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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 6:06 am Post subject: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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The VanAlert app is LIVE!
I'd like to inform you about a new item I've created... It's an app for Vanagon/Bus owners named VanAlert. We originally had it specifically for Vanagon owners but many bus guys have shown an interest in using it so we just opened it up to all Bus guys as well. I've made a couple of changes to the app in order to accommodate Bus Repair Shops and Bus Rescue Squad people...
Download the app here:
Apple App Store
Google Play Store
The Stolen Van Alert is the main reason I chose to build the app. I often see vans stolen and wonder if there was a way to help these owners get the help from the Vanagon/Bus community in order to help keep an eye out for their stolen van. Well if a Vanagon/Bus is stolen, the owner can open the app and fill out a form including all of the information about the van as well as a few photos. I then send out a Push Notification to all app users within a certain mile radius of where the van was stolen. App users get notified, then directed to the Stolen Van page to see the Vanagon/Bus they should keep an eye out for. This alert is smart, it won't be sending out a Stolen Van Alert to app users in New Jersey about a Vanagon/Bus being stolen in California. It will only send out the alert to app users within the same state and maybe the neighboring state depending on the specifics of each case.
Being on the road requires needing to find a place to camp for the night. I often spent a lot of time looking at various resources including my phone, my atlas and my GPS navigation system to try to find a place to call home for the night. VanAlert will now replace all of the methods I previously used. All State Parks that allow camping will be populated in our database as well as other user submitted Camp Sites such as BLM Land camping and other locations.
Driveway Camp is a section that'll list all users nearest to your phone's GPS location that will allow traveling Vanagon/Bus owners a safe driveway to camp in for the night. Hosts have several amenities that they offer and when signing up you too can list the items you'd like to offer: Driveway/ Curb Space/ Shore Power/ Shower/ Laundry/ Tools. We have signup forms in the app if you'd like to include yourself as a Driveway Camp Host.
A crowdsourced database of Repair Shops that will be listed nearest to your phone's current GPS location. So no matter where a break down happens, simply open the app and see what reputable Repair Shops are nearby that other Vanagon/Bus Owners have recommended. This database relies on information provided by our members so if you have a reputable shop that you use, please share that info with the community.
In addition to the Repair Shops listing we're allowing Vanagon/Bus owners to be listed as individuals as well. This way in case there are no repair shops nearby, a traveling Vanagon/Bus owner can reach out to a local owner for help, tools and/or guidance. This community loves to share and help others and that's one of the best things that comes with owning a Vanagon/Bus. You gain a support system, a family.
There are many other features already built into the app and many more that are in the works. We're only a few days old but already have nearly 1,000 registered members and have begun to populate our database with a ton of crowdsourced information. If you're a Vanagon/Bus owner.... you NEED this app. Be sure to share the info with your Vanagon/Bus friends as the more information we get populated into the database, the better it is for the entire community. Oh and did I mention... the app is FREE!
Download the app here:
Apple App Store
Google Play Store
Like our VanAlert Facebook Page in order to keep up with the app updates and new features. _________________ Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now |
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Spike0180 Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2015 Posts: 2269 Location: Detroit, Michigan
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:31 am Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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Awesome. just downloaded it. I'll report back in a few weeks if it is found to be useful _________________ Brutis Patches Izabich: 1970 VW Transporter - 1776cc DP
Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp
Sambastic: adj; the quality of being nit picky, elitist, expecting everyone to do things the way they believe is best with no regard to situation, "sambastic" |
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aerosurfer Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2012 Posts: 1602 Location: Indianapolis, IN
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:49 am Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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ditto here...
Are the camping functions nationwide, or member loaded only? _________________ Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness
77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!
72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone) |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12860 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:57 am Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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I too signed up, thanks. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 8:02 am Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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aerosurfer wrote: |
ditto here...
Are the camping functions nationwide, or member loaded only? |
Camping Section will eventually have all State Parks and National Parks that allow camping entered into the database. We're currently harvesting all of the data from state park websites and adding them in. We're locating the gate entrances of each park so that our app can give accurate navigation directions to those spots. A lot of parks list their office address and/or have their gps coordinates located in the general middle of the park which does no good for traveling campers when trying to navigate to a park.
We do allow members to submit their camp site locations as well. this comes in very handy when it comes to BLM and National Forest sites that members have found and are willing to share.
We have 5 main categories in regards to Camp Sites:
Boondocking: good spots travelers can stealth camp in cities etc.
Free Camp: BLM land, National Forest land, Wildlife management areas etc.
Paid Park: State parks, national parks, private parks etc.
Rest Areas: Rest areas throughout the country that have been ok'd by other travelers that are good spots to sleep in for a night.
Truck Stops: Truck Stops throughout the country that have been ok'd by other travelers that are good spots to sleep in for a night.
All of those categories can be displayed in order of closest to your given GPS location or you can select specific categories to show only. For instance if you know you want a State Park with hookups etc, you can list that category only.
We're still very young so we're adding a ton of content daily and will be doing so for quite some time to come. We welcome crowdsourced information so feel free to submit some within the app in order to get shared with the rest of our users. _________________ Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now |
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Spike0180 Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2015 Posts: 2269 Location: Detroit, Michigan
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 8:04 am Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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I've been checking out this app. It seems pretty sweet, this would be sweet to expand to the same vehicles thesamba covers. _________________ Brutis Patches Izabich: 1970 VW Transporter - 1776cc DP
Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp
Sambastic: adj; the quality of being nit picky, elitist, expecting everyone to do things the way they believe is best with no regard to situation, "sambastic" |
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Globespotter Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2012 Posts: 1770 Location: Newmarket, ON
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Tumbledown76 Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2015 Posts: 91 Location: Bussachusetts
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:21 am Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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Wow, this is awesome. Thanks! _________________ 'Camel' - '79 Riviera, 2.0L FI, Dakota Beige |
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riverside66 Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Sparta, NC
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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Downloaded! Thanks!! _________________ 1977 Standard Beetle -Sold-
1979 Transporter - "Wheatbread" -Sold- |
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16971 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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Do I also have to be Facebook? I don't want to be facebook _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16971 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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Sure looked like they wanted a fb login _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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I downloaded it and have already found a cool, local, free campsite.
Thanks HoustonPhotog! It is gonna be a big help. _________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16971 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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Got it, thanks _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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Cap10323 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2016 Posts: 604 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:53 pm Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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Just downloaded it. Super cool. _________________ -Ian
'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13389 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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I like it and downloaded it. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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a-marshal Samba Member
Joined: March 21, 2009 Posts: 270 Location: Toronto
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Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 5:42 am Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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This is the first thing I've seen that makes me actually want to get a smart phone. I'm not kidding.. the motorola flip has been hanging on for almost 10 years.
Nice Job. _________________ -Ob. vehicle info....
1973 Westy w/ '74 1.8 liter / PDSI (type3?) carbs / 009 distributor / pertronix |
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HoustonPhotog Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013 Posts: 1514 Location: Houston, TX
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Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 7:41 am Post subject: Re: VanAlert App for Vanagon/Bus Owners |
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a-marshal wrote: |
This is the first thing I've seen that makes me actually want to get a smart phone. I'm not kidding.. the motorola flip has been hanging on for almost 10 years.
Nice Job. |
Thanks! Trust me... it's worth the change.... =)
Since the VanAlert has been online for about 2 months specifically for Vanagons we've gathered about 600 crowd sourced Vanagon shops that other owners have recommended. Now that we've opened up our base to included buses as well I'm going back through our 600 or so Vanagon Repair shops and checking them out in Google Street View in order to see if they're also service Buses. If they do, then I add them to the Bus Repair Shop Listings as well.
I added about 20 across the country so far... a lot more to go through but it'll be worth it! In our Submit Repair Shop form I have checkboxes for Vanagon Repair and Bus Repair so users can select which their recommended shops services.
This is what I'm looking for.... Makes it easy! =)
_________________ Abel Longoria
VanAlert App for Vanagons/Buses | Texas Vanagons | My Vanagon Build Thread | Follow Me On Instagram | Vanagon-centric Stickers Available Now |
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