How often do you expect to break down?

[Brian]

Tbh, the only faults I've had on my VWs were my fault, not the car's.
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Wash your hands

'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper

Only losers litter

[SevenOaks]

I’d prefer to vote “never”. The closest I’ve come to breaking down in the last 5 years of bus ownership was running out of gas - twice. Both times it was while driving home from my mechanic’s place. He apparently really likes my bus and “test” drives it a lot!
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David
1974 9-passenger bus
1969 Single cab
1966 Beetle

[Manfred58sc]

AAA + just in case...Drive and enjoy!
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Fat chick owner/operator

[ultralite]

I like the “sailor” idea as I’ve thought about it that way many times (and I like sailing too). I’ll add another:

I’ve always done a “pre-flight checklist” before going anywhere. The way a pilot does before flying an airplane.

What I can’t emphasize enough is regular use of your rig. It helps you to get past the poor or deferred maintenance of the previous owner. It gives you time to become more familiar with, well, everything related to your Bus.

I remember your background from when we met. You definitely have the skills and attitude to have a great Bus. You are up against the mommy instinct, a force of nature. I think just a few successful trips will put her at ease.
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Godspeed

'76 Beetle (sold)
'69 Beetle (sold)
'72 BMW 2002 (RIP)
'69 Westy
'02 BMW wagon AWD w/stick shift(sold)
'67 Beetle (sold)

[wcfvw69]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Abscate]

Back east we are a phone call for recovery.

Out west, You have to be more self sufficient, or at least pretend you are.
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.ssS!

[Sally the Bus]

Wow a lot of great comments. You guys are making my argument stronger hahaha. Ive worked hard on this bus to avoid cheap aftermarket parts as much as possible.

I'm also on top of my maintenance abd repairs I even had Amskeptik come out and spend a day going through the bus with me.

She still doesn't trust it too much. I'm gonna have to work hard at convincing her that we may break down. But if we do our due diligence we should be good.

Also embrace the possibility that we may break down rather than let that stops us from enjoying the bus.
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1973 Sunroof Transporter

[TomWesty]

[Wasted youth]

[Tram]

[jtauxe]

I would love to say that I never expect to break down, and that I am fastidious and therefore nothing bad ever happens, but the reality is different and the data don't lie.

I try to be a conscientious steward of my Type 2s. But going through all the systems takes time, and it is sometimes not practical to get through everything, down to inspecting and lubricating every cable, and rebuilding the distributor. These are rolling restorations, and if I am to go anywhere, if the vehicle has not been completely gone through, there are gonna be issues.

I have had to rebuild the rear brakes in an arroyo in Big Bend Natl Park, and limp out of the woods on battery alone and replace an alternator at the KOA, and replace an exploded generator at a truck stop. This is why I carry spares. I don't get stranded because I am prepared.

In short, if I'm going to use my Type 2 for significant travel, I expect to get some maintenance done along the way. Heck -- check out what Colin has had to deal with in his impeccably maintained buses.

There's always something.
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[chimneyfish]

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1965 Type 1 Deluxe (1200cc)
1976 Type 2 T2b Microbus L (1800cc Type 4)
Previously...
1972 T2 Camper (Devon), 1988 Golf, 1972 Type 1, 1984 Polo, 1972 T2 Camper (Danbury)

[crukab]

[Stuartzickefoose]

[Westfalia73]

I never expect to break down, if I expected to break down I wouldn’t Drive it.
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1973 tintop westfalia weekender.
1973 beetle.
1981 Brazilian baywindow kombi.

[CDRINF]

The beauty of the VW was not that it was super reliable (even when new) but that most problems were easy to repair with minimal tools and it reacted well to a bit of scrambling and jury rigging to get you home.

I have had my '71 Westfalia almost three years. I know the quirks and have had most issues caused by PO cheap parts and jury rigging fixed. I have had 5 major issues: 1 transmission issue which I caught and got my mechanic to fix before it went bad (always listen for expensive noises!) and 4 on the road, only one of which left me stranded: 1. Generator bearings went bad; generator light came on and stopped charging the battery. It squealed like hell but I got home and replaced it. 2. Burned up valve and rings on #4 and lost compression on that cylinder; still drivable but topped out at 50mph. That one meant new cylinders and heads (hot tip here was I was probably pushing the engine too hard when I first owned it trying to drive at 70+. Now I keep it around 60.) 3. Clutch cable clevis pin broke; with a little foot coordination and finesse' you can get home without a working clutch pedal; replaced the pin myself the next day and back on the road. 4. Generator pulley self-destructed, literally flew apart! Probably a cheap Chinese Part. Broke the fan belt and cut one of the vacuum lines as it rattled around the engine bay. That one sidelined me for a Saturday night but I was able to tow to a friends place, get the part form my mechanic and fix it myself that Monday. Also on occasion after a long drive the starter simply won't turnover despite all evidence it is getting power. I roll underneath with a ball peen hammer, give the starter a couple of whacks and it fires right up!

Hope all of your VW adventures go as well!

[Abscate]

[cmonSTART]

FWIW, 2 of our business's new Ford Transits have been in the shop for recalls twice over the past year.

Number of Bus breakdowns in the past year: 0

Number of times routine maintenance and/or inspection was done on the weekends during the past year: Lots.
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[Amskeptic]