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AndyBees
Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 2332
Location: Southeast Kentucky
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 Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Wow!
Yeah, I just read this Road Adventure Thread for the 2nd time.
Well, Pete, I'm torn between going back to Alaska one more time or visit New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and over to Labrador ...
I'm getting too old for long road trips. So, you young whipper snappers need to do them, document and post for us to follow along virtually!
Edit: I'd like to add a few comments for thought. I drove an 83 Air-cool Vanagon tin-top to Alaska in 86, 93, 96, 97, 99, 01 and 03 (same van). In 93 we did two major side excursions, one to Yellowknife and the other up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik. Then, in 2014 & 16 we drove my 84 Vanagon on basically the same trip. We did the Cassiar Highway on the return in about half those trips, even over to Hyder and upon the mountain and to the old gold mines (28 miles and back). Anyway, of the 9 trips, we never had a flat tire. We never had a problem finding fuel. Yes, with a small tank, especially on the Dalton or the Dempster, extra fuel is a must. Anyway, I wanted to add this tidbit of info for those considering such an adventure. Oh, and go while you are young....
Again, Pete thanks so much for sharing your adventure.
_________________
'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. |
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ted698
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2016
Posts: 104
Location: Shropshire, UK
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 9:24 am Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Finally finished reading all 24 pages - what a fantastic adventure.
Props to comitting to a Samba Thread and sticking with it - it takes a long time to document stuff like this - well done, super adventure, and here's waiting for the next one  |
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BulliBill
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004
Posts: 4573
Location: St Charles, MO
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| Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2023 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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I just re-read the whole thread about your simply incredible adventure to/from Alaska again and I'm thinking that any true "Sambanista" out there needs to read it again every year. It is spell-binding! Once I start this thread I can't stop until I have finished all 24 awesome pages of the tale and the photographs. About all that I was lacking was the password to view the video of the rollover. Thanks so much for letting us all follow along with you, Frankie, and the Aussie hitchhiker as well as all the nice and helpful folks you met along the way! The best adventure in an old Bus yet! Pete, I hope you are back out on the road again in your Camper Bus soon!
Bill Bowman
_________________
I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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Wheelie Pete
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2005
Posts: 517
Location: Detroit Rock City
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2023 8:53 am Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Thanks for all the props and well-wishes - it was a great adventure. I just spent the last few weeks uploading all of the pics from Photobucket to thesamba. Now all the pics can be viewed without the watermarks!
During the process, I tabulated all of the pics - there were quite a few
TRIP Pics - 773
PICS with Frankie Dog - 76
Thanks again for all the props. It really means a lot. Hopefully I'll embark on a different yet shorter trip next year for the 10 year anniversary!
Thanks! Wheelie Pete |
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Manfred58sc
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009
Posts: 3382
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| Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 9:17 am Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Hands down the best Bus adventure ever in modern times. Now that Swedish guy that drove to Sri Lanka back in the 50's was super bad ass as well, but even he was not on fire. Once in a lifetime trip I would presume.
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Fat chick owner/operator |
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ALLWAGONS
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2000
Posts: 4190
Location: Pasadena CA/DTLA soon China
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 12:49 pm Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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What are you talking about? Best adventure ever! You had me hooked on your adventure. Fishing, getting over hiccups! All part of the adventure. Your bus is so fancy, it got carried home! When are you planning the next trip?
_________________
I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.
I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.
Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.
NON INFLUENCER APPROVED |
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Busted-bolt
Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2018
Posts: 514
Location: minnesoota
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 10:12 am Post subject: |
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| Wheelie Pete wrote: |
After the car show it was time to get back to work. A quick I drilled a few new holes in the super diff. The experts said this will work. Here's the first parts going back together! Horray!
Back in the trans you go!
Your super diff could have been improved by enlarging the factory hole in front of the small cast in dam to improve the oiling of the fulcrum plates . Drilling a hole behind it kinda lets oil out unless it is made huge like you did the last time you put it together. Please excuse my improvised pinion gear , it was the easy was to demonstrate pinion rotation . Great adventure though !! I did something like that when I was 19 years old with my 69 beetle . I only wish I had a bus back then. Still what you did is legend.
Like most of us, Kevin is great guy with a complete, fully functional garage. Everything you need is in here. Everything.
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Vw collection 60 combi ,61 panel ,62 deluxe micro,82 diesel Westfalia,88 Vanagon synchro,98 Jetta tdi,11 Jetta tdi mt ,11 Jetta tdi dsg.
I do all my own work,body,engine and transmission. |
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Ceckert64
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2015
Posts: 1963
Location: Manitowoc, WI
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mandraks
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004
Posts: 7050
Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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| nshaddox wrote: |
The bus looks the same. Everytime I see it I tell Pete he needs to get a motor back in it and that we should start knocking out some dents.
Its pretty overwhelming though, in his defense. |
maybe you can help him install a neat bubble top and some custom body work? 
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regards
Uli
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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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nshaddox
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005
Posts: 612
Location: Hammatramma, MI
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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The bus looks the same. Everytime I see it I tell Pete he needs to get a motor back in it and that we should start knocking out some dents.
Its pretty overwhelming though, in his defense. |
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ZENVWDRIVER
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008
Posts: 3340
Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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| Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2018 6:38 am Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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| Malokin Martin wrote: |
Such a great thread. Burned through it all on a slow day at work.
How does the bus look now? The drip rail fix would be interesting to see. |
X2, GREAT THREAD
_________________
5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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StefDS
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2010
Posts: 37
Location: Brussels
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| Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Read trough this thread for the 3rd time..
epic adventure! |
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Jamo7
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2014
Posts: 124
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 1:11 am Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Wow! What an awesome and inspiring adventure! Love this. Thanks for sharing it.
James
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'84 Westy 2.1 wbx |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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I knew this sounded familiar.. I mean how many stories can be just like this one.. well I read about it in 2016 when I stumbled on the Aussie guys blog posts...
here's his side of the trip/accident. it's nice to see two sides of the same story finally.
http://www.slowburningdreams.com/is-this-some-gnarly-dream/
| Wheelie Pete wrote: |
I don't have the best pics during this part of the ordeal (I had other things on my mind), but the aussie chap filmed the whole thing instead of helping out. I swear just like the photographer in Apocalypse now.
Soon after assessing the situation,
and finding out that no one had serious injuries, trucks stopped and offered to help.
The first thing was to roll it back on it's wheels.
Then it was a bit of a ballet to bring it up from the ditch. The rig on left was keeping tension on the frame to prevent it from rolling over as the other rig pulled it up.
It was back on solid ground in no time. I thanked them and all they said, was "no problem - that's what we do." They were true professionals - you could tell they did it a hundred times before and this was nothing unusual at all.
After it was righted, I tried to start it - it cranked but no vroom vroom. I opened the decklid and found the spare battery came loose, rolled out and smashed in the distributer. Broke the cap and the shaft itself. No problem. I pulled out my spare, changed the cap, ignition module, and reinstalled it and put it back to the original timing marks. No easy task to find anything, considering the inside of the bus looked like the inside of the Costa Concordia. However as luck would have it, everything was sorta on top or within easy reach. What a fucking mess.
However, with the distributor reinstalled, it started right up! But I also found it was quicker to totally disconnect the spare battery instead of reinstalling it.
At this time the wind died down and the bugs came out in force. And I mean in force. It was a swarm.
Also, the hunters that had the caribou in the back of their truck stopped by and and helped me with the rest of my gear. I grabbed a hammer and bent the rack sorta back into place, a bunch of us threw it back on top,
We strapped down everything that wouldnt latch, and hit the road again. We were moving quick - it was hell out there I say!
A bit happy that we were back on the road or beat death or just felt incredibly lucky.
But it was raining, and we still had a long long ways to go. This may have occurred 70 miles south of Deadhorse.
But before long, we were nearing the brooks range and things were looking a bit more positive. Its always good to get closer to the sun!
But the roads were still shit,
and a bit scary at times,
but, we were going to make it!
We stopped to re-assess the damage, amazingly little for a complete rollover!!
Keep on trucking!
past the same gorgeous mountains as before!
and obviously, I was a bit dazed after the whole thing
trucks kept a coming. I didnt give them as much room
We camped that night in the same gravel pit we camped in two nights ago. This time was a bit different.
We started a re-org of the van. - what a complete shit-show
and before long, we were back in coldfoot. My friends daughter was there this time (she was traveling when we stopped on the way up), and I was able to drop off a few packages I was lugging around for the last 2 months and 7000 miles!!
So, she took some time to show us around cold foot,
it was a small town, - but they had a bunch of friendly sled dogs!
I imagine this guy runs the show
Thanks Michelle!
we hit the road again,
and took a picture to commemorate the road that tried to eat us!
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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sled
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 6179
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 9:26 pm Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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| AndyBees wrote: |
| I was driving my 84 Vanagon. |
if you have enjoyed your adventures in your '84, just wait until you travel those same many miles in a split bus, its a whole 'nother level.
best of luck on the split purchase! theres no going back... 
_________________
drive your split. |
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AndyBees
Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 2332
Location: Southeast Kentucky
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:38 pm Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Wow! Just Wow........... Gawd, what an adventure!
I hope it is okay to bring this Thread back up. If not, delete my post.
It has taken me over 4 hours to read from beginning to end!
Well, I can relate to Pete's adventure but not all of the experiences. In fact, we left from here in Kentucky on July 7, 2014 heading to Alaska and got back on August 9th. We probably crossed paths at least once somewhere. I was driving my 84 Vanagon.
Anyway, in 86 my wife and I drove our 83 Air-cool to Alaska and returned in 93, 96, 97, 99, 01 and 03 in the same Van. Had to pull the engine at Delta Junction. in 97, burnt exhaust valve. We returned to Alaska in the 84 Vanagon in 2014 and 16... had to abort a trip at Saskatoon in the summer of 2017.
We did the Dempster Highway in 1993 all the way to Inuvik. We've been up the Dalton about 100 miles north of Fairbanks (afraid of the Trucks).
Well, the reason I stumbled onto this Thread is I am looking for ideas, info, etc., about Splities. I've found a 67 and hopefully will be buying it next week.
Pete, thanks for sharing your adventure !
_________________
'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. |
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motroit
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Taylor, Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:37 pm Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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| Absolutely incredible! I'm glad that you sent me the link to read this. It looked like an amazing adventure (even with the troubles). You got some great shots, Alaska has to be one of the most beautiful states. My jaw dropped when I seen the picture of the Bus flipped on it's side! I had wondered how it had been damaged when I seen it in person. I can only dream about taking such an adventurous trip, thank you for sharing it with all of us Pete! |
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CamBiscuit
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2012
Posts: 82
Location: Adelaide Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 2:25 am Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Great thread Pete, can't wait to kick off my own road trip in a few months.
Where are you heading to next?
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1965 ratty single cab
Instagram @cambiscuit |
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johny__utah
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2008
Posts: 426
Location: Arizona/California
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 11:27 am Post subject: Re: Detroit to Alaska Adventure! |
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Just read your post page by page.. AMAZING TRIP!!  Best one yet! Thank you for sharing!
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1956 L31
1961 L346 L347
1963 L380 L289 |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20278
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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