What's the coldest night you've spent in your Westy.

[Jeff's Old Volks Home]

Last night it was -16c (around 3 degrees F) I decided I'd try it out... So teddy bear under arm, in my jammies out I went to brave the cold. I left the roof down, I have a Gowesty mattress topper, and a +5c sleeping bag, Propex heater on the lowest setting... It was quite comfy. Not hot- the furnace came on a lot I'd say. Every time I stirred I remember hearing it. A good test.
Jeff
_________________
www.jeffsoldvolkshome.com
2004 Jetta TDi Wagon
2002 Smyth Ute TDi
1990 Vanagon weekender Syncro AAZ
1987 Syncro Doka AAZ...soon to be TDI
2014 DL650ABS Xpedition
1986 Weekender Syncro (Under construction)
1987 Westfalia (Under construction)
1987 Syncro Single cab

[Summers420us]

I can just picture you in your night cap now...
_________________
1997 EVC
1988 2WD Westfalia with OE 2.1 (R.I.P.)

[ewalt98]

Nothing more than the mid 20s for me. A few months ago, I spent a night in the Sierra's and it was about 23'. All I had was a long sleeve and a Mexican blanket. No heater. That was way too cold. First thing I did next morning was buy a cheap sleeping bag at Wallmart - and some gloves.
All other times, I was well prepared.
_________________
Eric
82 Westfalia Camper (Currently getting a little bit fixed up)
85 944
72 GT6
88 F350
03 F150

[Vinzanto]

During a 6 month stretch on the road my coldest night was 6 F. I became quite used to cold weather with just extra layers and 0 F Marmot sleeping bag; no heater. I will say waking up is the hardest part after a cold Vanagon night. Sleeping with the top down helps tremendously with retaining heat. For future winter trips I would like to add a heater element but did fine without it.
_________________
1984 Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsberg

[HoustonPhotog]

I live in Texas... so my low was 29*F Buuurrr!!!

Hehee... Thats probably shorts and t-shirt weather for most of you guys.
_________________
Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now

[Syncro Jael]

December, near Breckenridge Colorado, -16° F

Propex, GW window insulation kit. Just good clean livin'

_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Hightop - NAHT
Subaru EJ25 Forged Frankenmotor, Triple Knob.
Jael = (Mountain Goat)

[Jeff's Old Volks Home]

[outwesty]

Coldest ever. -29/-49 windchill at Big Sky Huntley parking lot around 2005. Propex ran on high non stop but was plenty warm.

I just spent a week in Cooke City, MT and also Grand Targhee running my espar diesel heater from 6pm to 8am every day. It was warm and toasty. Outside temps were around 0 in the morning. I use a -60 northface bag thats getting pretty old now. I usually just use it as a blanket if the heater is on. These things really do make the ultimate ski trip rigs.

[bjrogers86auto]

Went up to Cape Chignecto for a late fall running/camping adventure a couple years back. Camped "upstairs" in -6 celcius(23F).I was toasty! No GW fly, no heater and a -20c Kelty mummy bag! The windows were iced up pretty good but the sun came out and life was great!

I recall the coffee being extra good that day...

Brian
_________________
86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback

A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes.

[Jeff's Old Volks Home]

[kamzcab86]

30-31°F, roof down, all window blankets in place, down sleeping bag, and no heater... at Yosemite. Inside of the van got down into the low 50s.

This desert-dweller doesn't care for really cold weather.
_________________
~Kamz
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

[Jeff's Old Volks Home]

[Farfrumwork]

4F (2 times - Winter Park lot & Copper mnt lot)

20F bags and extra quilts on top - pop-top down.
my son was 4yr at the time. no heater, no complaints. (Just don't try to put on ski/snowboard boots that have been sitting out in that temp... )

water bottles frozen SOLID!

it doesn't matter much the temp outside if you rock a propex... (with that said, if I did more winter camping I get a propex for sure)
_________________
sold -> '85 Wolfsburg Syncro / 'Built' DOHC EJ25 (a great machine!)
'07 Legacy spec.B, road tuned stgII
'17 4x4 Sprinter, stone grey, SMB pop-top, on 33"s

"Blood stains, speed kills - Fast cars, cheap thrills - Rich girls, fine wine - I've lost my sense, I've lost control, I've lost my mind"

[insyncro]

Stowe, VT...-30 degrees with the windchill.

Propex on the inside, with sprayed vapor/moisture barries, window and tent insulation.
Outside the tent, a second insulation layer and a GW rain fly as a topcoat.

Snug as a bug in a rug.

[joetiger]

17 degrees F at the top of Canyon Village campground in Yellowstone, June 2011 (saw the temp at about 5 am.) Top down, no heater, Coleman 40 degree bags, and my two little heaters, seen here trying to dig out our fire pit the afternoon before:

Between the three of us, we now use that night as a measure when camping: "It's cold, but it's not Yellowstone cold."
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[furrylittleotter]

November 4th 2008 and November 6th 2012

[syncroluvr]

I dont know if this counts, but I mistakenly insulted my girlfriend earlier in the afternoon one warm July day. The look I got as I tried to get into the Z bed chilled my soul, even as I lay in the upstairs bed, I could not stop shivering......
_________________
1990 Syncro Westy with stump pulling 2576cc Subaru

Y2K V6 Passat

Calcandi Leviter

[msinabottle]

Well, here's one story:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=202440

and the sequel...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6045741

In brief, with a zero degree sleeping bag and the top down, I managed with no heat at all. The watch cap over the nose is a secret weapon. Slept better in the mummy bag than with so many blankets I couldn't move. I have used the Black Cat once, when Winston got soaked in that sudden cloud burst--it dried him quite a bit and I didn't get cold.

Do-able. But don't underestimate how cold a metal box can get.

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

[Timwhy]

Backyard camping in -10F. Have an electric heater that works really well and a little heater Dog that sleeps
under the covers and keeps us warm. I like sleeping in the Westy when they are predicting heavy snowfall.
It's really a nice surprise to wake up too. It's suppose to be really cold tonight into the weekend I guess I'll have to
go sleep outside.......Thanks Jeff!
_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[Jeff's Old Volks Home]

You're welcome...
_________________
www.jeffsoldvolkshome.com
2004 Jetta TDi Wagon
2002 Smyth Ute TDi
1990 Vanagon weekender Syncro AAZ
1987 Syncro Doka AAZ...soon to be TDI
2014 DL650ABS Xpedition
1986 Weekender Syncro (Under construction)
1987 Westfalia (Under construction)
1987 Syncro Single cab