Living out of your Vanagon

[veganexplorers]

We are planning on living out of our Vanagon for a couple of months as we travel from the east to west coast of North America.
Any suggestion on what we must bring/have.
We are 2 adults, one infant.

I know it's a pretty wide-open question, but we need any help we can get! Please share any experience you have on extended trip in your Vanagon.

Also want to know:
What do we do to secure our valuables? Passports, keys, etc?
We will be bringing bikes, is it best to keep them inside when traveling or on a bike rack?

[Williamtaylor33]

Join the yahoo group.."vwvanfulltimers"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VWVANFULLTIMERS



I recommend the RMW lockbox that installs under your seat.

If your bringing bikes I would get a good rack to store them. A couple of bikes will take up all your living space. You don't want to have to climb over bikes or have to set them outside when you stop.
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89 Bostig powered syncro westy

[j_dirge]

You don't need much.

I lived off a bicycle for 6 months. No tent. But no infant either.

Keep you passport on you or near you 24/7

The infant complicates matters. Get a top notch first aid kit and start reading up on how to use it. A CPR and first aid class would be good. For both parents.

(Read the "camping with an infant thread" here for more ideas on traveling with little ones)

You will likely NOT want to have bikes inside, especially when camping with a little one. Gotta pull them out every night to sleep? No thanks.

Get the best rack you can afford (do a search on bike racks.. there's a half dozen threads on the subject.
Lock the bikes up well and/or don't bring high-end bikes. Use beaters instead.

Your's and your infant's health are the most important issues to deal with.
Have a plan for emergencies. And if you aren't comfortable treatng minor problmes, start reading up.

I have a book "Caring for your baby and young child"
Steven Shelov, MD and Robert E. Hanneman MD, editors.
Get a copy and do some reading (if you don't already have it). The book is a great resource and you should keep it with you in your travels.


As far as what the 2 adults need? Start paying attention to your every day routine and begin noting what you DON't need. And leave all that stuff at home.

Good luck.. Travels of a life time!
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

[Gauche1968]

Health insurance to cover your infant in the U.S.
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1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy

[Ahwahnee]

We once spent a year travelling in our Westy -- thinking back, what we did to prepare for a year on the road wasn't much different from what we do for a week on the road.

Since you asked about valuables -- obviously it's good to keep those to a minimum -- but passports, infrequently used credit cards, etc were stowed under the drivers seat (our aux battery is under the rear seat).

I assume you have an aux battery -- if not you should consider this for convenience and peace of mind.

Apart from whatever tools and parts you usually carry, we always had an oil filter and 5 qts of the weight oil we prefer. You may be dependent on quick lube places which may or may not have the correct filter or weight of oil. Better yet, you may have an opportunity to change it yourself in a friend or relative's driveway.

We arranged to have our mail received by a family member and then forwarded to us every few weeks at a town where we would be in a couple of days. Have it sent general delivery and pick a small town with only one zip code to minimize the chance it will go astray.

If you will have bills (e.g. credit cards, insurance) while you are travelling arrange auto-pay from a credit card or checking account. I liked this so much that I never went back to paying bills the old way.

You're going to get a lot of practice doing laundry in laundromats -- have a system that includes a laundry bag, soap and lots of quarters. Avoid clothes that take a long time to dry.

There are many places where you can camp for free or for very little cost. On a really long trip this can be quite a savings. Our preference is Natl Forest or BLM land or campgrounds.

Perhaps the most important thing we did was: Learn to slow down our pace. We spent days in places where most visitors spend an hour. We spent weeks where others spend days. If we got to somewhere really nice we stayed a long while. If something wasn't to our liking we changed it pronto. Avoid schedules, paying for many nights in advance and commitments to be somewhere at a specific date or time.

Best of luck on your adventure!

[AndyBees]

Our first trip to Alaska back in '86 was a 29 day excursion. We had planned for the trip over an 18 month period with more serious planning in the last two months. We have done 6 additional trips to Alaska with the last one in 2003. So, our next road trip is long over due.

As I recall, there were a few things we forgot to pack... purchased them along the way. And, there were a few things we could have left behind.

Our Vanagon was a non-Westy. We camped (pitched a tent) 25 nights and stayed in motels the other nights, generally due to severe weather conditions. As I recall a few of the campgrounds were primitive, so we only stayed one night in them ....... love my showers! Our son was 10 at the time and very helpful.

In my opinion, credit cards are far better than travelers checks. So, we did cash and credit cards.

Always have a plan about contacting a friend or relative almost daily. Leave them with a list of the major points/places you hope to visit along the way and the approximate day/time you expect to be there. This can be updated as you progress through the trip.

Make sure you have an ample supply of your medications or a way to get them.

Make extra keys for the vehicle and store them in a handy accessible place in case you lose yours or lock yourself out.

Start making a list of "to do's" now. Modify the list at least weekly!

Seems most of the high points have been mentioned by other posts.

Happy trails!
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful.

[levi]

I think what most folks do that's a mistake is to start out taking way too much stuff. It's the "I need this" problem. But you don't really need it.
So, I suggest, you start out taking almost nothing, just the bare essentials.
As you need it, and I mean can't live without it, then you get it while on the road.
You'll be surprised by how much you really *don't* need, and with two adults and a child in a vanagon, space will be critical.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[sbclayton]

Not a reply on the "what-to-take" question, but more of a "how-to-take-it" one. My family and I took a 6 week trip from FL to CA in 1992. I bungee corded an old fullsize 5-drawer dresser behind the driver's seat and removed the RH jump seat entirely. It worked *great!* We had plenty of room for whatever stuff we needed/wanted, and a shock cord from bottom to top kept the drawers closed. In retrospect, I would have put a PortaPotti behind the RH seat.

And I think we conclusively proved a Vanagon Carat can haul all the necessities for two adults and a teenaged daughter, plus 600# of rocks and merchandise (I owned a rock shop/lapidary at the time) and still climb like a mountain goat.

This admittedly oddball trick might work for you, too, especially if the dresser was low enough to double as a changing table (if needed).
_________________
Steve - Tampa Bay Area
Original Owner (12/1990) of
NavDog, a 91 Carat

Enlightenment came when I realized that any time in my life I was having fun, it was somehow connected with owning a Volkswagen.

[aswah]

[Williamtaylor33]

Ever read the bumfuzzle blogs?
There trip in their 58 panel provides some good ideas. They sold alot and stored the rest but didnt take anything they didnt really need.
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89 Bostig powered syncro westy

[supersooner]

If you find that you are going to be in Central Oklahoma, email me. My wife and I have a small cattle ranch with plenty of space for camping next to a propane grill and a vineyard. We can run an extension cord to you for power and a fan. This summer you will need it.

[tschroeder0]

We are in AK now and have found ourselves living in the van a lot not to mention the whole trip up here and a long trip just before that...in the last 5 months I have spent as much time in the van living as I have out of it.

I agree with most things said already especially the only bring what's needed part, BUT make sure you know what's needed.

You need/want privacy: The BD window insulation kit is great for this, makes the van dark and people can't see in at night or when stealth camping. To really finish it off you could make your own recflective buble insulation for the poptop. We use our on the inside not the out because it doesn't draw attention when stealth camping and it keeps light from getting out so it looks as if you're not home, makes poeple think you're at the house across the street

You need simple useable cooking equipment, but not a great dela of stuff, it's easy to go overboard on this.

you need a good tool kit and replacement items for the van: I carry quite a bit but it's focused around what would strand me if it broke; throttle cable, fuel filters,fuel pump, used ecu, slave cylinder, one wheel bearing set for front/rear, headlight brake,turn signal bulbs.

We do have a small porta potty, not at all essential, but sure is great when you NEED it.

Lots of various flashlights, hangable lights etc for reading,cooking etc...

minimum clothes: think layers warm and cold but you need very litle clothing overall.

As stated a good first aid kit.

We do have bikes, I now use a Fiamma rack but for security when needed I resort to my Thule rack on top of the poptop, I have skewer lock and then I lock it again with a chain lock. Most thieves are not going to climb on top and deal with all that.

You'll will want to get out of the can and have a nice space too when you can, A "roll table" and cheap awning (think lightweight wallmart) work great, couple of camp chairs work great.

Have a removeable carpet or something of the sort to put on the ground so your child can crawl around.

Good Batteries for the van, a nice stereo, with satellite radio, a portable dvd player are good to have for times when the shine has worn off a bit on the living in the van adventure.

A snap in screen kit makes the van feel big and airy on a hot day and keeps the bugs out. Mr Fancher here on the samba makes some great stuff too for this.

Again look at everything you want to bring and ask yourself "how often will I use this?" If you hesitate that you may not use it at least weekly, you most likely don't need to bring it.

I have a rocket box and a small metal basket on my pop top, the rocket box is great for those things that you know you need but you also know you won't need them much.

You'll probably get a lot of people saying you're crazy! Tell em their right and don't listen to them, they can't be saved, and you gotta just smile and walk away.

Have a great time!!

[static]

In the People's Guide To Mexico, they cover lots of the same issues.
Most of the helpful stuff is on their website now (see link above).

One of the tips that always stayed in my mind was washing clothes along the way by putting them into a bucket with a lid, adding water and detergent, and then driving for awhile for "agitation".

[One more islander...]

Try some of the books about "living aboard" boats for more specific tips. Some of the big issues are the same--you have limited storage, and limited 12V power for lights, etc.

We lived aboard a boat for years, and, having just gotten our Westy, find that there are a lot of similarities.

One big plus for van living--you don't have to worry about your anchor dragging!

----

'88 Westy

[reluctantartist]

Join the vanagon resue squad ... this site:

http://www.vanagonauts.com/index.phtml?catid=74

And maybe the LimboBus.

If you are headed through Indiana. you can look me up. I am on a mini farm with sheep/chickens/ dogs and plenty of space to camp.

Keep us posted on you trip.
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

[veganexplorers]

Thanks for all the great tips!
Forgot to mention...we will be traveling Oct-Dec. We have a factory auxillary eberspaecher gas heater, but it doesn't work. Our plan is to just stay in the warm states!

Keep the stories coming...we love reading them

[tschroeder0]

If you're traveling in the cold get that heater fixed! You just never know what you'll run into, and aux heaters give you a huuge sense of security.

One last thing I was thinking about (actually for my dog) but it may be a good idea for your little one. I have a side screen for my slider, the kind that all the vendors sell, heavy material with snaps around the perimeter and a middle zipper.
MY idea to keep my pooch in one place when I need that was to get another one and mount snaps in the van that would line up with where the bottom cushion would be when the bottom bed is flat. That way I could snap in a screen and put the bottom (open part) under the seat to make a nice see through blockade Might work great to give the little one a place to cruise around without getting hurt?

[veganexplorers]

I wouldn't even know how or who to get to fix that heater!

[strawhouse]

Or you could swing by my house and I could take a look at it!
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Pacifist with a gun

[veganexplorers]