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LandSailor Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 315 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:41 am Post subject: Camping Westfalia Style: Bay Window vs. Vanagon |
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Hey guys,
I have a serious quandary here. We're looking at getting a pop top Westy and had been looking at Vanagons, but my wife found a Bus that she absolutely loves and could be show worthy with a little spit-n-polish.
We're buying it for camping road trips. That's purpose #1, but it's not like we'll be going every weekend or anything.
We do actually plan to use the stove. I have several camp stoves, from the reliable ol' Coleman to a Jetboil, but there's something oddly compelling about not having to set up anything at all for a quick bite. We read a story somewhere about a couple who pulled over to the side of the road during a nasty rainstorm, popped up the top, cooked a quick bite, then got back on the road when it was over.
That sounds so awesome.
How does the experience compare when you think about actually camping in the old and newer styles? Is there any significant difference in air flow when you're driving? (We're in the desert, so it matters.)
The 84 I drove the other day had a front heater that worked very well, so I know the Vanagon has that going for it.
Thanks! |
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Skoolieman Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2011 Posts: 573 Location: Chattanooga TN
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:49 am Post subject: |
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My buddy has an 83. It is nice inside, much roomier than mine and more practical too (in his opinion). Mine is a 69. there are a lot of differences across the years, what year is the bay in question? _________________ '69 Westfalia Camper~Cassidy
1600dp with H30/31 carb 009 distributor and alternator conversion |
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LandSailor Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 315 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:56 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the super quick reply!
Mid 70's, I think, so 75 or 76.
Still waiting to hear back from the owner. Come on! Isn't everyone up this early on a Sunday looking at veedubs to buy?!?!?! |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50352
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:14 am Post subject: |
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The Bay/Mircobus ownership is more of a cult thing that Vanagon is. So you need to want or at least accept that part of owning one. You have to be willing to accept the low power and being blown all over the road that come with it, along with the general lack of heat. The Vanagon is a much more normal vehicle and is just more suited to the typical American driver. Neither are remotely close to new at this point in time and both are capable of nickle and diming you badly especially if you can't or won't do the necessary work yourself. |
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retroman Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2010 Posts: 227 Location: Reno (What is Rust???)
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:14 am Post subject: |
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I have both. Love my 71 bay for ease of repair. Love my vanagon for road trip comfort. I carry a lot of spare parts for the vanagon due to its idiosyncrasies .
The bay has a "cool" factor, however it's slower. On the other hand it's easy to fix. So get one of each. _________________ 1967 bug recovering from a PO
1987 Vanagon Wolfsburg Weekender "Otto" been all over the place with never a problem! |
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ncstagger Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2010 Posts: 284 Location: Fayetteville, NC
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:25 am Post subject: |
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retroman wrote: |
So get one of each. |
There you go, problem solved. _________________ 71 Westy Tintop - 1600 DP 34PICT3/009 - Pastel White
Resto thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=549162
"Take your most realistic time frame and dollar amount.. then add half of that amount. When you get that total... double it. Only then will you be in the ballpark." - sofaking |
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ultralite Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 570 Location: GA
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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Another factor to consider being out West is elevation. Assuming you'll be heading up into the mountains, you'd enjoy the greater power with the Vanagon. Plus, doing an engine swap to a Subaru for instance seems to be much easier.
I love my Bay Window, just got back from camping in it this weekend, but when I consider the long, multi day trips I sometimes wish I had a Vanagon with Subaru engine too _________________ Godspeed
'76 Beetle (sold)
'69 Beetle (sold)
'72 BMW 2002 (RIP)
'69 Westy
'02 BMW wagon AWD w/stick shift(sold)
'67 Beetle (sold) |
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borninabus Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4539 Location: Arizona Highways
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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That's a funny question.
Vans are the Cadillac of the bus family.
I've been converted
I LOVE my 71, but the van is go-to.
And that's not even taking "camping road trips" into account. _________________ 88 Van WBX, A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport |
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LandSailor Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 315 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
I spoke with a woman who rents out both kinds and she recommended going with a water cooled Vanagon for overall comfort in traveling. Essentially, "Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. That seems to be the gist of it here, too.
Thanks for the advice, folks! |
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ncstagger Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2010 Posts: 284 Location: Fayetteville, NC
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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Not so fast pardner!
This being the Bay forum and all, I heartily recommend going with a Bay.
Driving a Vanagon is cheating _________________ 71 Westy Tintop - 1600 DP 34PICT3/009 - Pastel White
Resto thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=549162
"Take your most realistic time frame and dollar amount.. then add half of that amount. When you get that total... double it. Only then will you be in the ballpark." - sofaking |
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Zelten Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2008 Posts: 1335 Location: Issaquah
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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If you have the money to buy a late Vanagon, that's what I would do. If it's just you and your wife, a mid bay window would meet your needs as long as you don't mind taking it a little slower and possibly not having a knowledgable mechanic nearby. IF I sell my bay, a Vanagon would be my next camper. _________________ 1978 Delux Campmobile
03 Jetta TDI
15 Q7 TDI |
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notchboy Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 22463 Location: Escondido CA
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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LandSailor wrote: |
Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
I spoke with a woman who rents out both kinds and she recommended going with a water cooled Vanagon for overall comfort in traveling. Essentially, "Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. That seems to be the gist of it here, too.
Thanks for the advice, folks! |
Get a Vanagon. I will eventually. _________________
t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6983 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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LandSailor wrote: |
Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
"Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. |
A sin? You don't have to be a purest. My bay window has Sirius satalite radio, a charging station with three 12v and two USB ports for charging and a booming system.
Go? There are plenty of ways to may your bay go. Mine goes real good. Just like a normal car, as it was put here.
My vote is to get the bay not the vanagon. _________________ __________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build |
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Westy Steve Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006 Posts: 1095
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:56 am Post subject: |
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My Dad had a Vanagon, and I confess it was pretty cool. But you'd be giving up a lot of style and a little bit more room for just a smidge more reliability. Both will be maintenance intensive.
Fact is, you're looking at Vanagons and Bays because of the lifestyle factor. Otherwise, you'd get a Ford Van, right? If I'm right (and I think I am), then just go whole hog and get a Bay. But get a good one. _________________ Have nice 914, want nice Bug |
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MidWesty79 Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2011 Posts: 485 Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin, US
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:24 am Post subject: |
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I love my bay. Short of a splitty, i can think of no other vehicle on the road that is as much a celebrity. Now, in WI, buses are very rare, and so, everywhere it goes it gets thumbs up, peace signs, waves, smiles, stares, pointing, people coming up and asking questions. And, not only does it get a ton of attention, it's all positive attention. Everyone loves a bus. Everyone! Occasionally i'll get a scowling glare from some prissy bitch in a Lexus SUV, and so, I've pretty much come to the determination that if you don't get the urge to smile when a bus drives by, you are a bad person.
I like vanagons, and think they are a fine vehicle. But they just don't have that same feeling. I would most likely buy a full sized toyota camper before a vanagon westy. Way more spacious and probably more reliable.
Oh, and you can certainly comfortably camp in a bay. My girlfriend and i did for 2 months straight as well as multiple week long camping excursions. It's tight, but most certainy doable. _________________ 1979 Westfalia, 1975 BMW 2002, 1996 Mazda Miata, 1979 Jeep CJ5, 2006 325 XI Wagon, 2021 M240i (all manual transmission... as god intended.) |
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thewalrus Big Jack
Joined: March 27, 2006 Posts: 3014 Location: Belchertown, MA
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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richparker wrote: |
LandSailor wrote: |
Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
"Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. |
A sin? You don't have to be a purest. My bay window has Sirius satalite radio, a charging station with three 12v and two USB ports for charging and a booming system.
Go? There are plenty of ways to may your bay go. Mine goes real good. Just like a normal car, as it was put here.
My vote is to get the bay not the vanagon. |
X2. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's obsolete. _________________ '73 Transporter 1.7L Dual Carb
notchboy wrote: |
You ran over some #Vanlife'ers hopes and dreams? |
60vwnewengland wrote: |
Looking forward to next weekend, weed, krunk juice, hookers, blow, hanging with bums, philly, ...the awards! |
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chazz79 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 2268 Location: ohio
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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LandSailor wrote: |
Thanks, guys. I was kind of leaning towards a Vanagon since it wouldn't be a sin to add things tout and change the interior (RGB led strip lights, USB port equipped outlets, etc.) compared to a nice air cooled interior.
I spoke with a woman who rents out both kinds and she recommended going with a water cooled Vanagon for overall comfort in traveling. Essentially, "Go" with a Vanagon and "show" with a Bay Window. That seems to be the gist of it here, too.
Thanks for the advice, folks! |
Both are equally capable of bleeding you dry. My bay has DVD screens, eight speakers, led lighting and tons of other mods that are tastefully hidden. You can modernize a bay buy an van and intend on doing the same. Count on @20k to get you a road machine in either category.
The other factor is a point of reference. A bus is a bus and a van is a van. Sitting over the front wheels has nothing to do with nomenclature. _________________ One day as a lion, or a lifetime as lamb
The green monster in bits and peices: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332556&highlight=green+monster |
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Marleybus Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2013 Posts: 314 Location: Oro Station, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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I have owned both over the years and there is something special about a bay. When I had my Vanagon Westy and was driving around and when I saw a bay I was envious. A bay has something a Vanagon does not.....Character>>> _________________ 1972 VW Westy (Hit by dumptruck)
1963 VW Beetle (RIP)
1974 VW Beetle (RIP)
1981 Vanagon Westfalia (Sold)
1969 VW Beetle Convertible (Wifes)
1977 VW Westy 2.0L FI Chrome Yellow
1978 VW Westy 2.0L FI (Under Restoration)
1973 VW Westy 1.7L Tourist Delivery Orange
Check out my thread!!http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=556709 |
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Kirk Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2003 Posts: 5487 Location: North Texas
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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I want a Subie powered Vanagon real bad. How great would that be?! _________________ MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN
Bear
Coble
Super
Oppenheim |
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photogdave Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 3053 Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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