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katstan
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2017
Posts: 175
Location: Woodstock, NY
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 Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 3:14 am Post subject: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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Okay, guys... enough technical chitchat.
How do you actually use and enjoy your Vanagons on the weekends? I feel like I only read stories about kids who move into their vans to travel full time and enjoy life... All well and good but I'm 40 with a house and a job and a husband and a 6 year old and a dog and a cat.
So what's the most fun you've had with your Vanagon that didn't involve quitting your job or moving into your van full time?
Post pictures! |
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ZsZ
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2010
Posts: 1644
Location: Budapest Hungary, Europe
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 4:17 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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4 weeks and 10000kms long roadrip from Budapest (Hungary) to Nordkapp (Norway).
It was in 2014, so I must search for new adventures.
_________________
Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008 |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16496
Location: Brookeville, MD
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15141
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:13 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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also in my 40's with a house/job/dog but no kid.
in season we camp with the Empire State VW camping club at a different NY State park. usually about 5-20 VWs depending on month/location.
in July we'll be not too far from you over at Sacandaga campground near Wells, NY)
since around the time my father got sick, we lost a couple other friends too early in life, I've started taking one big trip a year..
I keep a list in my cell phone notes.. else they all blend together.
in 2010 I led a group of 11 VW campers from upstate NY to Tampa and back
in 2011 took a week to see fall foliage in New Hampshire's white Mtns.
transporterfest on columbus weekend.
2012 went to Maine coast for a week stayed in Acadia and stopped in Lubec at a nice deli for lunch overlooking the canadian border
2013 a week in Tadoussac, Qc to expand my cultural horizon and see some whales in the St Lawrence.
2013 went to Tampa at christmas to visit family for the holidays
Transporterfest on columbus weekend
2014 went to Gatlinburg and the Smokey Mtns, expressed the van thru the Tail of the Dragon and followed the Blue Ridge parkway for 469mi from end to end.
long 4th of july weekend in NH white Mtns.
2015 we went to the Albquerque balloon fest and Monument valley, mesa verde and other awesome points.
1 long weekend to Coaticook, Qc for Forestra Illumina
2016 Tampa for christmas and 3 long weekend excursions 1-Austin, PA to see Elk 2- Tadoussac for the 4th of july 3- Transporterfest (VW show) in Boston on columbus weekend.
2017 planning to head to Gatlinburg, TN and smokey Mtns for spring bloom (cabin fever)
planning to go west to Glacier and Yellowstone in the fall.
needless to say I don't get much done around the house/yard
but that's neither what I want to remember doing when I'm older or be remembered for.. yeah that Dan, he kept a good lawn..
you're in a great place to explore, easy weekend trips to the Fingerlakes region, Poconos, ADKs, Vermont, Berkshires,
or longer weekends into New Hampshire (mount Washington)& Maine (Acadia).. Niagara Falls, Assateague
one thing I might also suggest you consider, travelling with a dog, is the Jalousie window mod. it's reversible for later/resale but offers a much improved ventilation and rain protection than the stock westy window&screen. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=283728
Transporterfest group camp in the "Igloo" rsvp early space is limited
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1127555.jpg
Westcott beach state park on the shore of Lake Ontario sheltered by Henderson Harbor and bath warm shallow sandy waters, the likes I've never found anywhere else.
New Hampshire Fall Foliage in the shadow of Mount Washington
Westy's at Watkins Glen on the race track
staging https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/487276.jpg
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/487274.jpg
Tail of the Dragon in the Smokey Mtns.
319 turns in 11 miles (iirc?)
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Last edited by danfromsyr on Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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cbcnm
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2010
Posts: 94
Location: Portland ore
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:33 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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I take at least one long trip a year with my kids ( now 14 and 11).
2013 a week in Glacier National park
2014 2 weeks to circumnavigate Vancouver Island- visited Tofino, Telegraph cove and Olympic National Park
2015 Portland to SanDiego and back up the Coast. Visited Hearst Castle and camped along Big Sur Coast
2016 2 weeks (2500 miles ) Portland to Moab & Arches, then the GrandCanyon and Bryce canyon
2016 solo trip 2500 miles Portland to the San Juan Islands then to Grand Tetons and Glacier National Park
2017 Trips planned : 1.) Portland to the Alvord Desert and Hot Springs of Southern Oregon headed out tomorrow for 5 days 2) solo trip Portland to Grand Tetons and Glacier. Planned 16 days in August
I am a solo parent age 55 with 2 kids and soon to be 2 dogs.
Chris
85 Westy/suby |
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xoo00oox
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:38 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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The most fun is the last minute trips you can do, just keep all your camping stuff in the Westy, drive aimlessly up into the mountains and find a spot you can squeeze the van in. No campgrounds needed.
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newfisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2012
Posts: 1764
Location: The wet spot--Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:18 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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^^^^ THIS.
We try to camp every weekend if we are not flying out and traveling. The funnest trips are the spontaneous ones with no direction, no schedule, just the windshield to guide us. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:48 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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I just launched my last two and miss them terribly. They were all girls so they come home if I am really lonely and ask nicely and pay cash.
My Bryn Mawrtian just asked me if we are sailing the Cape again this August...
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MaineRich
Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2011
Posts: 61
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:58 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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| Doing summer tour with the Grateful Dead from '92-'95 in my current van. |
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Team WorldTour
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:07 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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Finishing my H6 conversion, before rebuilding the interior (Westy), and getting the front wheels off the ground in first AND second! 
Then, AFTER rebuilding the interior, just scaring the CRAP out of Random German Driver on the Autobahn, passing by at WARP 6! (220KPH)
HAHAHAHAHA.....god I loved that van!
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1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
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H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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61Scout
Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2011
Posts: 1297
Location: Shoreline/Yakima WA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:07 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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Living in the PNW there is an endless supply of nearby camping. I rarely make firm plans about where I'm camping. I'm on the coast every year. I'm also in the mountains regularly. I set my own work schedule so I try to block out at least 4 days in a row. I'll also camp during the week when other folks are working to avoid the crowds. I tend to avoid popular camping destinations within 1hr of the big cities. Way too crowded with seasonal glampers. So to sum it all up, I find the best camping on weekdays at unpopular or remote spots. Also friends who have private property is always fun.
-Kevin
_________________
1986 Westfalia Weekender Wolfsburg, RJE 2.3
1985 Tin Top, Subie 2.2 + 5MT
Floppy Mirrors no more: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=653018&highlight=
Remove the front spindle nut with ease: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=679567&highlight=
Remove the rear wheel bearing housing without messing with the big 46mm nut: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=679507&highlight=
-Nec Spe, Nec Metu
Last edited by 61Scout on Wed Mar 29, 2017 11:16 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Zeitgeist 13
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12114
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:33 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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The most fun I've had with my current Vanagon was driving it back fro LA in '04. It's been used exclusively as a truck since then, but it was always fun to drive around town, though not on the freeway. Our EV Weekender is an absolute joy in every setting, and we're planning several family road trips in it this year...whenever this obnoxious f^#king rain stops
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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atomatom
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2012
Posts: 1867
Location: in an 84 Westy or Bowen Island, BC
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:38 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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forestry roads are awesome around here. avalanches make nice clearings.
here is a fisheye
but i still think taking the engine out is pretty fun...
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84 Vanagon Westy, 1.9L, California raised but defected to Canada. |
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katstan
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2017
Posts: 175
Location: Woodstock, NY
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:44 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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| xoo00oox wrote: |
The most fun is the last minute trips you can do, just keep all your camping stuff in the Westy, drive aimlessly up into the mountains and find a spot you can squeeze the van in. No campgrounds needed.
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| newfisher wrote: |
^^^^ THIS.
We try to camp every weekend if we are not flying out and traveling. The funnest trips are the spontaneous ones with no direction, no schedule, just the windshield to guide us. |
That does sound like the way to go. This is what I envisioned when the Vanagon fever caught me. Where do you find these spots in the woods though (esp with no syncro)? I'm determined to camp this Saturday (it'll be our first time camping in the Vanagon unless you count sleeping in it on the first night). I don't want to go too far since it's just one night. A couple private campgrounds are opening nearby so if we want heat we could do an RV spot at one of those but it's not quite the spirit of what I imagine. And I do like a campfire when I"m camping so it seems that would preclude stealthing it unless I know of some private land. I did see a spot on hipcamp that might be good for that if I feel like we can sleep in near freezing temps with no heater. |
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katstan
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2017
Posts: 175
Location: Woodstock, NY
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:46 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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| Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
| The most fun I've had with my current Vanagon was driving it back fro LA in '04. It's been used exclusively as a truck since then, but it was always fun to drive around town, though not on the freeway. Our EV Weekender is an absolute joy in every setting, and we're planning several family road trips in it this year...whenever this obnoxious f^#king rain stops |
Yup. Drove to work today just for fun since the cursed rain had finally let up. A xcountry trip would be amazing but I can't take that kind of time off anytime soon. |
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katstan
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2017
Posts: 175
Location: Woodstock, NY
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:50 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
also in my 40's with a house/job/dog but no kid.
in season we camp with the Empire State VW camping club at a different NY State park. usually about 5-20 VWs depending on month/location.
in July we'll be not too far from you over at Sacandaga campground near Wells, NY)
since around the time my father got sick, we lost a couple other friends too early in life, I've started taking one big trip a year..
I keep a list in my cell phone notes.. else they all blend together.
in 2010 I led a group of 11 VW campers from upstate NY to Tampa and back
in 2011 took a week to see fall foliage in New Hampshire's white Mtns.
transporterfest on columbus weekend.
2012 went to Maine coast for a week stayed in Acadia and stopped in Lubec at a nice deli for lunch overlooking the canadian border
2013 a week in Tadoussac, Qc to expand my cultural horizon and see some whales in the St Lawrence.
2013 went to Tampa at christmas to visit family for the holidays
Transporterfest on columbus weekend
2014 went to Gatlinburg and the Smokey Mtns, expressed the van thru the Tail of the Dragon and followed the Blue Ridge parkway for 469mi from end to end.
long 4th of july weekend in NH white Mtns.
2015 we went to the Albquerque balloon fest and Monument valley, mesa verde and other awesome points.
1 long weekend to Coaticook, Qc for Forestra Illumina
2016 Tampa for christmas and 3 long weekend excursions 1-Austin, PA to see Elk 2- Tadoussac for the 4th of july 3- Transporterfest (VW show) in Boston on columbus weekend.
2017 planning to head to Gatlinburg, TN and smokey Mtns for spring bloom (cabin fever)
planning to go west to Glacier and Yellowstone in the fall.
needless to say I don't get much done around the house/yard
but that's neither what I want to remember doing when I'm older or be remembered for.. yeah that Dan, he kept a good lawn..
you're in a great place to explore, easy weekend trips to the Fingerlakes region, Poconos, ADKs, Vermont, Berkshires,
or longer weekends into New Hampshire (mount Washington)& Maine (Acadia).. Niagara Falls, Assateague
one thing I might also suggest you consider, travelling with a dog, is the Jalousie window mod. it's reversible for later/resale but offers a much improved ventilation and rain protection than the stock westy window&screen. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=283728 |
That Smoky Mountain trip sounds like fun. I would love to do a week long spring road trip somewhere South but I have to wait until at least June and maybe August before I can do another week off. It's just about killing me. |
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quattro syncro dos
Banned
Joined: September 25, 2016
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 11:08 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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| Making a couple of kids. |
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Jeffrey Lee
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014
Posts: 1488
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 11:14 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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Epic month-long Westy trips are great, but most can afford to do them only occasionally, and some of the best family trips are those quick getaways. And it doesn’t have to be far or fancy: most kids (and many work-weary grownups) enjoy just going someplace new where they can bust loose a little or relax.
From Woodstock, NY it looks like you have a lot of designated forest lands on three sides of you, all within easy driving distance. I don’t know much about National Forests in NY, but here in the North and out West, most Nat. Forests allow dispersed camping, which usually entails simply driving out on an old logging road and parking someplace out of the way. It's wild, quiet, and usually free.
I suggest you do some internet searching followed by some field research to find some spots that may be suitable. Once you’re familiar with a few favorite spots, getting there and back should be quick and easy.
Good luck!
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Camp Westfalia
Camping Tips • Newsletter • Cool Campervan Apparel
www.CampWestfalia.com |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 11:20 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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| katstan wrote: |
| That does sound like the way to go. This is what I envisioned when the Vanagon fever caught me. Where do you find these spots in the woods though (esp with no syncro)? I'm determined to camp this Saturday (it'll be our first time camping in the Vanagon unless you count sleeping in it on the first night). I don't want to go too far since it's just one night. A couple private campgrounds are opening nearby so if we want heat we could do an RV spot at one of those but it's not quite the spirit of what I imagine. And I do like a campfire when I"m camping so it seems that would preclude stealthing it unless I know of some private land. I did see a spot on hipcamp that might be good for that if I feel like we can sleep in near freezing temps with no heater. |
Kat - isn't there a pulloff on the Taconic heading North from you? You could probably burn a fire in small self-contained grill for Smores without attracting too many NYSP Police, if its small and you have a fire extinguisher nearby. I know its not backwoods but Miss IronPots will remember the important part..
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SteveVanB
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2008
Posts: 1645
Location: This side of Daytona
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 11:39 am Post subject: Re: What's The Most Fun You've Had With Your Vanagon? |
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Definitely my trips to the Keys with my Jamaican buddy who knows how to cook fish in a dutchie 
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