Brand New...Lots of Questions....Help Please

[rjrnj]

My husband and I are very interested in purchasing a VW Bus. We would like a camper for our family. We do not know if we need or want the sink and stove. Other than that, we are clueless as to what we need to look for, questions we need to ask, etc, to be an informed buyer.

We are in the very beginning stages, and we won't jump into anything, but we are going to test drive a "1973 VW Camper Bus...Poptop...No stove or sink...Single carb on a 2.0 pancake (T4 or Porsche style) engine....Gets about 17 mpg" tomorrow.

Does anyone out there have any tips to offer? Things that we must know, questions we must ask, information on that engine good or bad. Good or bad about that year's buses.

Thanks so much for your time and assistance!

[Red Fau Veh]

I'd only be concerned if the price is 4 grand and up because you start getting into an amount of money that would mean the bus should be rust free, original and in good shape. Less cost than that can mean it needs work, but at least YOU get to get the work done which means you can trust what is done for the money. Sellers tell STORIES and that always equates to lies ime.
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1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey

[cory464]

don't buy the first one you find. 73 had the crash reinforced front. look at a lot of them and buy what you like. as for stove and sink, while they may be handy they're extra weight to druve around. rust is the biggest problem, and lack of maintenance. if it looks abused, it will cost a lot to put right.

[busdaddy]

Don't commit to anything, take a load of pictures of the engine compartment, under dash area, front floors, cargo floors at each corner (both of those under the mats or from below) as well as the entire lower 6" all the way around the outside from outside and underneath looking outwards, then post them up here.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6
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[Wildthings]

Would be nice to know where you live, in the north things like gas heater are important if you want to drive year around, in Florida they are not. The aftermarket single carb also doesn't like the cold very much but would be quite happy in Southern Cal.

Most 40 year old buses will have had a long list of owners most of which will have added their hack repairs and modifications over the years.

[ultralite]

To the good advice been given so far I would add:

1. You could ask a Samba member to look with you guys if someone is in the area. Lots of helpful people here with lots of knowledge.
2. Don't be afraid to look out of state, I found mine several states away.

And I would reiterate the need to take your time and talk to folks in a similar camping situation. How many kids? What part of the country are you in?
That sort of thing....
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[Pinetops]

Like someone else said, the '73 and up buses will be safer in the case of a frontal accident which is an important consideration IMO, especially when you have a family. No sink and no stove would be a positive in my view but everyone is different. In my opinion those items add weight and extra maintenance and don't offer anything you can't do with a cooler, water container and coleman stove. Plus you won't stink up your bus if you cook outside. Lots of folks love them though and I would never turn down a bus because it had the full kitchen.

The 2.0 engine is a good thing too, that's the most powerful one they made. The only downside is the poptop only has the childs cot unlike the later ones that have a full bed up top. Also, the single carb isn't the best option for that engine but I have one and its does just fine as long as it's not cold out (you have to warm them up for approx 10-15 minutes when its cold).

Like others said, take lots of pics and post them here if you can. The amount of rust is probably the biggest factor in buying a bus along with its ability to run, drive and stop properly. They pretty much all have rust but it's how extensive the rust is that's important. Metal and paint work are not cheap and it's good to buy the cleanest one you can find. Sometimes you gotta get what you can get and if you have welding capability that is a huge bonus.

Here is a good basic buyer's guide that will help you understand the changes through the years:

http://www.busdepot.com/buyers-guide/

[Hoody]

The first thing you should do is read Ratwells site. And if you are lucky like I was you will find and older couple that took very good care of their Westy and kept it garaged kept. Beware....be VERY aware of people flipping total turds. There are ALOT out there. Go for a second or third at most owner. The less molested the better. Good luck. I looked for three years til I found mine.

[Jeff Geisen]

... no such thing as a rust free bus. It may not be rusted through yet, but it is under there.
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[rjrnj]

Thank you all so very much. You have all been very helpful.

We live in the Hampton Roads area of VA. Any members out there interested in taking us under their wing to help? : )

We're very excited to begin the search!

[jakokombi]

Are either of you mechanics? If you plan to have some or all of the maintenance work done at a shop, then now might be a good time to start meeting with the local ones. They can also help in the search.
(Your last post is a good start)
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[DougB]

I'm not in Hampton Roads but rather up in northern VA, and troll the DC/VA/MD Craigslist every few days for decent candidates. If you find something up here and it's conveniently located to me I'll be happy to take a look for you. No worries about me sniping it, as I have no room on my driveway for another vehicle!

For that '73 I'd question what additional work was done to the vehicle, as the '73 didn't originally come with a 2.0 engine (nor with a single carb).

Though my '75 tin-top Campmobile doesn't have the pop top, the sink is pretty nice to have for dishes, washing hands or filling the dog's bowl. When we think we'll need it I replace the water for that trip. Otherwise I've been leaving some water in the tank and adding a few drops of bleach to keep it from getting nasty. I might try a vinegar solution in the future, though.
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'75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
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[Wildthings]

In your area unless a bus has spent a lot of time close to the water it shouldn't have too much rust. Do check around the windshield carefully as that area holds water easily and may rust out even when the rest of the body is fine. The windshield area is not a killer to fix if but should be reflected in the price.

[DougB]

Here are some I found...not that they're "campers", but any type 2 can be made to camp in whatever style you'd like. I'm specifically looking in the 3-6K range...there are some for more, but I'm thinking that's too much.

http://lynchburg.craigslist.org/cto/4032180385.html
Really similar to the one I have...no pop top but likely a westfalia interior

OK, I'm going to send this...so this possibility gets to you ASAP...it looks like a good candidate for a decent price, should it prove to be nice in person...will keep looking
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'75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
'41 Zundapp KS600
'55 Puch SGS250
A very, very understanding wife

[DougB]

Looks like this is the one you're going to look at...looks nice in the pics, and if it truly is in good condition the price seems alright. That $4600 weekender I sent in the previous post might be a better option if you don't want the pop top, though.

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/4014595765.html
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'75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
'41 Zundapp KS600
'55 Puch SGS250
A very, very understanding wife

[aeromech]

Both of those buses look pretty darn nice. Especially the one for $4600. I'd ask for more pictures though. The other side might be bashed in.
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[rjrnj]

Thank you so much Doug B. I do think we want the pop top, though, so we can all sleep in there comfortably. Now that I'm looking into all of this more, I don't think we really want the stove and sink, and we want a full bed pop top to fit our family needs. We will be driving it around town as well.

We'll go check out the one in Norfolk, which is the one you found!, but I don't think it will necessarily suit us because of the small cot in the pop top. But, it's a start.

I also posted on the local VW club's fb page looking for a local mechanic because we won't be doing it ourselves.

Thanks again, everyone!

[Juancho]

Take it from an avid Bay Window (i.e. 1968 to ’79) owner; you would probably be much happier with a later model Vanagon (post ’84). Vanagon’s are larger, water cooled and far more practical for camping.

[DougB]

I'll keep an eye out up here and in Richmond. Just wondering (and I apologize if you said this already), but do you have a price range? That might help me filter the options a bit. And I agree on the pop top...I'm without one and can't get the idea out of my head of having one installed (nice Riviera, Space Roof)...someday (but not now, I just bought a Westfalia Essen trailer).

I think it was '74 and later Westfalias that had the full bed up top...or you might find an earlier Riviera camper with the straight-up top. But as someone else mentioned, the additional structural integrity of the "73 and later type 2's might be a good thing if you're traveling with a family.

If you find a '74 or '75 Westy (that lacks the stove), keep in mind that a Coleman 2-burner stove (I can send the model number I have) fits perfectly in the stove cabinet...and then you have the benefit of using it outside.

PM me if you see something you'd like me to investigate up here.

- Doug
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'75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
'41 Zundapp KS600
'55 Puch SGS250
A very, very understanding wife

[DougB]

Just saw this one is still for sale in VA Beach:

http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/3928375851.html

Re: Juancho's comment, in this area nice Vanagon Westies go for between $12K and $16K. Anything beloe $10K will need some work or look worn. I don't doubt they would be more comfy in one, though!

- Doug
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'75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
'41 Zundapp KS600
'55 Puch SGS250
A very, very understanding wife