Poll: Long drive, did you make it? 1,000+ miles

[dhaavers]

[kevinhinny]

Trip to Baxter State Park in Maine via Gorham, NH. Totaled about 1250 miles towing my BMW motorcycle, Only problem lost left front caliper bolt which they had at NAPA in Millinocket.
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1984 Wolfsburg Westy
1986 Syncro GL Tintop
1991 Syncro Tintop

[Wolfram]

Denver, Estes Park, over the Rockies @ 12,000, Steamboat, Vernal, UT, Provo, Bonneville, Winnemuca, Fort Rock (Karl Mullendore), Bend, Vancouver, WA, Mt St Helens, Port Angeles, Seattle, Blaine, WA, and Everett.
2000+ miles in 6 weeks and only blew an AC hose.
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88 Westy, '07 EJ25 Vanaru.
Either van-less on Waiheke Island in New Zealand where we spend the Southern summer, or Wolfram is in Seattle/Olympia in storage.

[WestyWanter]

So decided to take her from Marquette MI -> Myrtle Beach SC, even though it would of been way more practical to just take a regular vehicle I wanted to give her the first real test since I've owned her... boy an it was a test.

Drive down was 80 degrees or so for most of the way:
50 miles in the van would stutter or miss a beat for a split second for no apparent reason, it wouldn't happen when doing one specific thing. This created a bunch of "wtf faces" in the van. We kept going..
300 miles in we were stuck in mid day stop and go traffic of Columbus OH for about 2.5hrs and the vans temp gauge slowly would go up to just about clearing the coolant light so to help we cranked the heat and suffered, half naked an fanning the doors in traffic we all had some strange looks.

Just into WV from OH got pulled over by police *this seemingly happens a lot in the van* and it just so happened to be a drug enforcement officer, so we got a lovely K9 that got to check out the van... this entire time I was super nervous because I knew I hadn't left anything in it but probably many PO ya never know. Nonetheless it was clean enough.

Then came the mountains, this was my first time the van in some serious elevation change thankfully there wasn't a time where I had to shift down to 3rd but boy was I watching the temp gauge slowly creep up then hear the radiator fan kick on when it would just pass the coolant light, then watch it fall as we would coast down the big 5% grade stretches.

Van made it to destination and behaved for the week there.

Left yesterday morning at 5am to try to skip some of the heat, left the garage tried to turn on my headlights and neither would work? Even my brights wouldn't click on, i checked fuses but just decided to hold the lever for brights for the next hour until daylight! the madness continued except this time my coolant light would randomly flash while going through the mountains and scare the crap out of me, got to the point where I figure now its just a faulty switch or something because I was never low on coolant, soon after I stopped caring about the light the van would start to stutter again but this time was a bit different, so I pulled over listened for fuel pump it was still kicking, and just decided to keep going. By this time it was 94 degrees outside temp and we don't have AC, girlfriend was annoyed buddy was drenched and it was a long rest of the way home, but she made it!

Total miles 2400~ puts her at around 3000 this month

[owokie]

[Gruppe B]

Here are my trips so far this year

June 2017 Trip to southern Ontario Canada 5000 km
-rivets holding trottle pedal to the floor (factory) corroded off causing loss of throttle. Replaced rivets with bolts and back on the road in 20 minutes.

July 2017 Trip back to southern Ontario to visit family 4000km.

On the way home the voltage regulator in a 2 year old napa rebuilt alternator failed. Had to order a regulator but was back on the road the next day.

Be cautious of no name regulators on rebuilds. The napa alternator had a unlabeled Chinese regulator, replaced with German Beru.

I will be carrying a new spare voltage regulator on all future trips

[AndyBees]

Gruppe B

Your ALT Regulator failure reminded me of our experience in 1993. We were heading north to Alaska in our tin-Top 83 Air-cool. South of Rockford, Illinois the ALT light began to come on fairly dim.

Well, at the first exit I stopped at a chain parts store. They gave me directions to a VW repairman which was fairly close... down the street and a few left and right turns.

Anyway, he had what I needed and advised to always carry an extra Regulator, which has been my practice ever since!
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003.

[pomfritz]

Up the CA and OR coast for two weeks and 2,000 miles. Only hiccup was user thinking 2WD was just as good as a synchro. Got stuck in the sand and delayed a few hours to get pulled out of sand by AAA. Local says he's pulled out hundreds over the years. Will try airing down sooner next time. 😗

Im guessing we saw a westy every 100 miles. Got a friendly windshield note along the Ave of the Giants. So many who want to talk about past, present and future vans. Awesome!

Two favorite stops along the way. Westport union landing (wow what a location) and Bastendorff beach in Oregon (free beach camping with fires). What! Yes...

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83.5 233K. GW 2.3, SS exhaust, My German Frau named her Stefi

[Team WorldTour]

We just did 3000-ish kilometers (1870-ish miles) over two weeks to Croatia.
1990 Syncro, 2500kg, 215/70R15, AAZ, averaged 10.5 liters/ 100km (22.4 MPG), NO ISSUES!!!

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1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat!

[Interstellar Overdrive]

Not a VERY long drive....but just got the engine rebuilt on my '87 Vanagon, and hoping it will make the 1,000 mile round trip to San Francisco that I'm planning later in the year.

[raoul mitgong]

My parents just completed a 1300 mile trip from Denver (where van was purchased) to their home near Munising in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Needed to replace a leaky fuel pump in Minnesota but otherwise no issues.
Not bad for a first trip in a new to them Westy!
Ideas for Christmas and birthday gifts just got a lot easier!
-d

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84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim))

[gregaz]

[kourt]

3,400 miles with four men, their mountain climbing and backcountry gear, all our food for ten days, and comfort items for Westy camping.

Austin > Palo Duro Canyon State Park > Fort Collins, CO > Dubois, WY > [climbing Gannett Peak, WY] > Custer, SD > Panorama Point, NE > Sunflower Mound, KS > Palo Duro > Austin

Issues:

-LCD clock in the instrument panel died on the first day
-runaway starter problem in Dubois, WY; solved with a whack from a hammer
-40A fuse for ham radios was fried by proximity lightning strike in Wyoming

kourt

[driverdave]

Around 4,500 miles in a fully loaded 84 Westy with a 91 EJ22.

CO -> NY -> PA -> NJ -> SC -> KY -> CO

Took google maps routes, ran around 65 to 75 MPH all day long.

Had to diagnose the OXS light reset in NY, had to tighten the speedometer cable in PA, and had one no start after a hot couple hours of driving in NJ.

Not sure what the no start thing is, it started right up after a couple hours cool down. Running a new diesel starter with an adapter plate.

Another successful road trip!
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1984 Vanagon Westy with a 91 EJ22 KEP Conversion

[pinetreeporsche]

In '14 I went from Washington dc 'burbs to St Augustine via Asheville NC (where there's a specialist called Asheville VeeDub), then the return north direct up I95. Total a bit over 1800 mi., in an '87 Westy). While heading S near Brunswick Ga the steering started feeling like I had a flat. Pulling over to the breakdown lane (so that's why they call it that) it was clear that the bearing was totally blown out, whereas the tire was OK. The next exit was in about another mile, so I resumed at about 10 mph on the breakdown lane slowly, with continuous of l-r lurching, until the tire blew out. So I called AAA and got it towed to a small rural fix-anything shop nearby (after all, a wheel bearing is just a wheel bearing). Nice guy; would have gotten back rolling fairly soon except that it was close enough to closing time at his parts supplier that we had to take an overnight in a motel. It needed the bearing, plus the whole front disc, although the brake and pads were OK. When I got back to DC I got a clean-and-repack on the other front.

[mustard675]

I can finally contribute to this thread.

1. 1987 Westy GL 2.1L
2. Baltimore to Montreal aprx: 1100mi round trip
3. Repairs - Vanagon Syndrome!

The power surging started at about the 300 mile mark and would happen anywhere from 58-65mph. Turning the van off and on mitigated the problem for about an hour at a time so we did that to get to the destination. Thanks to the awesome broader vanagon community someone in Vermont offered up the fix (VW Harness). So we took a small detour around Lake Champlain on the return trip to pick that up. No more syndrome!

Otherwise it was smooth sailing.
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1987 VW Vanagon Westfalia
@peanutbutterwestytime

[chachi]

'91 vanagon, RJE 2.3 with approx 10k on it, we did portland->wallace, id->livingston, mt->yellowstone->hailey,id->featherville, id->atlanta, id->lewiston, id->pasco, wa.->portland. 1905 miles.

repeated attempts and the second new tank in as many years, i was not 100% about my fuel sender leak. we went with it and just didn't fill it all the way. sure enough in arco it was filled a little too much and leaked. argh! also have a bog off idle since i sealed the exhaust that may just be tuning. i tried a half turn in on the AFM adjustment, and seemed a touch better but certainly still there.
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'74 transporter panel
'91 vanagon carat NAHT

[bobbyblack]

Took US I-90 from Near Rochester MN out to Wyoming and back. Was over 1800 miles, adding small tours through the BadLands and Black Hills, Wall, etc. and watched the total eclipse in 100% clear sky Douglass WY. Home again in about 16 hours, including 4 hours in gridlock with my son pushing a bit each time the traffic jam moved forward a few feet. Even had a good Fellow come out an offer gas as we were the only ones with the engine OFF in the entire line. Was good we got underway, as the line built up behind us, and there were folks trapped in line for more than 8 hours behind us.

Standard original 2.1 '87 WBX, and transmission. Slight evidence of some engine work on the 2.1, but no evidence of any transmission work (other than CV's and boots, and then my additional CV work, etc.) Turned 278000 miles on this trip, and other than a slight leak on the passenger rocker shaft tubes (spring loaded expansion refits) no issues that were show stoppers.

Had a bit more info due to the PO having installed a computer with options to monitor engine temps, volts, etc. where we got up to 205F in the Rushmore area, having a hard time getting up to speed. Was a chore to keep even 45 MPH in the mountains. Indeed, there were LOTS of folks very impatient with our under powered rig. I did my best to get them to swerve into the ditch... no luck there, unfortunately.

Home, all good, kids say they are now ready to go back to school, now that we had the trip of a lifetime. I am So thankful.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[danfromsyr]

1950miles round trip in 5 days with 1 no-travel day.
we had 4 VWs from NY 1 VW from Ottawa and 1 non-VW dad from FL meet in South Carolina.
HOT>>> HUMIIDDD>>>
got up early to beat traffic and stake a claim in Isle of Palms park on the South Carolina shore where it left the USA. mixed low and thunderhead clouds most of the morning but the skies cleared as the totality came..

had an awesome view with family, friends and their kids.. a memorable experience.

only saw 2 other westys 1 at the entrance to the Blue ridge parkway one passed us when we were on the shoulder of I95 adding oil..

some break downs we worked thru.
lets see..

*My PS valve cover gasket sucked in the bottom edge and leaked oil at about 1qt/hr till we got to camp to fix it.. didn't have a spare. so 7qts oil evenly distributed on my van, the van behind me and a few states.

*my new to me red van came with Gowesty chrome rims.. and WRONG stock conical (alloy) lugnuts/studs.. had a rear rim clunking on rotation from the failure to securely clamp.. swapped with my spare and was GTG but very leary of the other 3 rims.. more on this later.. I may recall a thread here on these rims and that GW doesn't provide proper fasteners. I don't think they sell these anymore and I think I need 'mag' style lugs/nuts.

*ran the AC for most of the trip, it is after all a primary reason I bought this red 91 tintop. had a Tach drop and a AC fan fluctuation in middle of traffic around Scranton, PA. then a complete Ignition failure, coasted at the off ramp and found a burned up wiring juncture. back on the road in 20mins.

*had heat soak issues and a burbrle for a minute when restarting but restarted every time and just cleared the pipes a moment.

*my brother's van (Mom's) died in an intersection from vapor lock in the fuel rail. pushed it out of the intersection cooled down (tough to do in ~95* temps) while getting some bits at the autoparts store and GTG.

our friends from Ottawa had the most issue with sputtering and loss of power. at random times.. 60mph one moment.. maybe 20 the next..
changed the fuel pump and filter(s) on the side of the road. was better but problem came back. ended up unplugging the O2 and ran well enough after that.. will explore all the old/bad grounds and O2/temp sensors later this week.


Totality is definitely SOO worth it..
plan for 2024..


edit: ran the numbers and 1958 miles and 20.3 MPG most of it with the AC on. not bad for a tin top loaded with a portable AC & generator. plus loaded cooler and such.
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[crazyvwvanman]

This summer, 7,000 miles, camping around Europe
14 countries, 20 border crossings, 65 days
Didn't open the engine lid after 1st day check
Added 1 quart oil along the way
Most stressful part of the drive? Stelvio Pass in Italian Alps! Lots of 1st gear
http://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/italy/58-passo-dello-stelvio-italy.html

87 Westy Wolfy, stock 2.1, stock 4 speed, 215/65/16 tires
over 300,000 miles on the 30 year old girl now
what crappy vans VW made for us
saw other T3 at most camps and most driving days

Netherlands, Germany, Czech, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary,
Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, France, Italy, Austria,
Germany, Austria, Czech, Germany, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands

Mark