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Red Ryder
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021
Posts: 951
Location: Northern California
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 Posted: Thu May 18, 2023 4:02 pm Post subject: Canadian Westy |
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Anyone know why Westys imported to Canada have the utility ports located differently from US models? Any other differences other than speedos in kilometers? (Photo for reference)
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“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9606
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2023 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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I had an ‘85 Westy.
It had a gasoline heater.
I think the fiberglass top was thicker (heavier too).
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7919
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2023 6:44 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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| Red Ryder wrote: |
| Anyone know why Westys imported to Canada have the utility ports located differently from US models? |
Canadian regulations (stupidly) required a hardwired extension cord in the center, lower hookup.
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~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4087
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2023 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
| Red Ryder wrote: |
| Anyone know why Westys imported to Canada have the utility ports located differently from US models? |
Canadian regulations (stupidly) required a hardwired extension cord in the center, lower hookup. |
I think it was because they were worried if the owner lost the factory cord they would stupidly use an underrated extension cord.
Our Casita has, and Escape trailers had hardwired service cords. Kind of a pain getting the cord back in the opening without bunching up! But nice to have a dedicated space for a wet mucky cord.
I prefer the removable type, but a reminder to new owners about the need for proper rated cord.
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Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9606
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2023 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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Seems kinda crazy that a Westfalia would need a big power cord..
Any idea what they had in mind?
A pair of 1500 watt heaters plugged in? (that's 25A).
I wonder what temp you could camp in with 3,000 watts of electric heat.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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ragnarhairybreeks
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009
Posts: 1890
Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2023 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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One more thing… the drop down dish drainer on lid was fixed into place , no drop down.
I guess to stop Canadians from frying back bacon on it, after a few stubbies .
Alistair
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'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
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snowsyncro
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2009
Posts: 1557
Location: East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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| ragnarhairybreeks wrote: |
One more thing… the drop down dish drainer on lid was fixed into place , no drop down.
I guess to stop Canadians from frying back bacon on it, after a few stubbies .
Alistair |
Haha...what Canadian would do that? 
I have an early 1970' Cygnet trailer (made in Moncton, New Brunswick) and it also has a hardwired heavy gage power cord.
RonC |
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7466
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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I assumed the big fat cord was 10 awg to handle 30 amp supply available at most RV pads but I looked at my cord (I believe it's OE) and it says 14-3 and 15 ampere (matches the onboard breaker) which makes me wonder why it's so fat. For use outdoor use? For extreme use/abuse?
Regardless, it looks like the US and Canadian standards are dummy proofed for our tiny 15 amp circuit breaker.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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ALIKA T3
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Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 6351
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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Wellington
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2004
Posts: 1884
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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that tiny cupboard to the left of the fridge gets the power cord all coiled up.
Waste of a cupboard, and as others have pointed out, pain in the ass, and dirty.
I snipped mine off, now it extracts 3 inches, and I use an extension cord, that I store elsewhere, That cupboard now houses my house battery.
There is one more difference between the Canadian Westfalias.......RUST!!!!
Thankfully I found mine that was never exposed to winters. |
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Red Ryder
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021
Posts: 951
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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OK, it’s Canadian RV regs for the win! I think MsTaboo is probably correct — a built-in power cord prevents a substandard extension cord being deployed by a potential “Darwin Award” recipient, eh?
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“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition
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Howesight
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 3274
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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| Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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The VW Westfalia was classified as a "Motorhome" so far as the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) was concerned. The CSA set out specs for electric systems, propane systems, plumbing, etc for "motorhomes" and the manufacturer had to prove they were compliant in order to get the right to affix the CSA sticker.
The CSA apparently also thought Canadian Westfalia owners might use the Westfalia dish drying rack as a flat-top pancake griddle (to use up all our excess maple syrup and pea-meal bacon), whereas we all know that our American friends would never engage in such foolishness. 
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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leecat
Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2012
Posts: 773
Location: Regina
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| Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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| Ugh - someone used my Westy drain pan to cook on, took FOREVER (and a multitude of cleaning supplies plus 8.5 gallons of elbow grease) to get it spotlessly clean again. |
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Van den Broke
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2012
Posts: 158
Location: Victoria, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2023 10:45 am Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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One other difference in the Canadian Vanagons concerns daytime running lights (aka DRLs).
These were mandated in Canada in 1990, I believe, so will only affect the last year or two of Vanagons.
There is a separate module for the DRLs.
I haven't searched the Bentley manual to see if this is covered. |
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VicVan
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1841
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2023 1:26 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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| Van den Broke wrote: |
I haven't searched the Bentley manual to see if this is covered. |
It is. A few pages of electricity diagrams just for this.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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coqcitywesty
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2018
Posts: 401
Location: Coquitlam, BC
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2023 1:44 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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| Wellington wrote: |
There is one more difference between the Canadian Westfalias.......RUST!!!!
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To be clear and as in the US and as related to RUST, there is a major difference between east coast vs west coast Canadian Westfalias - the west coast typically used a fraction of the corrosive road salt that its the scourge of all winter driven cars, so there are far more 'pristine' options available out this way. As such, when I was undertaking my Westy search, I limited my options to west coast 'originals' only. And yes, the staggered utility boxes suck - when my unit goes in for a respray, I will be relocating my lower one to match the others.
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1991 Westfalia EJ251, 1972 Volvo 1800 ES |
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Van den Broke
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2012
Posts: 158
Location: Victoria, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Westy |
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My Vanagon is originally from Quebec, then Ontario, but is fairly rust free so presumably wasn't driven in the winter over there.
I'm just North of Seattle. |
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