First trip report

[woggs1]

I finally got a few days to take my Westy on its first camping trip (first with me at least). Everything was going fine until I smelled coolant. Very soon after the low-coolant light started blinking! I pulled over immeditalty and followed the green trail to the rear heater! That thing is evil! So, I needed something to plug the hoses with, and the only thing I had that size was AA batteries. I pulled the hoses off the heater, inserted the batteries and tightened up the hose clamp. I then bled the system quickly, and I was on the road again. We went to Medecino National Forest for two nights and I only saw one other vehicle near Paskenta, CA. Other than that there was nobody anywhere in those mountains. I did get stuck on a remote side road. The left rear wheel came up off the road and I lost all traction. Now I want a Syncro. Here are a few pics:

Night #2 looking out at the valley.

Campfire at Camp #2

Who needs a Synco?

I need a Syncro!

No traction!
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4 speed 88 Westy

[Waldemar Sikorski]

You need to apply the handbrake.

[Rodknock]

You need a Land Rover.

I like that part of CA. It is the only part that's not crowded. Just watch out for the guys growing cash crops back there, they lack a sense of humor.

[woggs1]

[msinabottle]

I'm hip!



I'm mellow!



I'm NRA LIFE, BABY!

:2gunfire:

Peace! And don't tread on me, either.

Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence."

[klucz]

Amazing what a 2wd Vanagon can do. Nice and dirty, too. I'd lose the hubcaps if it were mine, and maybe invest in some A/T tires. Nice pics BTW.

[woggs1]

There was a hunter who was killed by pot growers a couple years ago near Cherokee, CA. The growers around here now days aren't the peace and love variety anymore. Now they are criminal organizations who use illegal Mexicans to tend the crop. And they are well armed and have nothing to lose. Now if they would just legalize the stuff and concentrate on the real problems, then we could have our mountains back.
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4 speed 88 Westy

[Dogpilot]

It would be nice if they just legalized the stuff. It is never going to happen. The liquor lobbies will see to that. Besides. the government is none to interested as well. Go to any western states (east has weird liquor laws) supermarket. Count the number of isles dedicated to liquor. You will find that it occupies 4 times the shelf space of any other product category. This tells you two things; people want the stuff and it makes a tremendous profit.

Alcoholism is a major cause and effect of poverty. The government extracts a major source of revenue from booze taxes on the local, county, state and federal level. This is a tax that is primarily directed at and paid for by the poor. All the rhetoric is directed at income taxes, but nobody ever talks about booze taxes. Booze taxes are the United States oldest form of tax. While I was in the military, we could buy tax free booze, at typically 1/5 the price to consumers on the outside.

So in light of this, why would they ever allow you to have legal any form of alcohol substitute that you could, with ease, produce on your own. The billion dollar beverage industry would howl.

Personally, I have never met a heroin addict that didn't drink beer or smoke cigarettes! We should ban these evil stepping stones to hard drugs! I have met several addicts, my brother was hooked for some time. He finally kicked the habit, but still smokes and drinks.
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Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[psych-illogical]

[r39o]

FYI: This weekend, you need to remove your flooring and clean up the heater mess. When I first got our van, it would smell to the Gods inside on a hot day. The accumulated crud of old grass, petrified french fries, old Coke, dirt, etc mixed with the coolant created a real nasty funk. Only way was to Fabreeze the floor. Now it has a nice neutral smell, even on the hottest days.

A reason I raised my Westy to a proud 18.25 inches is so I can go to 90% of the places a syncro can and not be bothered with the extra problems the 4x4 brings with it. I drive up and over things from time to time just to practice.....
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"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[ChesterKV]

[McVanagon]

You could also call that smell..... PATINA!