If you had a blank canvas on which to build a camper...

[pjstock]

I am going to drop this here, because there are so many more followers of the Vanagon section but it's kind of vehicle independent....

if, rather than buying a Vanagon (or similar) with a factory installed say late late 80s/early 90s Westfalia camper set up, you had a blank canvas today, into which you could build a custom camper interior, would you?
if so why?
and, in broad strokes, how?
what equipment could you start with today, that was not even possible back in 1990?

Peter

[shagginwagon83]

I've put a lot of thought into this. I would keep the interior exactly the same as the Westy version. The overall layout is awesome. Later in life I'll buy a bigger van that has a shower/toilet and maybe live the full van life.

So my answer is I would buy/replicate the stock westy setup. Solar panel on roof, batteries, and a awesome fridge. Oh and a high top instead of a pop top.
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[ThankYouJerry]

Propex HS2211
1.8T
Peloquin TBD (2WD)
ARB Fridge
Steel bumpers with swing-aways
RMW Ladder
Jack Bombay pop-top struts
3 window tent
LED: Headlights, interior & exterior lights
Dual Aux Battery system with Blue Sea ACR and flexible solar panel(s)
Roof bars with Thule box, racks, etc
Kill switch and GPS tracking device
Tinted windows
A/C
Awning: Fiamma or Shady Boy
100% PowerFlex poly bushings
Hula Girl on the dash (for good luck)
_________________
1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

[jimf909]

Key features (in addition to the base Westy camper)

- high-top: 24/7 standing room is unbeatable
- real fridge/freezer (where ice and ice-cream can be kept)
- furnace
- solar/batteries for extended living off-the-grid
- hot water heater
- two sliders
- possibly 4wd
- possibly an in-door shower and crapper

This will most likely be built in a 144 wb high-roof Sprinter.

Design inspiration:
- Vanagon Westy camper
- Tonke: http://www.tonke.eu/en/collection/demountable-campers/tonke-fieldsleeper/
- Sportsmobile: https://sportsmobile.com/flow-chart-ordering/
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- Jim

[joetiger]

Good question, and one I've been giving a lot of thought to.

I'd love to see the Getaway Van/Coastal High-top top in person because I really like the lines and I love this paint/color combination, although I'd stick with Bronze Beige Metallic/Black/White instead of red. Anybody around Denver have one of these?

(https://shufti.blog/?s=simon)

Or Bundeswehr green...God I love this van:

Weekender/Carat setup inside with one jump seat, side table, and keep the full-size bed.

100 watt solar with an ARB-type electric fridge.

ARB Awning.

Propex heater.

So basically I want my 2wd van but Syncro and a high-top with a few add-ons.

Gotta walk before I can run, though. My Syncro is a freaking project and a half so far, but I'm making progress on getting it to where it can be a clean slate for a camper conversion.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[pjstock]

Yes, I am a little (errh, a LOT) daunted by the "projectness" of a blank canvas DIY build.
My partner would say (with good reason I must admit) that I don't have a perfect record of project completion, at least not in a timely fashion.

[Bulli Klinik]

The Westy interior has been constantly refined since it's inception in the mid-50's. I've had several campers over the years which in my youthful wisdom were modified to suit my tastes at the time. I've found that after using these Buses since the late 80's, Westfalia got it right.

I'm currently building a camper to suit my needs. There will be some upgrades in terms of heat, power, and some modern conveniences, but it will look and function as Westfalia/VW intended.
_________________
I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[joetiger]

[Honuak]

My two cents...
The westy layout is great. I think it would be cool to have the kitchen unit fairly easily removable though. We usually use the full kitchen in summer months only. If I had my rebuild to do again I would have put cargo/battery stowage space between the outside frame rail and body, at least on the passenger side, its a weld-in job. There is a thread or two on it here someplace. And I would put in a floor drain for wet suit on-off, wet dogs and gear, sponge baths and what-have you.
And I'd try to go with an ESPAR type furnace diesel or gas depending on the engine. Eliminating the propane tank(s). We use the one pound spin on propane bottles now. The added space/lost weight of the big propane tank is nice. Truckfridge is 12V DC.
And finally I have to admit it would be nice to have a subaru automatic trans mated to the subaru motor. I think subarugears can even do the full subaru AWD. It would suck to loose the G gear (4WD) but its a trade off I'd make if I had the $.

With the dash out I would try to source a 88+ heater box that has the up-graded flow to put heat in the outboard vents, and I would install vanistans vent kit with the heater box out of the dash, it would be a little easier than in situ. I would (and did) get all the parts to upgrade the airflow to the 88+ design. The whistle-stoppers on the leading edge of the front doors and the rear vented windows being the main components, this upgrade went a long way towards reducing cabin noise and improving air movement/control.

[vanagonjr]

[raoul mitgong]

Hightops do have advantages but I put too much stuff on my roof and I don't think kayaks on a hightop would really be doable for me.

My project Syncro 7-passenger tintop:

-Donor poptop (I got lucky, same color as the tintop)
-Passenger only Swivel (have two but prefer non-swivel for driver)
-A weekender interior (found at junkyard for $75!)
-A Sewfine upgrade (there goes that savings)
-It looks like an engine swap sooner than I was planning (oil pressure light/buzzer)
-No rear cabinets to retain the full size bed
-Gas fired Espar furnace
-About 100AH deep cycle battery for the Espar
-2" hitch for rear bike rack
-Roof rack for cargo box, extra bike racks, boats, etc.
-Extra Carat style (removable) passenger side rear facing seat (still looking)
-Anything but the square stock lights
-Maybe some permanently mounted solar

This is really all I think I want in my dream van.

(EDIT: I already have a 2wd Westy camper and a Syncro Tintop, so... perhaps this is my dream van because I don't that one of these yet. FYI, 3 vans might be too much.)
-d
_________________
84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim))

[danfromsyr]

soo many different ways to go..
https://www.google.com/search?q=vanagon+interior&a...20#imgrc=_

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[Merian]

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....

[Forthwithtx]

I always wanted to make an RV out of one of these:

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Cheers!
-Karl

'84 GL with 2001/2004 Subaru 2.5L

[Abscate]