Preparing For A Road Trip
By Dollar Bill
I drive a 1973 VW Westfalia full poptop. She is beautiful, is all I can say. We, the bus
and I, have traveled from the Western reaches of the USA to land's end on the Maine
coast during the past 15 years. Travel from Western to Eastern Canada was included in
most of these trips. (Wonder, sometimes, why our forefathers just let that real estate
be picked up by the French and English w/o a fight??) My next long camping trip will be
a drive from Pittsburgh to the West. Camp through the Great Plains, a week or so. Then
I'll spend an evening in the shadow of the Grand Tetons, eating a juicy steak. I'll cross
the Rockies onto an Inland ferry in Seattle and we'll float on up to Skagway, Alaska. Be
on my way to Denali National Park. I'll check out to St Elias-Wrangell National Park,
Anchorage, and other parts in the southern areas of Alaska. I'll return back down
through the interior of Canada. Stopping in Jasper and Banff... talk about your natural
beauty. I'll camp along the Canadian side of all of Great Lakes. Roll on into Niagara Falls,
before swinging back into Pittsburgh, PA and home. Probably be on the road from April
through October of 2009. Maybe we'll run into one another out there in the wide
open..... Sure wish I could leave right NOW!!!
,
From the front seats to rear door of my bus, this is the
stuff I carry for a long road trip:
Under the front seats:
Inverter:
.I've mounted a DC to AC electric inverter onto the right rear slanted wall, under the rear seat. I
installed a college sized fridge behind the driver's seat. Your alternator can be wired to charge a
deepcell marine battery while you drive. I place the marine battery on the left side of the engine
compartment. The large wires that connect this battery to the inverter, pass up through the
unused spare tire well. There, the wires enter the interior of my van through a hole I drilled in
the floor. Don't drill straight ahead... You will drill right into your gas tank. Not good, an
immediate defeat!! I installed a small college dorm fridge behind the driver's seat. The spare tire
is mounted on the outside front panel of the Bus. It looks more cool out there anyway! The
inverter wires drop down behind the rear seat into the space under the rear seat and can be
connected to the inverter. From the inverter I wried some outlets, the fridge outlet, and I
updated new lighting that surpasses the original factory install by a 1/2 mile. I can even see in
there at night!! There is an electrical relay you need to buy to isolate the large deepcell battery
system from your van's regular 12 volt battery system. You don't want your fridge's deepcell
battery to discharge the regular engine battery. I top off the deepcell's battery's electrical
charge every night with a small battery charger that I connect to the campsite's 120 volt outlet.
Storage:
I've built a center console cabinet which sits where the 'walk through' is located, between the
front seats. I can't walk through the walkway, anyway. Too tall, I am. I built a 3 shelf cabinet
which I've attached to the rear of the passenger seat. The cabinet and the console cabinet doors
open, and face toward, the rear of the Bus. These two cabinets contain:
I have 2, (two), 21-quart snap-top plastic containers, from Walmart.
Storage in a Volkswagen Westfalia is not quite large enough. The snap-top containers sit on the
back floor while I drive during the day. At night, I boost them up into the pop-up top for
storage. I sleep on the first level with the folded down rear seat and rear deck, (sleep like a
baby!) I could use 2 more of those containers, sometimes. But, you can haul too much stuff. You
would forever be 'hunting through all your containers for whatever...you know. ' Where the HE**
did I put that thing???'
Sitting out on the floor in the camper as I travel:
In my dorm fridge:
Under the folding rear seat, I store:
Stored in the side cupboard to the left of the fold down seat:
The rear compartment of that same side cupboard, (to the right of the lift up
rear cargo door), contains:
Attached to the exterior closet wall to the left of rear folding seat,
On the rear deck, inside the hinged cargo door, I carry:
Modernistic stuff I bring along:
On the road...
I usually have a small, slow-cooker doing some chili, beef stew, spaghetti sauce, or some shipwreck
brew, in the center room of the Bus as I drive along. Folks really do look around while at the gas
stations and rest stops....'Ma, where 's that super dinner smell coming from??' You KNOW it is a
good feeling to pull into your evening's campsite with your dinner ready to eat!! I try to limit my
daily drive to between 200 to 300 miles per day when on a long term camping drive. This is a
distance that is easiest on me and the Bus. You get to your campsite early, you're rested, and you
enjoy your daily drive. You'll find setting up your campsite much easier in the light of day while
at the new and strange campground. Many drives are worth retracing the very same day, BTW. I
drove the Highway to the Sun, in Glacier National Park, and drove across beautiful Smoky Mt.
National Park at least 3 times the first time I passed through those awesome places. I spent hours
backtracking along Virginia's Skyline Drive while checking that area out. Not to mention, North-
Eastern USA with the great fall foliage scenes found there. (The tourist guy with his mouth
hangin' open, you know...)
I try to respect my reliable air-cooled 1700cc engine's daily chore of hauling me and all my stuff
around the countryside. So, I go as lite as I can on the gas pedal as I drive, for her sake. You'll
see me rolling along at about 55 mph, no more, no less. Some people take umbrage at my
lacsidasical roaming. But, as John Muir said, "To hell with them. They ain't driving anything as
cool as my bus!' God, please rest John's soul....
My Travels and some Favorite places I've camped through the years:
My travel advice, for what it is worth:
You'll need to practice driving with your 'eyes shut'. There are a few places that require that
this trick be mastered. US Highway 2, from Scoby, Montana to Grand Forks, North Dakota.
(OMG.....)And, those 1200 miles of vacant road between Calgary and Regina, Canada. These
stretchs of road would boggle the mind of an average person's mind. Luckily, I'm below
average.... I'd try to drive those lonesome stretches from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM, as they are much
easier going in the dark of the night. Just be aware, the deer and antelope are crossing the road.
These ungulates pay taxes for use of the highway too, I guess.
For your maximum experience and enjoyment stay OFF of the vaunted Interstate highway system!!
The system is OK, really, and parts are somewhat scenic, too. But, the traffic, especially in the
East is atrocious. California is no fun either I hear, though I haven't traveled the state at all. The
Interstates simply can't beat some of our oldest highways. The East coast's US 17, or the
northern tier, US 12, or our National Highway, US 40 from New York City to San Fran.. And yes,
there is always ancient, US 66, for the bestest of travel! But then, if you don't care if you see
anything of note, or care to meet anyone of character... be our guest on our great Eisenhower
National Highway system.
My camping advice:
I always try to camp at our State parks and in Canada's Provincial Parks. These parks are
beautiful and well kept. The restrooms are clean, often with clean showers with hot water. The
campsites are relatively inexpensive, and have a variety of electrical hookups for your van. The
campground hosts are very helpful and friendly. Your host can usually give you some insight in
what there is to see and do in their particular area. Federal Campgrounds are a bit more rustic.
Though located in the beauty of our nation, they usually lack showers. Damn... You can make most
reservations for these government campsites online.
If you can't find a Gov campsite, KOA is my next choice for good camping. Slightly higher fees,
of course, but they are kept clean and the showers have hot water. You can purchase a packet of
KOA coupons and get a discount at their camps across the USA.
Some of the best camps I've been in:
Actually, I haven't had many bad experiences as far as campgrounds go. The list above are just
the more memorable ones for me and my Bus. Store all your food inside your camper when
out in the wilds of North America!! Keep your campsite clean and your trash picked up.
Wild animals will surely skip over the barren pickings you leave for them.
Protection:
I've never come across an occasion for the need for a gun. I was appalled to read that there was a
need to pack any firearm, as mentioned by a few of the folks posting here. I'd no doubt scare the
bejesus outta myself with something like a gun in the Volkswagen with me. I can't hit the
broadside of a barn anyway... Whomever wants anything I own, is welcome to it. Everything you
possess can be replaced later on during your 'I'm still alive' existence. Sadly, a good friend of
mine was killed in a Western campground by a trigger happy camper one summer evening a few
years ago. Trauma for at least two families happened in that instant.... So, if I'm able and God
willing, I'll walk home from wherever I am marooned.
Having your 'dawg' riding with you along the way is a definite protective help. He is a much
better idea then carrying a weapon. He is much, much better company then a dumb-ass firearm,
too. Be sure your dog is calm around kids and other campers. Please, don't bring a nightly barker
along!! If the dog is a barker, get a 'bark training collar' on him during the evenings and nights.
Mechanics:
I 'baby' my Volkswagen to the point of a fetish!! Brings tears to your eyes. I especially baby the
engine, using copious numbers of oil changes. Those are mandatory for your little guy. Clean oil
keeps the fellow running nice and cool. Dirty oil is the killer of those #3 cylinder valves. Check
the engine oil level before you start the engine every morning! Never fail to do this. Do not
overfill the engine oil. This mistake can blow the engine's oil seals. Everyone will know where
you've been. (They be followin' your oil streaks all over America.) Before I take off on any trip
I set the valve clearances by the book. The valve clearance setting operation only takes about 20
to 30 minutes. With a little practice, you get onto how they are set. These few minutes spent
setting the valve clearances set right, certainly beats standing alongside the road with a spiritless
Bus. Later, you'll be spending $400 to $500 to have your engine dropped to fix the bent valve.
(Probably by some guy who doesn't know a VW engine from page 12.) A couple of days before
departure, I thoroughly clean the oil screen, change the oil, and oil filter. I wipe those engine
cooling fins on the engine clean. I wipe down, cleaning, all the cooling tin work surfaces around the
engine. I check the points for gap and dwell... I check the tires and tire pressures. Setting
pressures according to the pressure specs stamped on the decal found inside of the fuel cover
flap. The engine in my Bus has well over 180,000 miles on it now. I dropped a valve over in Ohio,
5 or 6 years ago. But, that's the onliest trouble I've ever had. KNOCK ON WOOD... I, and the
Bus, struggled into Cambridge, OH that afternoon with 'zippo' power. Coughing, stuttering, and
hiccupping...My GOD, the little pancake engine just wouldn't give it up! I made a call to AAA
insurance... My AAA Plus coverage sent a tow truck out to haul us over to an AIR Cooled website
approved garage for a valve repair job. A flatbed hauler is the best way to go though, if you need
a tow, as a few folks have mentioned here. So, be sure you should spend the trivial amount of
money to get the AAA Plus benefit..
Good luck in your travels. I hope you enjoy your trips as much as I have enjoyed the miles spent in
my Bus through the years. Get out of your Bus and smell the roses along the way!! Remember,
those "Blue Highways" are the only way to go!
Dollar Bill
and I, have traveled from the Western reaches of the USA to land's end on the Maine
coast during the past 15 years. Travel from Western to Eastern Canada was included in
most of these trips. (Wonder, sometimes, why our forefathers just let that real estate
be picked up by the French and English w/o a fight??) My next long camping trip will be
a drive from Pittsburgh to the West. Camp through the Great Plains, a week or so. Then
I'll spend an evening in the shadow of the Grand Tetons, eating a juicy steak. I'll cross
the Rockies onto an Inland ferry in Seattle and we'll float on up to Skagway, Alaska. Be
on my way to Denali National Park. I'll check out to St Elias-Wrangell National Park,
Anchorage, and other parts in the southern areas of Alaska. I'll return back down
through the interior of Canada. Stopping in Jasper and Banff... talk about your natural
beauty. I'll camp along the Canadian side of all of Great Lakes. Roll on into Niagara Falls,
before swinging back into Pittsburgh, PA and home. Probably be on the road from April
through October of 2009. Maybe we'll run into one another out there in the wide
open..... Sure wish I could leave right NOW!!!
,
From the front seats to rear door of my bus, this is the
stuff I carry for a long road trip:
Under the front seats:
- an alternator belt,
- a hubcap puller,
- the bag that contains that G****MN*D car jack,
- the more than useless VW lug wrench,
- a can of Fix A Flat,
- a small container of brake fluid,
- a set of valve cover gaskets,
- small container of all purpose grease
- quick drying gasket cement with cotton applicator,
- a 8 or 10 inch waterpump pliers,
- a 10" cresent wrench, (Used to rotate the engine to time the thing...)
- large flat bladed screwdriver (to remove those valve cover retaining wires)
- a small ball peen hammer,
- a quart of 30 weight oil, (my Bus is getting old.)
- a quart of transmission fluid for the automatic tranny
Inverter:
.I've mounted a DC to AC electric inverter onto the right rear slanted wall, under the rear seat. I
installed a college sized fridge behind the driver's seat. Your alternator can be wired to charge a
deepcell marine battery while you drive. I place the marine battery on the left side of the engine
compartment. The large wires that connect this battery to the inverter, pass up through the
unused spare tire well. There, the wires enter the interior of my van through a hole I drilled in
the floor. Don't drill straight ahead... You will drill right into your gas tank. Not good, an
immediate defeat!! I installed a small college dorm fridge behind the driver's seat. The spare tire
is mounted on the outside front panel of the Bus. It looks more cool out there anyway! The
inverter wires drop down behind the rear seat into the space under the rear seat and can be
connected to the inverter. From the inverter I wried some outlets, the fridge outlet, and I
updated new lighting that surpasses the original factory install by a 1/2 mile. I can even see in
there at night!! There is an electrical relay you need to buy to isolate the large deepcell battery
system from your van's regular 12 volt battery system. You don't want your fridge's deepcell
battery to discharge the regular engine battery. I top off the deepcell's battery's electrical
charge every night with a small battery charger that I connect to the campsite's 120 volt outlet.
Storage:
I've built a center console cabinet which sits where the 'walk through' is located, between the
front seats. I can't walk through the walkway, anyway. Too tall, I am. I built a 3 shelf cabinet
which I've attached to the rear of the passenger seat. The cabinet and the console cabinet doors
open, and face toward, the rear of the Bus. These two cabinets contain:
- a small slow cooker. 1 1/2 quart size, I think.
- a medium sized cast iron frying pan,
- a metal coffee pot,
- a Coleman gas camp-stove,
- extra gas canister, or 2, for the Coleman stove,
- camp-stove trigger style igniter,
- dish washing soap,
- scrubbing pads, dish towels, and cloths,
- a couple of nested sauce pans of various sizes, (You can buy these pans in a set of 3 with
fold up handles.) (I got this camping kit at Walmart or online, can't remember for sure.) - a 2 gallon stainless steel pot to heat water for washing dishes, and for taking emergency
sponge baths. (Sometimes showers are unavailable.)
I have 2, (two), 21-quart snap-top plastic containers, from Walmart.
- Using one container to store my clothes,
- The other container has a George Foreman grill, toaster, dry goods, crackers, noodles, etc.
Storage in a Volkswagen Westfalia is not quite large enough. The snap-top containers sit on the
back floor while I drive during the day. At night, I boost them up into the pop-up top for
storage. I sleep on the first level with the folded down rear seat and rear deck, (sleep like a
baby!) I could use 2 more of those containers, sometimes. But, you can haul too much stuff. You
would forever be 'hunting through all your containers for whatever...you know. ' Where the HE**
did I put that thing???'
Sitting out on the floor in the camper as I travel:
- a wastebasket,
- my two 21 Qt plastic containers,
- a 2 gallon insulated Igloo water container, with plenty of water.
In my dorm fridge:
- Beer (Imagine that...)
Under the folding rear seat, I store:
- a set of open end Metric wrenchs,
- a Metric socket set (3/8ths inch drive)
- a feeler gauge, sparkplug gapper
- a roll of Black tape
- a screw driver combo set Phillips and flat bladed drivers, of various sizes,
- a trouble light
- a flashlight
- a flashing warning light,
- a set of condenser/points,
- a set of spark plugs,
- various electrical connectors,electrical tools, wire stripper, connector pliers, VW fuses and
bulbs of various sizes, headlight, taillight, signal lights etc. - car wash and wax stuff,
- small and medium sized funnels. I use the smallest one for brake fluid, and the medium sized
one for engine oil) - a 4 way lug wrench...(I really don't know why I'm giving that VW lug wrench a free ride.)
- a small battery charger,
- 50 foot extension cord, (You'll need a cord at least this long while traveling in Canada, for
sure. Electric outlets at their Provincial campgrounds are located in the next county, it
seems like.) - a small ceramic heater for those cold mornings,
- an outlet box with 4 outlets and self contained 25 ft cord rolled up inside
Stored in the side cupboard to the left of the fold down seat:
- Volkswagen repair manuals, A green covered book, not sure of the title...it is THICK though
- John Muir's tome, "Keeping Your VW Running Forever"
- Eating and cooking utensils, can opener, BBQ tools,
- Soup cans, beans, Mac & Cheese boxes, canned tuna, salmon, chicken breast cans. sliced
bread, rolls, etc, power snack-bars, You name it, quick foods of your choice. - a current Atlas,
- reading material, books, magazines
The rear compartment of that same side cupboard, (to the right of the lift up
rear cargo door), contains:
- bedding,
- toilet paper,
- bath towels
- paper and cloth towels,
- a small accordian folder with my bus registration, insurance cards, title card, passport,
emergency contacts, emergency phone numbers, etc. (You'll need your passport to enter and
leave Canada, or Mexico now-days.) - some extra clothing: shoes, waterproof jacket, long johns, sweat-shirts, gloves.
- other small stuff, like bulbs, AA & AAA batteries.
- a custom window screen that snaps onto the raised cargo door. I leave it opened when it is so
Go- awful hot, and I don't want to share my blood with the bugs. (I think I got this screen
at Go Westy)
Attached to the exterior closet wall to the left of rear folding seat,
- A fire extinguisher for easy access.
On the rear deck, inside the hinged cargo door, I carry:
- A sleeping bag, (It gets cold up in the altitudes, so I have a below-zero rated bag!! I've
awoke to -10 below zero over in Montana & Wyoming a couple of times.) - a canvas folding camp chair or two.. in case you meet someone interesting to chat with during
a quiet evening. - Blankets, fitted and flat sheets, pillow cases,(A twin sized fitted sheet exactly fits over
from the folded down rear seat to the rear cushion at the rear window. I was sooooo happy
to discover that!!), - a comfy pillow or two,
- a lightweight electric blanket is cool...
Modernistic stuff I bring along:
- a digital camera with a large storage card.
- your laptop computer to store your pics, your journal writings, and storage for ideas to use
while in writing your novel in the evenings, etc. I download the camera's storage card from
time to time into my laptop. The camera is then ready for that great shot, just around the
corner, come tomorrow. - Bring your cell phone and CHARGER!!
- Find public libraries along the way to keep up your with your e-mails, worried relatives, and
envious friends, etc. I pay 90% of my bills online (the bills never stop coming, as you know.)
While I am at the library, I line up camping locations for the road ahead. Be sure to note
the phone number of the campsite, and directions to it, etc. Sometimes I get lost, I run late,
or I forget where the H**L I'm going. I am nearing 70 years old...So, I got a good excuse as
to why I get lost at times. Also, while you are at the library, use Google or Mapquest to find
the next city library on your proposed route. - Before leaving home, I've burned a couple dozen of my music favs onto CDs to listen to. I
canonly listen to local radio for short periods of time. You can only take so much of that
local blather, as you prolly know. So, I like to pop in Guns and Roses, Queen, CCR, Van
Morrison, 3-Dog Night and a few other mixed CDs I've burned to sing along to as LOUD as
I want...Yep, I can pull over 'n dance, too, if I'm moved.
On the road...
I usually have a small, slow-cooker doing some chili, beef stew, spaghetti sauce, or some shipwreck
brew, in the center room of the Bus as I drive along. Folks really do look around while at the gas
stations and rest stops....'Ma, where 's that super dinner smell coming from??' You KNOW it is a
good feeling to pull into your evening's campsite with your dinner ready to eat!! I try to limit my
daily drive to between 200 to 300 miles per day when on a long term camping drive. This is a
distance that is easiest on me and the Bus. You get to your campsite early, you're rested, and you
enjoy your daily drive. You'll find setting up your campsite much easier in the light of day while
at the new and strange campground. Many drives are worth retracing the very same day, BTW. I
drove the Highway to the Sun, in Glacier National Park, and drove across beautiful Smoky Mt.
National Park at least 3 times the first time I passed through those awesome places. I spent hours
backtracking along Virginia's Skyline Drive while checking that area out. Not to mention, North-
Eastern USA with the great fall foliage scenes found there. (The tourist guy with his mouth
hangin' open, you know...)
I try to respect my reliable air-cooled 1700cc engine's daily chore of hauling me and all my stuff
around the countryside. So, I go as lite as I can on the gas pedal as I drive, for her sake. You'll
see me rolling along at about 55 mph, no more, no less. Some people take umbrage at my
lacsidasical roaming. But, as John Muir said, "To hell with them. They ain't driving anything as
cool as my bus!' God, please rest John's soul....
My Travels and some Favorite places I've camped through the years:
- Driving East coast from VA, along the Outer Banks of NC, on down to Key West, FL, Then
driving up through the deep South from Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and on into Chicago. - The Ozarks, Arkansas. What can I say...very cool.
- Driving the St. Lawrence Seaway, from Duluth, MN to Montreal, Canada.. (Ferry across
Lake Michigan.) - The foliage of North-Eastern USA and Canada in the autumn. Bar Harbor, ME. Mt
Washington, NH. (Lucked out there, Clear as a bell up there all of that day.) - Driving down the coast from Belfast, ME to Boston, MA.
- Driving the Shanandoah Valley & Skyline Drive during their superior fall foliage display.
- Civil War Battle Fields: Gettysburgh, Fredricksburg, Sharpsburg, and others. (The Pea
Ridge, AR battleground of all places!!) - Those awesome lakes, and all points between Banff and Jasper, Canada. Canada's Waterton
Glacial Park. - Glacier National Park
- Devil's Tower, WY.
- The Little Big Horn River Valley, Montana and Wyoming; The Grand Tetons
- The Black Hills of South Dakota,
- Driving the Pacific Coast Hwy from Oregon to Washington.
- Olympia Penninsula, Washington.
- City of Vancouver, Stanley Park,
- Vancouver Island, Borchart Garden. Riding the only 'FREE' ferry in the world, near Balfour,
Canada
My travel advice, for what it is worth:
You'll need to practice driving with your 'eyes shut'. There are a few places that require that
this trick be mastered. US Highway 2, from Scoby, Montana to Grand Forks, North Dakota.
(OMG.....)And, those 1200 miles of vacant road between Calgary and Regina, Canada. These
stretchs of road would boggle the mind of an average person's mind. Luckily, I'm below
average.... I'd try to drive those lonesome stretches from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM, as they are much
easier going in the dark of the night. Just be aware, the deer and antelope are crossing the road.
These ungulates pay taxes for use of the highway too, I guess.
For your maximum experience and enjoyment stay OFF of the vaunted Interstate highway system!!
The system is OK, really, and parts are somewhat scenic, too. But, the traffic, especially in the
East is atrocious. California is no fun either I hear, though I haven't traveled the state at all. The
Interstates simply can't beat some of our oldest highways. The East coast's US 17, or the
northern tier, US 12, or our National Highway, US 40 from New York City to San Fran.. And yes,
there is always ancient, US 66, for the bestest of travel! But then, if you don't care if you see
anything of note, or care to meet anyone of character... be our guest on our great Eisenhower
National Highway system.
My camping advice:
I always try to camp at our State parks and in Canada's Provincial Parks. These parks are
beautiful and well kept. The restrooms are clean, often with clean showers with hot water. The
campsites are relatively inexpensive, and have a variety of electrical hookups for your van. The
campground hosts are very helpful and friendly. Your host can usually give you some insight in
what there is to see and do in their particular area. Federal Campgrounds are a bit more rustic.
Though located in the beauty of our nation, they usually lack showers. Damn... You can make most
reservations for these government campsites online.
If you can't find a Gov campsite, KOA is my next choice for good camping. Slightly higher fees,
of course, but they are kept clean and the showers have hot water. You can purchase a packet of
KOA coupons and get a discount at their camps across the USA.
Some of the best camps I've been in:
- Indiana Dunes State Park. (Located a bit East of Gary, Indiana on Lake Michigan.....BEST in
show!) - Turkey Run State Park, located in western Indiana
- St Croix State Campground. East of Hudson, WI a bit.
- All of the Upstate New York State Campgrounds...beautiful.
- Every one of the Canadian Provincial campgrounds are excellent. (Though, many have pay
shower stalls. A shame....)
Actually, I haven't had many bad experiences as far as campgrounds go. The list above are just
the more memorable ones for me and my Bus. Store all your food inside your camper when
out in the wilds of North America!! Keep your campsite clean and your trash picked up.
Wild animals will surely skip over the barren pickings you leave for them.
Protection:
I've never come across an occasion for the need for a gun. I was appalled to read that there was a
need to pack any firearm, as mentioned by a few of the folks posting here. I'd no doubt scare the
bejesus outta myself with something like a gun in the Volkswagen with me. I can't hit the
broadside of a barn anyway... Whomever wants anything I own, is welcome to it. Everything you
possess can be replaced later on during your 'I'm still alive' existence. Sadly, a good friend of
mine was killed in a Western campground by a trigger happy camper one summer evening a few
years ago. Trauma for at least two families happened in that instant.... So, if I'm able and God
willing, I'll walk home from wherever I am marooned.
Having your 'dawg' riding with you along the way is a definite protective help. He is a much
better idea then carrying a weapon. He is much, much better company then a dumb-ass firearm,
too. Be sure your dog is calm around kids and other campers. Please, don't bring a nightly barker
along!! If the dog is a barker, get a 'bark training collar' on him during the evenings and nights.
Mechanics:
I 'baby' my Volkswagen to the point of a fetish!! Brings tears to your eyes. I especially baby the
engine, using copious numbers of oil changes. Those are mandatory for your little guy. Clean oil
keeps the fellow running nice and cool. Dirty oil is the killer of those #3 cylinder valves. Check
the engine oil level before you start the engine every morning! Never fail to do this. Do not
overfill the engine oil. This mistake can blow the engine's oil seals. Everyone will know where
you've been. (They be followin' your oil streaks all over America.) Before I take off on any trip
I set the valve clearances by the book. The valve clearance setting operation only takes about 20
to 30 minutes. With a little practice, you get onto how they are set. These few minutes spent
setting the valve clearances set right, certainly beats standing alongside the road with a spiritless
Bus. Later, you'll be spending $400 to $500 to have your engine dropped to fix the bent valve.
(Probably by some guy who doesn't know a VW engine from page 12.) A couple of days before
departure, I thoroughly clean the oil screen, change the oil, and oil filter. I wipe those engine
cooling fins on the engine clean. I wipe down, cleaning, all the cooling tin work surfaces around the
engine. I check the points for gap and dwell... I check the tires and tire pressures. Setting
pressures according to the pressure specs stamped on the decal found inside of the fuel cover
flap. The engine in my Bus has well over 180,000 miles on it now. I dropped a valve over in Ohio,
5 or 6 years ago. But, that's the onliest trouble I've ever had. KNOCK ON WOOD... I, and the
Bus, struggled into Cambridge, OH that afternoon with 'zippo' power. Coughing, stuttering, and
hiccupping...My GOD, the little pancake engine just wouldn't give it up! I made a call to AAA
insurance... My AAA Plus coverage sent a tow truck out to haul us over to an AIR Cooled website
approved garage for a valve repair job. A flatbed hauler is the best way to go though, if you need
a tow, as a few folks have mentioned here. So, be sure you should spend the trivial amount of
money to get the AAA Plus benefit..
Good luck in your travels. I hope you enjoy your trips as much as I have enjoyed the miles spent in
my Bus through the years. Get out of your Bus and smell the roses along the way!! Remember,
those "Blue Highways" are the only way to go!
Dollar Bill
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Dollar Bill on the Yahoo vwvanfulltimers
group. He was responding to a question from
a member on how to prepare for a road trip.
While this advice is specific to Volkswagen
vans, it is very worthwhile reading to anyone,
with any vehicle, getting ready for a trip.
Anyone vandwelling (or even considering it)
in a Volkswagen van should go and join vwvan
fulltimers today. Click Here:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VWVAN
FULLTIMERS/
group. He was responding to a question from
a member on how to prepare for a road trip.
While this advice is specific to Volkswagen
vans, it is very worthwhile reading to anyone,
with any vehicle, getting ready for a trip.
Anyone vandwelling (or even considering it)
in a Volkswagen van should go and join vwvan
fulltimers today. Click Here:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VWVAN
FULLTIMERS/
