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Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?!
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HastaAlaska
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:34 pm    Post subject: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

Hey guys,

After 4+ years of overlanding from South America to Alaska I am now coming to a turning point. I must give away my current Bus (as promised) and find a new vehicle to continue.

The roads coming up will likely be even worse as I am looking to drive to Asia and as such my thoughts are turning to what steps I must take over the coming months to build a bus as strong and capable as possible.

Putting budget aside for a moment, I would love to hear your thoughts on what mods you would make to a stock VW Bus.

I'm especially interested in:

    Strengthening / upgrading suspension

    Best possible over engineered braking option

    Bullet proof engine - but which one?

    Security

    Camping mods



Any advice and links to products greatly appreciated.

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TomWesty
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

Skills in 5,4,3,2,1........ Laughing Cool

But seriously folks..... My vote if you want to stay air cooled is a mildly modified 1600 dp with dual carbs. No FI. Otherwise, go Subaru. The guy from Belgium might be helpful on this. Don't recall his name, but he has travelled extensively with his Orange bus with a type 4. He I usually in a convoy situation though and not on his own.
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Last edited by TomWesty on Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:54 pm; edited 1 time in total
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airschooled
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

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http://earthroamer.com

[/thread]
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aerosurfer
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

Google U N I M O G

There is your answer
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skills@eurocarsplus
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

TomWesty wrote:
Skills in 5,4,3,2,1........ Laughing Cool



Laughing

buy a suburban. call it done. you could eat paper and shit money and you'll still never have enough to build the bus you want. sorry.

the build alone would take a few years. and unless you just found a leprechaun on your vacation, judging by all of your financial issues you REALLY don't have the $$$ to build it.

starting with a clean bus, you will need 100K+ to build what you want.

buy a suburban. they would love to read a thread on your travels. how unfair of us to keep all of the stories in the vw world

plus GM parts are everywhere, cheap
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my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese.......
[email protected] wrote:
most VW enthusiasts are stuck in 80's price land.

Jake Raby wrote:
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public.

Brian wrote:
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history
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timvw7476
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 3:11 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

aerosurfer wrote:
Google U N I M O G

There is your answer


umm,..... $$$$$, plus diesel familiarity.
Brave new world, here Hasta comes!
+ most are speed-limited too. Crawlers, mechanical llamas, actually.
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TomWesty
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 3:11 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

asiab3 wrote:
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http://earthroamer.com

[/thread]
Big expensive wussmobile! Rolling Eyes (If I had the dough I'd roll one!)
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timvw7476
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 3:17 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

TomWesty wrote:
asiab3 wrote:
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http://earthroamer.com

[/thread]
Big expensive wussmobile! Rolling Eyes (If I had the dough I'd roll one!)


What's a picture of a 500hp starter-house doing here?
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Brian
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 4:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

4x4 would be the luxury among luxuries.

Buy Stever's bus when he's done with it
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=438646
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Spike0180
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 5:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

Late 80's water cooled syncro westy.

Or a e250 econoline that every business uses in the USA. Those things are bulletproof, cheap, and tons of room for sleeping.

https://www.carfinderservice.com/used/pictures/e250/
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Last edited by Spike0180 on Fri Aug 19, 2016 5:34 pm; edited 1 time in total
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busdaddy
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 5:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=...eNumber=15

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/162163107184?rmvSB=true


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http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5663577270.html

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Or for maximum drama consider this: http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-yugo-gvl/

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HastaAlaska
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

Spike0180 wrote:
Late 80's water cooled syncro westy.

that's definitely still on the 'none Bus options' list

skills@eurocarsplus wrote:

starting with a clean bus, you will need 100K+ to build what you want.


I'd never be able to self fund a project like the one we have lined up next. We will be looking for equipment sponsors. THere are already a number of organizations interested in the project. so like I said above, I'd love Anyone who knows anything about bus mods in the categories mentioned to share info and links

Skills feel free to share your dream $100 shopping list with us all. Speak to the hand
Brian wrote:
4x4 would be the luxury among luxuries

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4x4 would be useful, there will be many on road miles also. perhaps a limited slip differential would make a good compromise?

Arrow

The reason I would like to stick with a Bus is because I feel that the vehicle connects us with people' that we encounter and opens up social opportunities like no other. a big part of my travels is learning from interactions with inspirational people that we meet, the bus is a great facilitator for this.
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Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
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chabanais
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hilux
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ultralite
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

Well this guy made it around the world 3 times in a '55 Beetle: http://youtu.be/Cw92qL0sUmo So one could argue that a stock Bus would do the trick.

I agree with Skills that a Suburban would be a great choice, I'd take one anywhere. There are folks who have put a Westfalia top on them as well.

But I see what you're saying, it's true that the Bus just seems to connect people. And for some folks, that's the real fun in travel.

Why not a stock 71 with disc brakes? Type 1 simplicity with good braking...
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

chabanais wrote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hilux

Yep, that or a landcruiser wagon would be my #1 choice, but far too tough and reliable for Ben's needs, can't make good video if it never breaks, who'd follow along?. Surely they don't tune in just for the adventure, scenery and skilled cinematography and writing do they?
Watch any news footage from far away in a remote and underprivelidged land where the fighting is in a hostile environment, it's the choice of jihadists worldwide
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Tom Powell
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

HastaAlaska wrote:
... The reason I would like to stick with a Bus is because I feel that the vehicle connects us with people' that we encounter and opens up social opportunities like no other. a big part of my travels is learning from interactions with inspirational people that we meet, the bus is a great facilitator for this.


Then you should use a Toyota. VW buses are almost non existent in Asia. Most of the few that are there have been converted into food stands.
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Toyotas are common and what most people drive other than Volvos and Mercedes. They are also the choice of ISIS and there are many spare parts available.

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Aloha
tp
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Brian
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 7:04 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

The Toyota Hilux is probably the best designed vehicle to exist. There is a good reason that every other country utilizes them.

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Yes, LSD would help. There's that one dude on here that has the orange bus that does what you're talking about.
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Cap10323
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 7:06 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

Typically, I'm all for people adventuring in Busses. But seriously, you are absolutely delusional if you think that you can get a bus and build it up to drive around the world.. You've already spend truly absurd amounts of time and money (not to mention exploiting dozens of people) getting your clapped out bus from South America to Alaska..

C'mon man, Lets be reasonable here.. Skills is totally right, Buy something newer, Watercooled, more reliable, and easier/cheaper to find parts for.

I'd vote for something with 4WD/AWD, Solid axels, and a large iron-bore engine.

If you ABSOLUTELY MUST have a VW Bus, Buy a Synchro westy and put a 2.5l subaru engine in it..
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Tom Powell
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 7:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

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Aloha
tp
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HastaAlaska
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 8:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Overlanding a VW Bus Around The World?! Reply with quote

Cap10323 wrote:
You are absolutely delusional if you think that you can get a bus and build it up to drive around the world..


Anyone would think I'm the first person trying to this?!

Tom Powell wrote:

Then you should use a Toyota. VW buses are almost non existent in Asia. Most of the few that are there have been converted into food stands.


You make a good point. The Thailand VW club is pretty small compared to the USA. Parts would definitely be hard to find. This is part of the reason I am asking about upgrade options before hand.

I appreciate everyone's advice about the Toyota, for me this is as much about human connection as it is mechanical challenge. I 100% agree a modern water-cooled 4x4 would be the best option for driving around the world. But I am driving principally to connect with people. The Bus is the best tool for that, but I need advice on strengthening it mechanically.

Tom Powell wrote:
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tp


I was wondering how long it would be before that popped up.
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