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colins84
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2012
Posts: 104
Location: Orange, CA
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 Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:05 pm Post subject: Lets hear it - What parts do you never leave home without? |
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When you are getting ready for a long road trip, or even just weekend getaway, what extra parts do you make sure and pack along incase the installed ones fail?
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1985 Vanagon Westfalia (Subaru EJ25 w/ Peloquin)
1986 Vanagon GL (2.2L) |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12408
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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None.  |
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70coupyel
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2006
Posts: 1657
Location: So.Cal
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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Oil and pre mix coolant. Basic hand tools.
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| TheAndante wrote: |
| Saying that specs are different than dimensions doesn't make sense. Porsche specs/VW specs/engineering specs are nothing but a series of dimensions,sizes,percentages,measurements, etc. |
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=338946&highlight=
70 KG Coup
83 Westy Waterboxer |
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whynotvw
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004
Posts: 1322
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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Tools, spare alternator, extra belts, and oil. AAA premium card.  |
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Terry Kay
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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Duct Tape, Tube of Goop, Bungee cords, & fence wire.
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T.K. |
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Jake de Villiers
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Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5938
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10357
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:11 am Post subject: |
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MasterCard. We were just talking about this last night since the inaugural trip is just over a week from now. Since our "trips" will often be on abandoned logging roads and trails not on maps, if we break down it's going to suck. In December, I went 14 miles out a road closed in winter in my Cruiser to stay out there and snowshoe for a couple days. Before I left the pavement, I asked who provides towing or rescue because there was 2 feet of snow and the closure was a week or two off. Answer: Some guy with a tracked vehicle charges $500 just to start the engine, and then something like $4 a mile. So, a credit card.
I like this thread. Does anyone bring one of those portable battery starters? I plan to bring a spool of wire with electricians pliers and a small elect kit of connectors and a circuit testor. Duct tape. Fencing wire, basic hand tools, a few hose clamps, and an undetermined amount of coolant. An air compressor, hand winch, recovery strap, tire chains for all 4, a shovel and a small axe. A flashlight for each occupant, and a headlamp for me, a rolled up tarp as something to lie on if I'm doing "unplanned field maintenance". Vanagon Rescue Squad list, Bentley. Spare key taped to the body in a hidden spot. Most mishaps are lost keys or locked in the car, followed by running out of gas. But I can't see carrying gas around - smelly and dangerous.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8589
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:52 am Post subject: |
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Spare parts: belts, fuses, oil, coolant, hose clamps and maybe a relay or two. I have faith in my VWs. 
Tools, however, are a different story... I carry a bunch under the rear seat to get by in an emergency. Most important tools, however: AAA card, cell phone, wallet, laptop (in case of Wi-Fi). Complete tools thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=238180 .
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1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3669
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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funagon
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Joined: March 09, 2006
Posts: 1308
Location: SLC, UT
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 5:58 am Post subject: |
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| syncrodoka wrote: |
| None. |
I'm with Mario.
Sometimes I don't even have a spare tire with me.
I have seen a few carry so many extra parts I think they have taxed the van and brought on the breakdown.
If you are that worried, tow along a complete parts van
Roadhaus.com and the Vanagon Resque Squad got your back and can be accessed from computer, tablet and smartphone with ease. |
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Summers420us
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2010
Posts: 759
Location: Amissville, Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:52 am Post subject: |
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| Duct Tape, Decent set of hand tools, electrical tape, electrical wire, handful of different electrical connectors, spare fuses, volt meter, extra gas, oil, coolant, spare belts, extra oil filter (in case the journey is long and requires change on the road), funnel, gloves, and hand cleaner. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15410
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:02 am Post subject: |
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Duct tape is my cup holder..
I tend to carry a starter on long (thousand mile+) voyages but only in the automatic van..
and a length of aircraft/garage door cable & some misc ferruls, be suprised what that's handy for along with zipties & bailing wire of course.
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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madspaniard
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Joined: August 18, 2008
Posts: 3795
Location: Alameda, CA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:17 am Post subject: |
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Spare fuel pump and several sections of coolant and fuel hoses.
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1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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j_dirge
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Joined: August 08, 2007
Posts: 4641
Location: Twain Harte, CA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:25 am Post subject: |
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I carry a few parts I have not gotten around to installing yet.
There's a water pump stashed in here somewhere.. a coolant hose or two.
1 quart of oil and a jug of 50/50 mix.
A spare headlight bulb and a box of assorted fuses.
And thats about it.
I carry a load of tools.. but they are general tools for the VW as well as for bikes, cabin/boat repairs, fashioning rafts from sticks (KON TIKI!)
..that kind of thing.
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-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.
-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5
| danfromsyr wrote: |
those are straight line runs with light weight race cars for only 1/4mile at a time..
not pushing a loaded brick up a mountain pass with a family of 4+ inside expecting to have an event free vacation..
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 10470
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Lets hear it - What parts do you never leave home withou |
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Basic tools, plus waterpump belt and ignition switch in all vans at all times. How much to add depends on the trip. I travel a lot to where they speak another language and my cell phone doesn't work and there is no AutoClub. Then I take a lot more stuff and the tools to install it.
Mark
| colins84 wrote: |
| When you are getting ready for a long road trip, or even just weekend getaway, what extra parts do you make sure and pack along incase the installed ones fail? |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6344
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:44 am Post subject: |
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My AAA Premium membership card.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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Jedi
Samba Member
Joined: October 23, 2007
Posts: 734
Location: Cool California
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:58 am Post subject: |
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I carry an extra ECU/ A few relays/ Ignition switch/Idle control valve/Idle stabilizer unit/ Tools AAA card and thats about it. All of the spare parts I have described fit into small box under the seat. Hardly any space or weight is used with these few important parts. If it can leave you stranded and can be plugged in--- carry it. My philosophy is to buy these things when they are working perfect and put the used ones in a box as your backup parts. You do not want to be "that guy" on the side of the road  I pull over for every broken down VW I see out there on the road just to see if there is anything I can do to help them out. 
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1961 Westfalia SO23 Mango Green/Seagull grey
1961 Westfalia SO34 T/BW
1961 Westfalia SO34 SWR
1964 Westfalia SO33 pearl white
1965 Westfalia SO42 Velvet green
1986 Syncro Wolfram grey with black int GL
1986 Syncro Doka
1987 Syncro Sevana beige Adventurewagen
1987 syncro Sevana beige GL
1973 Pumpkin orange Thing
2 1963 Rag top bug's
1965 Manx
1970 Single cab
1971 combi
1990 Vanagon GL
2007 Audi A4 3.2L quattro |
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Mike Robinson
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2010
Posts: 386
Location: Nanaimo BC Canada
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:01 am Post subject: |
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Oh know I must confess .....
I have a westy diesel so parts are a bit difficult to get ....
Fuel filters
A complete set of diesel hoses (not for me for a fell diesel if they have blown a hose)
Accelerator cable
Rescue tape
Oil
Turbo hose
Serpentine belt
Old 1.6nl waterpump and alternator belts (for another stranded diesel westy ...)
Injector cleaners
Tools etc
Mike |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10299
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:18 am Post subject: |
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I must be an exception. I buy new or used spare for most common failure points. Buying ahead means I shop deals or bottom-feed on ebaY and here, rather than pay whatever it takes to get it in a hurry.
That also means I can (in most cases) temporarily install the part to assure it functions well -- esp important on parts where condition cannot be visually inspected.
The resulting parts lot really doesn't take a huge space or weight, just a portion of the bottom compartment of the rear closet.
As I recall what's in there now: ECU, T-Body, Distributor, AFM, fuel pump, fuel filter, valve adj screw, ignition control module, injector, one long plug wire, valve cover gaskets & coil.
I don't bother with things I would not attempt to R&R in a campground or parking lot (e.g. water pump), items that can be temporarily patched up (coolant hoses) or items that you can drive far w/o (alternator).
Of course I take the usual tools and bits (belts, wire, fuel line, clamps, etc).
I like having spares ahead of time anyway and would feel frustrated if I had a breakdown and the replacement part was on the shelf in the garage at home. |
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