The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread!

[Classicvibe]

The "community" here is something I think can benefit all, especially those who have been involved in a vanagon related loss. While it pains me to hears about those serious crashes/blunders/thefts etc., it also gives myself and others a chance to make a difference both to our future and to those that have experience the loss. Who better to help out in those scenarios? Each one of us thinks all too often about what we would do when some incident takes place, tossing away years and hundreds of hours of work, thousands of dollars and our close Vanagon friend.

Being a father of 3, I spend a lot of time reviewing "incidents" to ensure I have done all I can to keep myself, my family and our Vanagon safe. I get the majority of my info from the Samba.

I am not down with a bummer thread, but I think the one being proposed is a powerful teaching tool, covering the causes, effects and ramifications of the different perils of the Vanagon. Look for opportunities to make you and your Vanagon stronger. Learn from the most painful experiences others have been through, and don't let their knowledge and lessons go to waste. Listen to those in the community who choose to share and let them know you appreciate them sharing, and empathize with their feelings. I for one have so much to continue to learn about my Van. My wife finally appreciates the Samba as well (miraculous) because the wealth of information that is consistently helpful and improves van ownership experience. This community is more than brag stories and simplified helpful tips people. The are friendships being made constantly, new trips forming, people helping strangers with mechanical issues, great products being created and sold. Some stories about hard lessons learned...that is what we do around here!

No disrespect to previous posters.
_________________
On a mission, the destination is just an excuse.

Syncro Solstice 2022...see you there!

1986.5 Wolfsburg Syncro Westfalia Poptop Weekender Transporter

[Team WorldTour]

[82WestyMan]

I can't believe this thread took 2 pages to get to the first picture past the original poster...

I'm in the camp of "you learn from the mistakes, not the successes" and "forewarned is forearmed"

I ain't got much, but do wonder why this spot seems to be a magnet for idiots in the parking lots...

_________________
"The floggings will continue until morale improves"
"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell" - Harry S. Truman
82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine

[PNWesty]

[Central Syncronizer]

[levi]

[FNGRUVN]

Here's one. Vanagon fared way better than the deer. Luckily he was a small fellow.

He took out the grill, bent the bumper and the sheet metal below the grill and deposited a golf ball size/shaped turd on the front of the luggage rack. It stuck there for two days until I could get home from my camping trip.

BTW, that hot looking blue Syncro Westy in the background might be up for sale soon.

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"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

[syncrodoka]

Surely the appropriate sized bumper of the blue syncro should have been used for the deer hunting expedition.

[FNGRUVN]

Holy crap, levi. Be careful what you ask for, huh?
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"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

[FNGRUVN]

[WestyBob]

There are some personalities that like to look at 'broken cars' and others that don't, each with their own noble reasons.

Since we have a nice forum with individual threads I say for those who are interested then let er rip ... uh ... I mean post 'em up. Those who aren't like me can simply move on to other threads.

There's no mountain to be made out of this molehill.

Enjoy.

[joetool]

I don't have any pics, but I would love to see some. And as with every other thread on here; DON'T open it if you don't want to!jeez.

Remember; One has the right to be offended. But that right does not extend to silencing those who offend you.

[RCB]

[joetiger]

I've posted these before, but if we're showing carnage....

This is from a U-pull-it yard a few years back, a later-model Westy that looked like it had previously been in pristine condition. It smelled really, really bad in there.

Here's a nice one from South Africa:

The classic Volvo Decapitation from Vanagon.com:

Tree crash in Seattle (www.wikimedia.org)

_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"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

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[Syncroincity]

The very last T3 ever made, in S. Africa, after a car-carrier rolled over carrying the VW museum's display cars back from a show.
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'86 Syncro CHC Top AAZ Turbodiesel
'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT

Vanagon Build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466866&highlight=

[SWbySWesty]

we have specific carnage threads on the Jeep forums that are ALWAYS fun!

I guess maybe the syncro guys will understand....
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1986 Westy - Billie Jean
A Westy with a Jeep heart (Pura Vida)
www.theadventurebrigade.blogspot.com - Latest update: Johnson Valley - Nov 22, 2011

[Team WorldTour]

[foodeater]

[ajdenette]

I forget when and where I originally got these pictures but remember these vans are not ideal race cars out of the box:

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1985 2wd Westy with 2000 Subaru 2.2 current driver
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=685635
1986 Syncro Doka Project next in line
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=732777
1990 Vanagon Syncro Base awaiting body work

[fairweather]

This has been around the block but it's a classic: