Road trip, adventure & camping Threads

[VanGeek]

Wrapping up a trip from NH to the NY Finger Lakes, to the MI UP, Northern MI, and then back home.

Watkins Glen and Letchworth parks in NY were amazing and the NY state campgrounds were also very good. Also enjoyed a few nights at Mill Creek Campground near Mackinaw City with a site on the Lake Huron Beach. We hoteled instead of camping up near pictured Rocks in the UP but would have camped if I had known how many excellent campsites are available on Lake Superior.

After meeting with some of our adult kids in northern Michigan, we converted the rear bed into a bench seat so five of us could tour the area together. Gotta love the flexibility of the weekender.

Other than a small scare in Ithaca with an erratic and temporary transmission shift problem where the trans wouldn't advance to 4th gear, Vanna has performed very well. Here are a few excerpts...

[VanGeek]

Drove south thru MI, cut across Ontario from Sarnia to Niagara, and back to NH via upstate NY and southern VT. A lot of steep climbs and descents in eastern NY and VT but Vanna performed great. Total trip was about 2,500 miles over the past 10 days and averages slightly le. No more big trips until next Spring but may do a few 1-2 night semi local camps before winter.

[debbiej]

I’m really happy with my 1992 AAB diesel California van. Cozy road lover. So far, way good

[HeyCrutch]

Ghost (the 1997 EVC) has been in storage in Boulder for the last 6 weeks. We planned to go get it and drive it home to Asheville in early November, believing a journey through the southwest would be the preferable route home (rather than simply across the plains). Boy were we naive about the weather in early November.

Barely made it across the Raton Pass on Wednesday as the storm was hitting. Interstate 25 has been closed all the way from the pass to just north of Sante Fe since. Needless to say we haven't camp in the van yet, but the weather is sure to improve as we drive west through Texas and Oklahoma.

_________________
-2003 EV MV Wk - Forest - 51k
-2002 EV Camper - Ghost - 82k
-2003 EV GLS - Fluffhead - 176k

-1997 EVC - 12vVR6 (SOLD 5/2025)

[IdeaNerd]

Great pictures above, all.
Thanks for sharing them!

[RubiconCrosser]

First time poster right here. The family took the EVC to the South Carolina coast just before Christmas. Pic of us enjoying Hunting Island State Park with beach side camping. Did some touring of history sites and ate local. Recent fixes to the lithium batery and inverter system ran the kettle and instapot wonderfully. Spent the summer and fall futzing with the house electric and finally got it into shape. FTW.

[HeyCrutch]

My neighbors probably despise me because I make use of street parking for the extra vans. Well today I returned from a trip to the hardware store to see yet another white Eurovan parked across from my house. Since there aren't many in town I knew right away whose it was. But I fear that the neighbors will be filing a formal complaint soon.

Anyways, here's a shot of MtnBikeMike's '95 EVC parked behind the '97 EVC that Ive been driving the past few years and am prepping for sale, along with the 2002 "replacement" EVC that's in the driveway.

I heard a funny Eurovan joke one time ... "It's a White Van's World" and that certainly looks to be the case on my street right now.

_________________
-2003 EV MV Wk - Forest - 51k
-2002 EV Camper - Ghost - 82k
-2003 EV GLS - Fluffhead - 176k

-1997 EVC - 12vVR6 (SOLD 5/2025)

[mikemtnbike]

Great pic Crutch and good to briefly see you. Meeting friends at a bar around the corner not sure where I’m going to park, turn the corner look it’s a spot saved just for me!

I really like how you can see the short nose/ long nose difference.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[67rustavenger]

Did a short road trip today to get some Spring Water.
Hwy26 Oregon between Banks and Seaside, Or.
This roadside natural spring flows year round. And, the water tastes great.

I think my EV needs a bath.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!

[VanGeek]

Perhaps not an adventure, but when she's not hauling people on a camping adventure, Vanna helps us with some local charity work. My wife and I accept furniture donations for a local 501c3 that uses them equip and decorate housing for women coming out of transition programs.

We are consistently amazed by how much we can "stuff" into the weekender: Mattresses, beds, desks, couches, chairs, tables, etc. Here's a recent example

[Abscate]

Belated post about Covid times. Last two kids left home , and we sold the family house and moved to Long Island. Covid smashed plans to bits and I was stuck 3 hours away from family for two years but managed to stay sane with road trips in LudwigVan, our 2002T4 Weekender in Colorado Red

I’ll add some photos of a NY to NC trip back through DE
_________________
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊

[HeyCrutch]

Probably the best spot to post this photo. It's not uncommon to see old T2 bus shells re-used in art installations, gardens, coffee shops etc. Unfortunately, I guess we're in the era of Eurovans meeting the same fate.

This one can be found at Burial Brewing in Asheville NC.

Certainly gets lots of love in its current parking spot. When I've fully gutted the 2003 GLS I bought as a parts van, we've toyed with the idea of doing something similar ... of making it into a sort of outdoor clubhouse/hang spot, with comfy low seats and some fairy lights.


Joking Edit: I had half a mind to pull the steering wheel off and see if there was a spiral/clock spring instact underneath. Might still give it a go one day while sipping on a cold IPA.
_________________
-2003 EV MV Wk - Forest - 51k
-2002 EV Camper - Ghost - 82k
-2003 EV GLS - Fluffhead - 176k

-1997 EVC - 12vVR6 (SOLD 5/2025)

[rstrube]

My wife and I are making the trip from Kalispell MT to Madison WI in our 2002 EV.

We were close to cancelling our trip but @kourt helped me repair our PCV connector.

I got a good shot of the van @ 4:30 am at the Lac Qui Parle State Park in Minnesota.

[VeeDubn]

Here's hoping the trip goes smoothly! How was the campground? We have a spot reserved for August, as we will be making our way from Washington state to Busses Nowhere Near the Arch . . .

[krusovice]

Test voyage for us this weekend. 45 miles to our cabin where we tested out camping with the fail safe of a spare structure. It was comfortable and a great weekend. My wife particularly liked being able to look up at the stars from the lower bed.

_________________
1984 Vanagon 1.9/4 speed
2001 Eurovan Camper

[rstrube]

[VeeDubn]

Excellent - Thank you!

~ Judy

[bigfoot_ev]

We're a bit late getting out this year, usually we like to catch an early shoulder season. For people that are not familiar with the Pacific Northwest it might surprise you how different the landscape is depending on which side of the Cascade mountain range you visit.

We left the rainy cool side heading east over the mountains to the hot dry side (at least in summer). First stop along the Columbia.

Next, central Oregon to meet up with a group of fabulous fellow EV campers.

Heading back home we have to visit one of our favorite wineries, Cave B.

Free camp at Frenchman Coulee.

Then back west where it's cooler.

The sun and heat were almost too much. It must have been at least 80F!
_________________
2003 Westfalia Weekender, AXK, 01P

[HeyCrutch]

First full camping trip in the Weekender since we bought it February 2024. We did sleep in it on the drive home after we bought it and have taken it to a music festival, but hadn't truly camped in it.

Went to Franconia Notch State Park in upper New Hampshire. Having spent a lot of time camping in the Winnibago EVC, we've been adjusting to life in a Weekender. I added a "headbanger" locker over the bed for some storage which came in real handy. Along with a pair of fold flat Dakine camp chairs, a Dometic water tank, Dometic table, and a Fiamma Pro 35 Awning have turned this van into one that we really utilize well. There's also an original VW/Westy bike rack on the back (similar to the Fiamma). And we really love the full size bed (we added a Japanese tatami sleeping mat on top -- it trim-folds away when the seat is folded up. Have a good mat to put out below the sliding the door but it wasn't out in this photo. The CoolBox stayed cold 90% of the time and the other 10% of the time it was still 'cool' enough - and this was in a heat wave. We use the small Coleman for icing down beverages that benefit from the ice (and in case the cool box stops doing its job). Cooking was done using a Jetboil Stove.

Our plan when we bought a second Eurovan was to keep the full EVC west of the Mississippi River and use the Weekender for camping on the East coast. So far, I am enjoying the plan. a lot. And the Weekender is my daily driver in Asheville (probably selling the Alltrack soon as it just isn't getting used).
_________________
-2003 EV MV Wk - Forest - 51k
-2002 EV Camper - Ghost - 82k
-2003 EV GLS - Fluffhead - 176k

-1997 EVC - 12vVR6 (SOLD 5/2025)

[VanGeek]

Excellent! Was that the Lafayette campground?