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steve244
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022
Posts: 1787
Location: GA
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 Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:43 am Post subject: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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So the boy (he's 27) kept swiping my camper against my better judgement to run off with his GF. Being a jealous type I told him we needed to take a trip. Being stupid I suggested Key West in July. Being pessimistic I told him we had about an 80% chance of making it back under our own power.
I'm not religious but I travelled through Hades and back and live to tell about it.
Also being stupid I booked private campgrounds. Better to wing it. The places they reserved for me were expensive and any plan changes were pricey as they typically don't refund. Could've booked the Marriott for what I paid for campgrounds I didn't use. Next time just go and boondock if the state campgrounds are full. It's florida, Jake.
Day one we drove to Key Largo from Marietta. About 12 hours including stops. The day was hot hot hot. And then it rained like hell. We waterskied the van around Boca Raton (rat's mouth? sigh). At gas stops the van was hard to start. It was hotter'n hell and the engine compartment was like a pizza oven. Had to use an oven mitten to check the oil. Eventually it started. Maybe I shouldn't have driven 80MPH for hours on a hot day.
We pulled into Key Largo at dusk. The waterfront tent site turned out to be the parking lot across from the boat ramp.
Meh.
Next day after cafe con leche we fired up the vanagon and set off down US1 for Key West. Stopped in Bahia Honda state park. Lots of nice waterfront sites available for cheap. sigh. Played in 100 degree ocean water (holy shit!).
Meh, what the picture doesn't capture are the giant RVs next to us, and the Navy fighters cavorting in the clear hot sky. Also the sargassum grass washing up on the shore stunk.
No worries. We weren't there for the campground. We went scuba diving for a couple days. They have an interesting wreck, the Vandenberg. Water temps at 100feet were 90 degrees (holy shit!).
Key West is home to a about a million chickens that run around. They're mostly tame and will gladly share a meal with you. Unfortunately the roosters couldn't tell time very well and woke us up at 3AM each night.
After two nights we'd had it. There weren't enough air conditioned bars in key west to keep us cool.
Left after the dive-boat returned to harbor on Saturday and headed back north. We decided to take it easy and cut across the everglades to Naples and then up I75 from there back to Atlanta.
By dusk we pulled into hotel hell. Days inn and suites with an Indian Bender from Bangalore on a monitor instead of a cute check-in girl. After watching him mishandle guests for 20 minutes he told us he didn't have any rooms.
Stomped back out the van. It wouldn't start. Managed to get it running long enough to limp to the shell station across the road. I'd let the gas gauge drop lower than I'd ever dared before. My estimate was it still had about 3 gallons in the tank. Put six more in and managed to douse myself with gasoline (floriduh pumps). Wouldn't start.
We rolled it back to the days inn. locked it up, and ubered to a nice 50s style motel with attached sleazy BBQ joint. It was heaven. Shout out to Joe at the Ranch House Motel and Buffalo Chips restaurant. This restored my faith in humanity and emotional attachment to air conditioning.
Next morning ubered back. It fired up (I shot in starter fluid) and roared to life. For about 5 seconds. Then nuthin. Sent the boy to Fort Myers to catch a plane (some of us have real jobs) and I sat down to sweat out what to do next.
Hagerty's towing insurance came through quickly and competently. Towed it to Fort Myers (nearest major U-Haul). Only waited about 15 minutes for the truck to arrive.
He offered to get help get it on the trailer at U-haul. I said good by as I thought it'd take an hour to get a truck and trailer ready.
They set it up in less than 30 minutes, and the van, god bless her, had enough get-up-and-go to wheeze up the ramp and settle down.
Beelined it in air-conditioned comfort back to Marietta with stops to pee and fill the thirsty GMC with gas.
The end. (or is it?)
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf 
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way... |
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Rusted64
Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2010
Posts: 146
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:25 am Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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| Awesome chronicle |
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Abscate 
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 24196
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:56 am Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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That truck is so smug he labeled his door EVโฆ
You made the trip, got it done, and got the T3 home in one piece.
Not the worst date, ever
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๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐ ๐ ๐ |
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steve244
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022
Posts: 1787
Location: GA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 8:00 am Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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It worked out perfectly. My stupidity even amused me! No wives were involved in this trip thank the gods.
Except next time I'd bring a come-along and stow it in the bench seat. U-Haul will not help you load the trailer so unless your van can get up the ramp (minimal) on its own power, you need a winch/come-along.
And air conditioning.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way... |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 8:11 am Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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I'm wondering fuel. This sounds like a perfect time to use Mark's (crazyvwvanman) bypass harness test. Fuel pump relay intermittent? And of course, it could be old engines harness wiring that didn't like Florida and the frying pan of driving at 80 for so long.
Duncan |
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steve244
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022
Posts: 1787
Location: GA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 8:23 am Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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gotta be fuel. Might be more, but fuel's the main one. Also suspicious about the rain on the trip down and the low fuel level before it crapped out. It leaks gas when it's full so I know the tank/expansion tanks are compromised. Never drove through heavy rain before.
Like I said I'm stupid. Got a link to that bypass harness test? Sounds useful.
I plan on draining the tank, sealing it, and fixing the expansion tanks. Replacing fuel lines. Want to resolve this before swapping the engine I have stashed in my spares closet.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way... |
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Tobias Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 1412
Location: Taos NM
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 8:35 am Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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I dont know how you guys function in that heat. It has been in the 90s in Taos this week and I cant even imagine camping even with the low humidity.
If I camp anywhere in this heatwave it will be over 10,000 feet elevation. |
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steve244
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022
Posts: 1787
Location: GA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 8:43 am Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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I plan to install A/C and was seriously considering a portable to plug in at the campgrounds. Wanted to see what it was like without it.
It was OK. We all survived our childhoods in the 60's with the family SW and trips to hell. Figured I could handle it.
As long as the van was moving it was OK on the road. Ambient temps in the high 90s with humidity around 70%. While stopped we had 12v fans so that was bearable too. I had two spray bottles with water that we'd squirt at each other for fun. That helped.
At night the same 12V fans provided enough air movement to keep us comfortable. Slept through the nights except for the roosters and the one night I forgot to plug the fan into an external power source. I woke up in a hot sweat. Plugged in the fan and went back to sleep.
My plan is to run engine driven A/C with high BTU rated evaporator in the back above the bench seat.
I think this should be enough for camping too as if it's too uncomfortable, fire up the type4 to run the A/C for 15 minutes. Then use the 12v Fans. After sundown shouldn't have to do this much.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way... |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17241
Location: Brookeville, MD
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BirdBus85
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Joined: December 06, 2022
Posts: 47
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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This was a great write up. As a native Floridian who moved away years ago, even driving modern vehicles in that summer heat always keeps me a bit on edge, especially in US-1 traffic down in the keys. I shutter at the thought of being in my van down there right now.
Kudos to you for making that trip though. Update us when you figure out what was causing your issues, |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 10726
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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Trouble after heavy rain suggests water in the bottom of the tank that canโt get through the screen so just dispaces gasoline. Which gets thru as the water sloshes. Look for cracks in the expansion tanks in L&R front fenders. The tank vacuum sucks water in.
My brother had exactly that issue driving in torrential rains. Got towed to a Vanagon expert, who drained 2 3/4 gallons of water from the tank
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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steve244
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Joined: March 18, 2022
Posts: 1787
Location: GA
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mikemtnbike
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Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2947
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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Will vary based on locale- my community has "hard to recycle" events where you can turn in stuff like that. The landfill here will take it too, but you have to pay.
Old skool: Dig a deep hole and proceed. I do not endorse this method.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| My money is on bad grommets on the expansion tanks getting water into the fuel tank during all that rain. |
Since you won the last one at $2.00 on the Hall, I'll up the ante and say you are right for $3.00. Happened to me in Maine with the exact same situation, except it began coughing a sputtering IN the rain.
Wait a minuted. "IN THE RAIN" How was he able to drive at all after the rain if the grommets are to blame?
And then after couple of days:
That's 376 miles AFTER the trouble first surfaced. Gas floats on the water, so if it were bad in Key Largo, how did he make it any farther?
Good thing it didn't die in the middle of the "Glades".
I'll suggest the grommets might have been the original issue, but something changed. Filling the tank will only add gas ON TOP OF THE WATER!!
Withdrawing the $3.00 offer.
Duncan |
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Sodo
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Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 10726
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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Let it settle in a 5-gal can. If youโre careful not to remix, the first 3or 4 gallons will pour off. Carefully pour the gasoline into a clear bottle (like a clear gallon water bottle) so you can let it settle a few days (?) and inspect. Then burn it in the van.
Put the remaining mixture in a waste bottle. Maybe pour a little more gasoline off. Maybe you can evaporate it on hot concrete. I wouldnโt risk contaminating ground water.
Could be less time/effort than searching out a place to accept it.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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steve244
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022
Posts: 1787
Location: GA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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| DuncanS wrote: |
| dobryan wrote: |
| My money is on bad grommets on the expansion tanks getting water into the fuel tank during all that rain. |
Since you won the last one at $2.00 on the Hall, I'll up the ante and say you are right for $3.00. Happened to me in Maine with the exact same situation, except it began coughing a sputtering IN the rain.
Wait a minuted. "IN THE RAIN" How was he able to drive at all after the rain if the grommets are to blame?
And then after couple of days:
That's 376 miles AFTER the trouble first surfaced. Gas floats on the water, so if it were bad in Key Largo, how did he make it any farther?
Good thing it didn't die in the middle of the "Glades".
I'll suggest the grommets might have been the original issue, but something changed. Filling the tank will only add gas ON TOP OF THE WATER!!
Withdrawing the $3.00 offer.
Duncan |
Good question. I was thinking the intake sucks fuel from higher than the bottom of the tank. It wasn't an issue until it was less than 3 gallons left. Does someone know the design of the fuel pickup?
The only design I've seen, I forget what car, had a clever intake design to avoid intake from the bottom unless that's all there was.
Or if water was in the expansion tanks maybe it didn't drain back into the tank until later?
Bad gas seems the most likely as it fired right up with a shot of starter fluid. I squirted some in the ports ahead of the throttle by removing a hose.
I'll keep taking bets until Saturday when I'll siphon out the gas and let it settle in a container.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way... |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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steve244
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022
Posts: 1787
Location: GA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Sorry to be blunt, but to drive 80 mph is just foolish.
Get rid of the Van and go by a Mercedes camper that is designed to travel like that.
You cannot expect a classic vehicle that was designed in the 1970's to perform in such a manner today.
Quite simply, you abused the vehicle.
No compassion from me.
Dave |
Meany.
It wanted to go that fast. Strong tailwind. Besides, I'm stupid!
After it was hard to start on the southbound leg, I pulled back to 65 and it solved the problem.
We drove it gently all weekend and up to Bonita Springs. The only remarkable thing was how low the gauge got. By my estimates it should have had a couple gallons left. 16 gallons, right? I've made a careful study of how much gas it takes when it gets to the orange zone and it's 11-12 gallons to click.
Besides the engine and running gear were designed to cruise at speeds typical for Europe.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way... |
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Ahwahnee
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Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10281
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: I Fought Florida, Florida won: 1800 mile road-trip July 2023 |
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| DuncanS wrote: |
| ...Fuel pump relay intermittent?... |
That would be my guess.
Here's a link to the bypass diagnostic tool. I always have it on board.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=349429&start=0 |
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djkeev
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