Seattle bound - a tale of two Vans.

[IdahoDoug]

So, we have a 1988 Mitsubishi Van, and a 1987 Vanagon. The Mitsubishi has been getting baselined by me in advance of loaning it out to friends from Europe who are going to travel around BC, Seattle, and Idaho for over a month. That day is here.

We are headed to Seattle with both Vans, and will leave the Mitsubishi there for them to pick up. Which presents a unique comparison opportunity. The kids will drive the Mitsubishi (17yo daughte and 14yo son), and we will drive the Vanagon. And we will switch off for fun now and again. They will sleep in the Mitsubishi and we will sleep in the Vanagon. We will not be switching for sleeping - no way I'm giving up the comfort of that huge bed - heh!

It is the first trip out of town for the Mitsubishi since I pulled it out of a sheep field in February. We leave tomorrow or early Saturday, depending on how long it takes me to do a few more things and check over the Vanagon. I will be curious how the fuel economy compares, how suitable they are for extended travel, what aspects of their design come to light, etc. It makes quite a fair comparison. Both have been quite thoroughly gone through right down to having their fuel injectors removed and cleaned by Mr. Injector, full baseline of all fluids, trans services, fresh alignments, new shock absorbers, coolant service, etc. They even have identical Thule racks on their roofs.

So far, the Mitsubishi strength seems to be freeway power and quieter running at freeway speeds. But holy cow the ride sucks. Compared to the Vanagon's smooth ride, it is like a pogo stick even with new shocks. The Vanagon strength is clearly internal roominess, and ride serenity, and the transmission is smoother, and the engine waay quieter. The VW seats are also a world better.

I checked here for any VW events in Seattle, but if anyone has a gathering going on or will be hanging out anywhere, we'd love to meet up if it works out. We have no plans for where to park/camp for the night if anyone has a cool spot with the Memorial Day weekend in mind.
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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

[Dave Wood]

Good luck on your venture and I can't wait to see the comparison results
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Dave
87 Vanagon GL

[Snort]

Try posting this question to the WetWesties group. Today it's cool and tomorrow the same so you might well find something close to Seattle such as Tolt MacDonald park with some spaces available, but it's hard to predict. If you're coming over Stevens Pass, maybe if you start looking when you cross the divide and perhaps near Index at Beckler River you could have some luck.

[Zeitgeist 13]

There are probably three Mitsubishi events taking place over here this weekend, so you're in luck
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[MartinG]

Hope everything goes smoothly. I'll be interested to here how it all goes.

[flomulgator]

WetWesties are in OR this weekend. I bet most other vans are heading away from the city this weekend.

iDoug,
If you give us locals a bit more info we can help you out a bit more on where to park for the night. Like route, location priorities, etc... It's a huge metro area with a lot of nature about an hour's drive away.
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She's built like a steakhouse, but she handles like a bistro!

[IdahoDoug]

Thanks, guys! So we'll most likely come in via the 2. Back up plan would obviously be I90 but I'm hoping my family will vote for the back way. We're going to camp once Saturday night off the 2 an hour or more's drive from Seattle so we will still be in a rural setting. No plan for where at all, so open for some fun suggestions for a place to park the Vans to sleep.

Sunday I'm sure the kiddos will want us to be right downtown near Pikes Place to nose around the market, etc. Its so different from where we live that the kids are always drawn to that area like moths.

Then Sunday night, we hope to stay at a place we used once before in the Ballard area. Cool little town. If there's an alternate to that, it would be great to know about in case that spot is taken or too busy. We want to show them a great little Italian restaurant that evening where a guy plays the accordian and the food is terrific.
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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

[Ukekuke]

I'm in freeland on whidbey plenty of parking shower and
Extra's (plugin bbq and beer!) tools but I work in the am
Al

[Skidub]

If you do make it into Seattle proper and you are looking for a festival setting you have to check out Northwest Folklife Festival. Food, music, arts, and culture all at the Seattle Center. Being a local I would suggest this over Pike Place Market if just here for the day. Pretty sure I already spotted some stealth van camping starting up.

http://www.nwfolklife.org

Have a great weekend adventure!
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86 Syncro GL Tin Top
Subaru 2.5L Swap
Rblt Transaxle w/ R Locker + Decoupler

[Ukekuke]

Ditto I can't make it this year! It's an awesome festival
Have fun!

[IdahoDoug]

Very cool. Checked out the website and I think my kids would enjoy a bit of that cultural immersion.

It was an strange sensation prepping TWO vans for one trip this evening. Side by side in the driveway, engine hatch open on the Vanagon, wild engine hatch open on the Mitsubishi. It is a mid engine design, so engine access has you releasing some latches on the floor in front of the seats, then the entire floor and passenger seat/center console hinges up.

So, checking fluids X2. Tire pressures. RainX two windshields. Prep a bed in each Van, load sleeping gear and flashlights in each Van. Maps. Fans for sleeping to stay cool, water bottles.

Kinda put me off my game, actually. I couldn't concentrate in a linear fashion like I normally do when getting a vehicle rigged for a trip. It was interesting and a new way to think. I'd hang a reading light in one, then think "Oh crap, the Vanagon's reading light is up on the shelf - gotta get that, too."

Keys turn in the morning.
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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

[SteveMc]

[jimf909]

[quote="SteveMc"]

[flomulgator]

If Highway 2, I second what someone else said, head up the Beckler River Road, it's a little before the turnoff to the town of Skykomish, right after you cross the Beckler River Bridge. There is an official campground right near the start, but then tons of disperse camping once the road becomes gravel, all the way up to Jack's Pass.

Another option along the scenic Skykomish River is Money Creek Campground a bit after the town of Skykomish. It's right after the only tunnel. There are certainly many others in the valley too.

I-90: There are some campgrounds and some disperse camping along the South Fork Snoqualmie River Valley (the I-90 trench). It's a scenic area but the whole valley is filled with the low hum of freeway noise (the concrete is very old making it even louder than a normal freeway.) A better bet if you have some time is to go beyond that valley, take the first exit, and head way up the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River.

Food: US2 - The Whistling Stop or something like that in Skykomish has good fried chicken. If departing a campsite in the morning, YOU MUST stop at the Sultan Bakery. It's a tiny pull-off but it is simply the best.
I-90 - Good pub grub at North Bend Bar & Grill in....North Bend.

Good luck, welcome to the wet, and have fun!
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She's built like a steakhouse, but she handles like a bistro!

[IdahoDoug]

Wow a flurry of great tips! We opted for the back way of the 2. Great times. The Mitsu did well except when a new sparkplug wire slipped,off., high drama.now in awesome spot off the 2. Pikes Place tomorrow. Lookin for strong coffee
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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

[Ukekuke]

We ALL hope u have a really good time here!
Good luck if trouble strikes there is a couple of
Vanagon mechanics in Bremerton and petersons'
In port Angeles!

[IdahoDoug]

So far so good. The Mitsu used almost exactly 15% less fuel over the same distance. We traveled together the whole time within a few hundred feet of one another, so a pretty accurate comparo. Two people n sleeping gear in each. However i naturally use fuel efficient moves where I noticed my new driver daughter in the Mitsu falling back and then coming back closer under hard throttle. So an experienced driver might have gotten several percent better yet.

We r in Bellevue for a bit all in the Vanagon now. Jumping on the 90 eastbound for home soon. Vanagon running like a top.
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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

[kamzcab86]

I think I speak for everyone at this point:

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~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

[IdahoDoug]

Heh - I am on my iPhone and am looking forward to pics when we are home. Got a cool one with a long lost brethren of the two vans in a tiny town. Turned into a cool shot. Also camped at a sweet free camping spot thanks to PhotogDave - up above Leavenworth. And spent last night in the free camping spot in the aluminum forest. Unfortunately, we got rousted at 2am. Holiday weekend, so they probably had extra security, who was bored and nosed around. Unfortunately, two vans side by side with Idaho plates and the same insulated foil windows was probably too obvious......
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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

[IdahoDoug]

So, we left as planned and took the Hwy 2 across Washington State. Perfect day for motoring along a rural highway through crops just getting started and rolling hills. It was a great day for dust devils - those miniature tornadoes that get started and cruise around open fields on warm summer afternoons. We have always found them interesting, and some carry dust in a spinning tube hundreds of feet straight up. Interesting physics going on there.

We stopped at the Dry Falls - once the world's largest water fall and now dry after the ice age effect that caused it went away. Worth a look. Then we cruised into Soap Lake, WA and stopped in this cute little town to check out the European/Russian market. Had some cabbage-Samosa like things to tide us over since it was still a couple hours to dinner in Leavenworth. Ran into a guy on a BMW dualsport and he was scouting for a Hollywood movie being filmed in the area in a month or so.

A half hour from the Entiat area, I saw this sitting for sale beside the road and couldn't resist lining up our two vans for a family photo:

Around 6, we rolled into Leavenworth for dinner. Twice while trying to find a parking spot and driving around the block, tourists walked out on the street so their friends could take their photo with the Vanagon. We parked right in front of the Munchen Haus where we ate, and people there did the same. The color is a hit.

After dinner we motored up the hill to an old Forest Service campground that is not in operation. There are no gates or things and there is a large creek flowing near that you can hear all night. Nice setup - thanks, Dave! I parked the vans slider to slider so we could talk with the kids in their van and even hand toothpaste and flashlights back and forth. Worked out cool:

The next morning we rolled towards Stephens Pass to a diner near Gold Bar. Great breakfast. Then into Seattle for our first stop at REI for their Memorial Day sale. After that, we did the 2:30 tour at Theos Chocolate Factory. We walked out the door of that, to a street fair in full swing, so that's where we hung out until evening. Then dinner in the Capital Hill area at the Plum Bistro (my very highest recommendation, btw). Then we went to the get ice cream at Molly Moon's a couple blocks away and hung out lounging in the very unique park across the street. It's astro-turf!! The entire thing! Very cool.

Then we went to Ballard for sunset and hung around for the beach fires and stars. Called it a night in the parking lot, got rousted at 2am and had to move 100 feet to the street.

In the morning, we removed our gear from the Mitsubishi and I checked over her fluids and such in preparation for leaving her at SeaTac airport for our relatives. They flew in from Denmark and are borrowing the van for 5 weeks to tour British Columbia, WA, and eventually arrive here in Idaho for a look see. We will meet them in Banff first - looking forward to that.

Then we dropped the Mitsubishi off, and headed to breakfast in the Queen Anne district for breakfast a the 5 Spot or similar. During the wait for a table, we found a french bakery and got coffee and a danish to tide us over. Then it was off to the Bellevue Mall for a bit before hitting the I90 for a fast trip home - now all together in the Vanagon. We had a huge tail wind of at least 15mph so it was nice to have a few decibels of wind noise knocked off. We dodged thunderstorms here and there, and saw a truck catching on fire in Spokane. So we stopped and after confirming nobody was in it, we sat and watched. I carry a Halon fire extinguisher. The Fire Truck arrived in about 4 minutes and by that time the flames were 10 feet high. They put it out unceremoniously in about 15 seconds - impressive.

We headed off and got home last night about 10. The Vanagon performed flawlessly. Good times had by all!!
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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