My conundrum

[Bay Window Steve]

Okay. I have three buses. My '73 driver, the '70 Westy, and a '69 Deluxe. Here is the deal. I have been working on the Deluxe (it was gutted when I bought it, and I didnt need another transporter), making it a ratty camper. It has a full size westy bed and jump seat, and is functional for me to camp in. The problem started when I drug up the 70 Westy. It wasn't for keeps, just to sell, and put the money into the Deluxe. My boys started playing in it, and asked when they could go camping. They got really exited, and played in the '70 all day. We looked on the Samba last night, and found several late Westys we all liked.

Here is my problem. I have been working on the deluxe, planning on running it with a narrowed beam, horseshoe plates, and other cool crap. Now, I want to get a camper. I have always wanted a Late Bay camper, (sorta like I always wanted a lowered bay) and as much as I want this lowered (well, not yet) bay, I am thinking I should get the Westy, and camp while my boys are young enough.

Here is the question. Keep the ratty camper, or sell it and buy a Late Westy. I cant afford both, and my limit is two VWs.

What would you do?
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'73 Transporter - Driver
'69 Deluxe

Member: WTKHABG


Original Air Cooler Member

[norcalmike]

your kids are only young once. buy the late camper

[busdaddy]

Go camping with the kids, one day you'll wake up and they won't even want to be seen with you.

A late camper is nice but why not roll the 70? if rooms an issue add the continental upper bed, you can swap parts (even engines temporarily) and get some quality time in now (it's a hell of alot easier to sell later if it's running too ). Don't slam it, all the great camping spots are off road, and don't get too carried away with a resto, address the brakes, lights and safety issues, give it a wash and go, nothings more fun than a bus when you don't have to sweat over another scratch or dent.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

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[rustfree1967bug]

I say keep the '70 and camp with that. They look better than the later bays because of the small taillights and low mounted turn signals. But the '73 and later will be safer.
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'70 ghia
'69 ghia
'65 singlecab
'66 sunroof beetle
'74 bus
'67 so-42


IDA's...well... they talk dirty -MURZI

[Traveling Writer]

I'd say Late Bay! Forget lowering; throw on some BFG mud terrains and get it sitting nice and high, hit those fire trails with the a coleman stove, some fishing poles, and the kids and have a blast! You can't buy that kind of peace.... oh wait, YOU CAN!

Bus Life is the best....
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Cheers,
Davi

1977 2.0 FI Westy
2011 1200cc Yamaha Super Tenere
1976 Feet (they work surprisingly well)

[tubdub]

[norcalmike]

[fastinradford]

and power disk brakes too

[Traveling Writer]

I think the late bays are called safer because of the reinforced Y shaped front frame structure, and the front wheel disc brakes instead of the weaker drums.... Don't know if there is any other difference....
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Cheers,
Davi

1977 2.0 FI Westy
2011 1200cc Yamaha Super Tenere
1976 Feet (they work surprisingly well)

[EZ Gruv]

Late campers rule.

Thread over.
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Eric
1977 Deluxe Westfalia - 2.0L FI Type IV, Completely Original
Photographer for HotVWs, VolksWorld, AirMighty, VW Camper & Commercial, Hayburner, and more.
My Photography Page.

[norcalmike]

[Kirk]

I say late bay. His 70 has some crusty bits like the rear corner. Its been sitting a while too. Besides the early bays only have an upper cot, and a late bay has a upper bed. Would work better for the twins. The 70 needs more work to get it on the road.

Sell them both, buy the late bay, camp till it breaks, buy a Raby CS, camp till it breaks again. I think the late bay is a better camper. If the 70 was in better shape, I would say yeah. Late bay, and do it.

[busdaddy]

Oh, I agree, a late bay is more evolved, but it sounds like we are on a budget here and already have a running upright engine, a 1 hour swap sounds better than a type 4 rebuild job to me.

As for the reinforced Y structure, 1970 already has it as it's the first year for it, if we were worried about safety we'd be posting in the Volvo forum anyways and not here.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

[Remark]

OK, while personally I prefer the early bays, I say go with the late and camp with your kids. Mine both mocked me before our first campout, but now they get mad if I go without them. Get a westy you like and camp the hell out of it!

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Is the current Westy drivable? If so, take 'em camping and see how they (and you) like it. Your answer will lay within that trip.
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Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Personally, I love our Riviera (full upper bed) and recommend nothing else.
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Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion

[Kirk]

Sell them both. The money you make will make a good down payment on your new westy.

If the family loves the idea of a new(ish) camper, but doesnt like what you have now, sell it, and capitalize on the moment.

[dbo550]

I think you'll be fine keeping it old school. How big are the kids anyway? Any westy is great but I find that the bed, table, and light are truly the only things that I really appreciate. to get rid of a lot of the hassle you'd be best off installing a bed, a cot, and the table and buying a nice modern camp stove and a tent to pack along. With my westies it seems that the stove and fridge are only for showing off and not really using. Just my perspective.
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1985 Westy
2001 Audi Allroad
1999 Volvo v70 xc
1995 Volvo T5-R, Yellow
1998 Jetta GLX

[alnvilma]

I vote keep the early Bay. You can always move on if the kids like camping more luxuriously [in plaid]
I'm on my fifth bus; went full circle from early Bay-Vanagon(s)-Eurovan and back to a (retro-fitted) 'tintop' project. We never used the kitchen stuff, just the table & jump seat like the other person said. The upright is so easy and cheap to work on....
Aside: thanks for the safety info busdaddy. I always heard the '73s & up were safer but, if my '71 has the same frame design, great!