item, no longer an add on.

I remember well when the 450SE / SEL hit our shores with factory A/C!

Fix the A/C properly and keep it....... $1,000 well spent!

I understand Some areas of Europe are indeed quite hot. I have a British coworker whose "Auntie" lives in Spain....... from his comments, Spain is apparently on the hot side.

Even our Asian friends saw A/C as frivilous. I sold and installed many A/C units for Datsuns back in the day.

Dave

Thu May 10, 2018 3:13 am

djkeev wrote: "Wimpy" Americans

I'm glad YOU said that. AC in EU is certain for wimps LOL
My grandparents were from Bakersfield and I remember going down there every August, and experiencing how quickly one can get addicted to AC. Personally I don't believe in it... why go on a "nature" trip when you can't tolerate a bit of heat. Just roll down the windows and feel the wind in your hair - isn't this the whole point of VW VAN trips? Stop by a stream and swim.

The only justified use for AC in my opinion is when you are working an office job in a hot big city, and you have nice clothes and you don't want to get sweaty and stinky. . . . but on a holiday??? If you don't like heat then why travel in Summer? Makes no sense.

LOL :D

...but to each his own :)

Thu May 10, 2018 7:13 am

On my drive across the southern US last summer I didn't really feel the need for AC at all. Except when passing through Atlanta. I don't know how anyone can live in there summer without AC. Mojave Desert was hot, but not like Atlanta's humidity. It was unbearable, shade made no difference.

Thu May 10, 2018 7:21 am

Deleting A/C is pure folly. Don't. Ever.

Thu May 10, 2018 7:24 am

Nope. No A/C. It is coming out. :D It takes up a huge amount of space in the back area that I want for storage. We have traveled in a westy for decades (1978 - 2017) in the US without A/C and I can certainly do it in Europe. YMMV.

Jalousies are going in....

(Full disclosure, I just recently got the A/C working in the '87 after going without for ten years.)

Thu May 10, 2018 7:34 am

you don't have to use the oem factory BIG BULKY ac to have it in the van.

grab one of the small evaporator units from ICE or vintage air and install it in the cabinet or my favorite place under a center console.. to blow out at my feet..

I'm envious and watching this with deep interest as it's always been a plan for my own retirement.. though success in life hasn't been as gainful as I'd hoped.. so time will tell.

Thu May 10, 2018 8:03 am

I appreciate the thoughts but A/C is not that important to me. Really... 8)

Thu May 10, 2018 8:33 am

dobryan wrote: Nope. No A/C. It is coming out. :D It takes up a huge amount of space in the back area that I want for storage.

Bravo... You don't need AC in Europe. Hell I even got rid of my fridge. We have no need for a fridge which just takes up prime space, weights a ton, prone to stink, can be noisy, consumes too much power, and encourages left-overs. We just cook fresh vegan meals and shop daily for fruits and veggies > PERFECT!

Sun May 27, 2018 12:33 pm

Swapped out the rear hatch and the sliding door with the ones I have had for 10 years in the basement. Same exact color...

I had to swap over the slider window into the 'new' door and it was a chore to get the window out of the old door because I wanted to save the gasket. Managed to do it though.

The rear hatch window got a new gasket so I just cut the old window out.

That rear hatch is very awkward to install. My son (now 6'4") was a big help.

I am not sure why the bus had a replacement hatch from an earlier Vanagon on it but I was happy to have a spare around. :D

Spent $115 on a rear hatch window gasket and a set of new struts so the hatch would stay up.

$4800 + $115 =

$4915 total.

Sun Jun 03, 2018 8:06 am

My son and I drove 320 miles yesterday to pick up the NAHT and bring it home. Everything went very well. :D

NAHT $3200

$4915 + $3200 = $8105

Sun Jun 03, 2018 8:16 am

epowell wrote: dobryan wrote: Nope. No A/C. It is coming out. :D It takes up a huge amount of space in the back area that I want for storage.

Bravo... You don't need AC in Europe. Hell I even got rid of my fridge. We have no need for a fridge which just takes up prime space, weights a ton, prone to stink, can be noisy, consumes too much power, and encourages left-overs. We just cook fresh vegan meals and shop daily for fruits and veggies > PERFECT!

It is harder for us Americans to adapt to things since we are conditioned by a society that can deliver anything to your door in hours. We have to consciously retrain ourselves from this mode of thinking on trips like this.

We go offshore for a week and have never had active refrigeration on board. Parmalot for coffee, brick butter, non perishables. I do miss ice cream and cold drinks but I don’t want $3000 of marine refrigeration to maintain to have a coke.

Sun Jun 03, 2018 8:20 am

I have my limits...no A/C ... but a Truckfridge is going in. I will have solar and about 200Ah of house batteries to run the webasto heater, and laptops, and.... also a 220V power supply/charger...so the fridge is an easy add-on, no extra costs other than the fridge itself. :lol:

It's my canvas and I get to paint it how I want. 8)

Sun Jun 03, 2018 8:25 am

This is fun! I’m looking forward to seeing how you finish it.

Sun Jun 03, 2018 8:56 am

Very cool project. I’ve contemplated shipping our van over for the same trip but money and time might prevent that idea from becoming a reality. Who knows, maybe some day? I will be following your progress and look forward to this story morphing from a build thread to a European trip report in the near future. It seems like through many years of experience that you know exactly what you want and need for the trip. Good luck and have fun.

Sun Jun 03, 2018 10:56 am

^^^ Thanks. I have been traveling and camping in VW's for over 40 years and I hope to take all that experience into account as I build this out.

The trick will be to know when to stop building and just ship it over and go travel... :wink: :lol: