I definitely appreciate this kind of video. Like you mentioned, knowing your vehicle because you are the one who works on it is a big plus when you need to do repairs on the side of the road. Right now we have a plastic bin that holds our extras and tools, but finding a better storage solution is part of the plan. We carry a Garmin InReach Mini to help reduce the anxiety when traveling. With the InReach, if we break down out of cell range and can't fix the problem, at least we know we can contact someone and tell them where we are located.
The InReach is a cool technology. I looked at getting one when I was doing some dualsport motorcycle riding and would get deep in the middle of nowhere by myself. Luckily I never had an issue but as you said, it is reassuring to have it there if you need it. nate
Always a good idea to have spare parts with you, even if you can't always do the work yourself. Some of these parts are getting hard to come by and having it on hand speeds up the process. nate
My syncro had very mild issues idling and would die on occasion. I went to install that TT tuning chip in the ecu and discovered a part of the circuit burnt up in there. Replaced it and never had an issue idling since. Never overlook that dang ECU!
For sure. These old electronics can burn up or break solder joints. That’s why we keep a spare working ECU with us at all times. Glad you got it sorted! Nate
Hi, your video is just what I was looking for. I too have a 1988 Westy identical to yours. Has been in our family since new. I had purchased it from my dad 15 years ago and have been using it sparingly while I replace and upgrade items that other owners have pointed out could be potential problems while on the road. I had been making a list of spare parts to take with me and never would have thought of a spare ECU. I consider myself lucky to be an owner of this Westy and am lucky to have a daughter that shares the same passion. When she was younger she used to go away for weekend trips with her grandparents in this vehicle and now she uses it as much as I do. I am a couple of years away from retiring, and the plan for me is to travel cross country (Canada in the summer and through to Arizona ,Nevada, and New Mexico area in the summer. How was it that you guys chose a Westy for your travels? Look forward to more of your videos. Seems like most of the other an travelers that started in Westies have all acquired other types of vehicles and really aren't of interest to me. Keep it up. Safe travels and great adventures.
Love your story about your Vanagon! I hope one day that one of our kids will want to take ownership of our Westy and continue to take it out on adventures. Our twins have grown up camping in it and it is very special to them. I have been working on VW's for 30 years and we used to take our trips in a VW Eurovan for a long time before we decided we wanted to get a bit further off road and we picked up the Westy in 2015. So it has always been VW's for us. Glad you are looking at spares and tools as it is important if you want have some security when on a road trip. Lot's of good used parts on theSamba or toss in your old good part after you upgrade Take care! nate
I have a similar story, with a 1988 Vanagon that my mother purchased and then I bought it from her in '96. Only now, I am embarrassed to say, 26 years later, have I started to actually do work on the van myself. I'm beginning what is probably a one or two-year process to prepare for doing a similar travel plan to you - working from Nova Scotia down to New Mexico and Arizona for some cycling in the winter. Have you started doing that yet? I'm curious to know how it's all working out.
I carry a spare accelerator cable. Water from the on board tank will get you to the next auto parts store. No need for an entire gallon of anti-freeze. You will repair any problem that caused coolant loss when you get home anyway. Replace the 4-square lug wrench with a 1/2" drive breaker bar and 19mm impact grade socket to save space. I also have a lithium 12vdc battery pack for charging USB stuff AND, if necessary, jump the main battery. 12' tow strap with hooks, rope or line, air pressure gauge, wheel chock, fuses and more. If I were the video guy I would place the fuel pressure regulator in a zip-lock bags as most other parts are.
Thanks for the great video. I now need to think on this as we have a Subaru-powered rig, and may not go way out of cell phone range right away. So, now to figure out the starter set... Thanks for the ideas. Oj, and I can't believe you can fit that large a crate in the location where the spare was. That's wild.
That was superb - thanks for going the effort of doing that Nate. You certainly have a lot of stuff but as you say, no mobile-phone coverage means you are on your own in a potentially dangerous situation. Here in England you can generally walk 10mins to a corner shop if you break down! Our list of spares is tiny but covers what our recovery service might not do or we can do ourselves: we have a carb cleaning kit, alternator belt, coolant (concentrated), oil, socket set, Mole wrench, adjustable spanner (crescent wrench), a kit of tiny Allen sockets/ screwdriver bits, gaffa tape, electrical tape, snow-cable ties (cheap chains) and fuses. And Waxoyl and Fertan - no really! Got to keep rust-proofing, even on the road... Mainly we make sure we have people-related stuff like spare food, blankets, water, big First Aid kit and lots and lots and lots of childrens' stuff ie bucket-and-spade (do you have those in Canada?), kite, bat and ball set, colouring books etc! All the essentials whilst we wait for the AA! We will get some of those clamps - superb. Oh yes - we have many spare Jubilee clips for hoses: v important those. And jump-leads. More of those videos please and perhaps video some maintenance or repairs? 'Liked' as usual.
Sounds like you've got a good kit sorted for your van! We try and be as self sufficient as possible as we do travel to some pretty remote places here in the US and we can be many hours away from help. Will be doing a manual transmission oil change here in the next few weeks. Take care! nate
Totally understand the perceived overkill on tools and parts! I'm right there with you. With my 67 Westy, I always carried an extra generator belt, clutch cable, oil, limited specific sockets, and flat blade screwdriver. But now that I drive a 27-year-old Mitsubishi Delica, I have a whole box of metric tools (very extensive), and gobs of other tools, and a whole box of OEM spare parts.
If we just stuck with paved roads that had cell service and camped in campgrounds, we wouldn't carry as many parts and tools. But since we like to venture far off into nowhere, it is comforting that we feel we can fix most things that might go wrong. Nice grab on the Delica, great vans! nate
Great video, I have about half the amount of spares however don't tend to travel too far from home. Also I like how your tailgate makes the same sound as mine :)
Personally I’m more of a fair weather camper and don’t think I’d be so far off the beaten path that I couldn’t get help. But I completely agree that having the more exotic parts (at least the small and harder to come by ones) is a good idea. The known good ignition switch, ecu, unique hoses - even if you are towed to a local mechanic it will save you days to have the part. I have had the fuel pump go bad mid trip, easy fix if you got one. But the other thing I’ve had go bad which you did not mention was the alternator, that doesn’t stop you dead but your range is quite limited. And besides the ECU and coil are there any electric components, relays?
I just replaced the alternator last year due to a bad bearing so I am pretty confident it is good to go for awhile. Worst case I think we could combine our starter and house batteries and get somewhere to get it replaced. I have a spare fuel injection relay which can be used in several places and of course fuses as well. nate
Great ideas on what to carry, have a 81 air cooled for last five years the motor froze up on a trip to Mammoth Ca, could not fix that, last month a trip to visit kids in Reno the coil went bad, nope didn't have extra coil. Great VW mechanic in Bishop, had to overnight a new coil but finished the trip.
Glad you were able to finish up your trip. Sometimes break downs can bring about new adventure but I would rather be able to have the part on hand if possible as these old vehicles are getting harder to source parts for. Thanks for watching! nate
Few things I carry that were not in the list is a complete cv axle ready to bolt on, a 3 ft length of corrugated 1 1/4" radiator hose depending on year of van, a few feet of 5/8 heater hose, few feet of fuel line and a bunch of various hose clamps and barbs.
Good ideas. I usually keep a spare cv joint in my kit but during the video, I noticed it was not in there. A full axle is a good idea as well. I like the idea of the corrugated hose, I will look into that. Thanks! nate
Great video, I tend to carry lots of spares as well but I'm always considering adding more. Question: Do you actually run DexCool in your Camper? I've heard so many horror stories about it and personally witnessed issues with cars that use it. Please keep uploading this kind of useful information for all us Vanagoons...lol
We keep a temp II sensor on board but not the Hall. We replaced our distributor when we rebuilt the engine but it might be a good idea to keep a spare Hall in the kit. Thanks! nate
I've had CV joints come apart on 2 occasions...now keep a complete spare and grease to swap out. Seems a good idea to pay the bucks for good CV's cause the less expensive ones can strand you without notice😡
Hi Chris. The lights are from Amazon and I tapped into a constant 12V source in the engine compartment so I can turn them on anytime. Here are the lights: amzn.to/3lHEBLJ nate
This was a great video! Thanks for it - as a new owner (well, my GF technically owns it), I have been enjoying the tinkering and hacks videos. The Westy we bought has a rear spare installed, so I was just FLOORED by the clamshell under the front. However, I went and bought a 7 inch deep storage bin like you you have, but cannot seem to make it work as it keeps hitting different things underneath the front of the camper and will not close without really forcing it - which I do not want to do. Is there something I am missing? It looks like it works very easily for you and the bin I bought looks at least close to yours. Ideas? Thanks again for all the great ideas!
@@ThatBaldwinLife I actually found one that worked, and for others looking - the "Container Store" has something called a "boot box" that is about 6 inches tall. That is the key. 7 inches is about the most you can fit under there.
I'm looking forward to adapt a 911T to a Vanagon I saw one with a different sound, and asked the guy what's in there; he said it's a Porsche engine; guess I'll need more power than the regular engine
Another fantastic video, & I love with what you carry. I always believe in Murphy’s law, & it will break down when your not expecting it. That’s a great idea with the old tire under the front. I’m going to put a grey tank there as is Australia we need to have a grey tank attached to the vehicle if not you can’t stay in some government reserves. Keep the videos up as there fantastic 👍👍
Thanks Stephen. The grey water tank up there is a good idea. We have thought about putting in a grey water tank as well. We do not camp in campgrounds much but when we do, it is a bit weird that our sink water just drains on the ground. We use biodegradable soap so we are not worried about contamination but people look at us funny. nate
From experience, I know you can't have too many spares or tools with you when driving an old vehicle to remote places. My tools include a 46mm 3/4 drive socket and breaker bar. Not all service stations have those large sockets as part of their inventory to assist in replacing rear wheel bearings.
Very true. We now keep the 46mm socket and 3/4" breaker bar in our kit. I didn't have either of those prior to replacing our rear bearings so now they live under our back seat just in case. Spare bearings as well nate
I thought 1 spare ignition switch was enough ;) The only thing that has put me on the side of the road (2 events, years apart, different vans) was the fuel pump.
Yeah the used switch was my old one after I replaced it and the new one was the one the guy from Descend replaced for me. I usually don't carry two :) nate
Jesus these vans must brake down a lot 😳 I'm from Ireland and was thinking about getting this model van in the future , I've no knowledge mechanical stuff , maybe I shouldn't get one 😢 Anyhow love your videos , very interesting and very informative 👍
Not anymore than any other 34 year old vehicle that is used for camping and remote exploring. We just like to be prepared as we travel without cell phone service quite a bit and like to be able to fix what is needed on our own. Peace of mind. I would say anyone who wants to drive an old vehicle (any brand) should have mechanical knowledge to fix what is needed on the road. Thanks for watching Sean! nate
I would say, if you're not mechanically inclined, you'd better have deep pockets, cause they do need meticulous upkeep. But that's part of the adventure sometimes👍
Awesome vid. Big help for folks. You got what you need but you may dig this ratchet/driver set I just threw in my Subaru. Fuggin love the thing. Can tear down anything in there except the engine with this one set. Do an amazon search for "Wera 056490 Tool-Check Plus"... It ain't particularly cheap but I've two other precision driver sets of theirs for a few years that I absolutely loved, saw this thing and bought it on a whim. I might buy another to chuck in my wife's car. Wera 056490 Tool-Check Plus
Yeah it is a lot but we go to some pretty remote places and having the ability to fix it yourself is important. But we hope we never need the spares! nate
I like the way a vanagon, & eurovan looks from the 80's, & 90's, but are they that unreliable... I got to 4 minutes in the video thinking after spending 20k for one that I couldn't work enough to keep one running.
No they are not that unreliable. We travel pretty far off the main roads with no cell service most of the time and want to be prepared for whatever could happen. If you stick with mostly to areas with service, there is not much you need to bring. Remember these are still 34 year old German vehicles and will need some extra attention. Thanks for watching! nate
AFM, CV joints, fuel pump, all (under normal circumstance) DO NOT fail catastrophically, so no sense to carry that stuff. I can drive without brakes or clutch so no sense in carrying anything brake/clutch related. There are several other hoses you should carry. Most important part you missed is a distributor. The hall sensor in the distributor, can stop your engine dead. Like the ECU buy a spare. This is a warning to you and everyone out there. The location of the original spare tire is an integral part of the front end collision protection, built into the vanagon. By removing the tire you have less front end protection, in a bad crash.. Carefully examine how the a front end crash will use the tire as a cushion and you will see for yourself...
I respectfully disagree on the fuel pump and AFM. I personally have had fuel pumps just die while driving down the road, no warning. Not on this van but other VW's. My buddy had an AFM that just got worse throughout the day then by the end of the day, the van wouldn't drive far. Luckily he was close to home. Good call on the distributor. I did replace mine during the engine rebuild but a spare hall sender is not a bad idea. I hear ya on the spare but we have larger front brakes and our spare will not fit in there well. We tried. I can't imagine that VW didn't engineer some sort of tolerance in the collision if someone was running the spare with the bad tire in the back. That would be a law suit waiting to happen. Appreciate the feedback and your perspective! nate
I also keep hearing the false narrative without any proof that the spare tire is part of the crash protection system. There's no way any vehicle could be crash certified with a part that is designed to be removed. Logically and legally that makes no sense.
Haha, didn't think of using it for that! We use it for checking hose temp or head temp is something seems off. We don't bring a lot of gear I guess. Our clothes and pillows go in the cabinets along with the food of course. Camp chairs go in the rear with the propane fire pit. Not much else to bring! It is really not that much weight. I am sure w saved half of that by removing the stock propane tank. nate
I have a 86 westy, subie conversion professionally done, owned it for about 20 years, lived in it on and off, recently for two years travelling North America. I remember the days when it used to break down and you learned to have everything just in case. You seem like the type to replace every component, like myself, make it reliable, and then double up , just in case. ... I think that comes from owning it for a while and remembering the old days, but man I thought I was bad.
Definitely. We do our best to keep up on maintenance and replace aging components but sometimes the newer replacement part quality is not so good so you need to have a spare. All part of the adventure! nate
We have a 2.2L WBX motor and 20w50 was recommended from the builder. We noticed lower oil temps with a 15w40 and are very happy with the Rotella T6 in that weight. nate
I'm not mechanically talented. I need to find someone in Southern California who can help me restore.refurbish my 1984 Westy (expensive proposition but maybe I can find just the right person/business) by switching to a Subaru or diesel engine, solar panels with Jackery Explorer 1500, wider tires, lights, etc. to ship to Europe where I will be moving permanently. I welcome your ideas or referrals. Thanks. William
Hi William, I am not familiar with any SoCal builders but if you go on TheSamba.com on the Vanagon page and ask, I am sure you will get some referrals. Take care nate
I don’t see needing that much stuff. These are old vans you don’t wanna take them too far away from home first of all unless it was completely a rebuild at that point it should go for long trips without replacing stuff. 50+ years around VWs
It’s probably overkill. We take our old van on some long, remote trips where we might not see another car for a day or more. No cell service. Most likely no or limited tow service. I have rebuilt most systems on the van. That being said, new parts are not like the old OEM parts that might last 50 years. New sensors sometime last 12 months. Water pumps last a few years (our last German unit lasted 26 months). We take some rough roads that are hard on parts. We like to be self sufficient. I know not all people travel like we do. If you have cell service or don’t venture to remote places, call a tow truck. 35+ years around VW’s 😁 Thanks for the feedback! Nate
That's a crazy amount of hardware to carry. Why do you need that? Having your Westy checked before and after every road trip and serviced when necessary eliminates having to carry so many extra parts. Digifants have largely been rebuilt or restored. There are no bad solder joints if yours has been replaced. The spare tire up front was designed to reduce shock in collisions. The clam shell by itself is not enough. I've had my '88 since '96. Nearly 400k miles on it. I've had a few episodes over the years but nothing that wasn't repairable wherever I was in a couple of days. I don't take long trips hundreds of miles away from any form of life. Being prepared is better than being stuck and you folks like snow.
I totally agree it is a bit out of hand! I did take out the rear main seal after the video was shot :) I do all my own work on the van and do a pre and post check after every trip and try and replace parts/items that are suspect. There are no shops involved in the maintenance of my van. That being said, parts do fail, and I will sacrifice a bit of space and weight for some peace of mind. Our ECU is a used replacement so no guarantees there are no bad solder joints. Point taken on the spare tire situation. We take many long trips that we may be without cell coverage or even see anyone else for a few days and I am stubbornly self sufficient and try and be prepared where I can. Have I gone a bit overboard? For sure and I am rethinking some of the parts that are in there. The extra water pump is next on the list..... Thanks for watching!! nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife I want to apologize. I didn't catch the whole video before I commented. You are entitled to carry whatever you deem necessary. If I had to do it I would likely just tow another Westy on a trailer. Everywhere I went. Or buy 100 and park them around America. I have had the lid off the ECU. It's easy. Check for bad solder joints and fix them if you see them. They were using an 80's vintage 8085 Intel micro for controls.
Yeah repairs on old vehicles can get expensive but way more manageable if you do the work yourself. We would love to have a second Vanagon but our garage is full with the Westy and Nancys 67 Bug. nate
I don't think we have ever said we have a minimalistic idea when it comes to being able to fix your broken vehicle when you are hours from a town with no cell service. Minimalist in terms of consumerism, yes. The entire spare parts bin fits in where the old spare tire was so it does not take up an additional room as that space would be vacant due to our spare relocation. And how silly would we look with another Vanagon on our roof? :) nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife Great video. I think maybe the more you do your own work the more your imagination can start building the worse scenarios! I'm a few notches below your skill level but found this useful and will add a few items to my stash. Just back from 2k mile trip (Seattle to White Mts CA) and that 2.3 WBX keeps running well with no oil use. But you never know
You're exactly who I want to see if I'm broke down on the side of the road hahah. Great video
Thanks! Let’s hope the breakdown doesn’t happen though!
Nate
I definitely appreciate this kind of video. Like you mentioned, knowing your vehicle because you are the one who works on it is a big plus when you need to do repairs on the side of the road. Right now we have a plastic bin that holds our extras and tools, but finding a better storage solution is part of the plan. We carry a Garmin InReach Mini to help reduce the anxiety when traveling. With the InReach, if we break down out of cell range and can't fix the problem, at least we know we can contact someone and tell them where we are located.
The InReach is a cool technology. I looked at getting one when I was doing some dualsport motorcycle riding and would get deep in the middle of nowhere by myself. Luckily I never had an issue but as you said, it is reassuring to have it there if you need it.
nate
Thanks for creating great videos and am starting from scratch building a tool-kit and spare parts cache.
Always a good idea to have spare parts with you, even if you can't always do the work yourself. Some of these parts are getting hard to come by and having it on hand speeds up the process.
nate
My syncro had very mild issues idling and would die on occasion. I went to install that TT tuning chip in the ecu and discovered a part of the circuit burnt up in there. Replaced it and never had an issue idling since. Never overlook that dang ECU!
For sure. These old electronics can burn up or break solder joints. That’s why we keep a spare working ECU with us at all times. Glad you got it sorted!
Nate
I’d love to see someone do a JX Syncro version of this. Great video with some really fantastic information. Thanks!
Thanks!
Nate
Thanks again. I come back to your videos before a long trip.
Glad to hear it! Heading out somewhere cool?
Nate
Southern Utah, Arizona and Colorado from Victoria BC
Love all those places! Sounds like an awesome trip!
nate
Hi, your video is just what I was looking for. I too have a 1988 Westy identical to yours. Has been in our family since new. I had purchased it from my dad 15 years ago and have been using it sparingly while I replace and upgrade items that other owners have pointed out could be potential problems while on the road. I had been making a list of spare parts to take with me and never would have thought of a spare ECU. I consider myself lucky to be an owner of this Westy and am lucky to have a daughter that shares the same passion. When she was younger she used to go away for weekend trips with her grandparents in this vehicle and now she uses it as much as I do. I am a couple of years away from retiring, and the plan for me is to travel cross country (Canada in the summer and through to Arizona ,Nevada, and New Mexico area in the summer. How was it that you guys chose a Westy for your travels? Look forward to more of your videos. Seems like most of the other an travelers that started in Westies have all acquired other types of vehicles and really aren't of interest to me. Keep it up. Safe travels and great adventures.
Love your story about your Vanagon! I hope one day that one of our kids will want to take ownership of our Westy and continue to take it out on adventures. Our twins have grown up camping in it and it is very special to them.
I have been working on VW's for 30 years and we used to take our trips in a VW Eurovan for a long time before we decided we wanted to get a bit further off road and we picked up the Westy in 2015. So it has always been VW's for us.
Glad you are looking at spares and tools as it is important if you want have some security when on a road trip. Lot's of good used parts on theSamba or toss in your old good part after you upgrade
Take care!
nate
I have a similar story, with a 1988 Vanagon that my mother purchased and then I bought it from her in '96. Only now, I am embarrassed to say, 26 years later, have I started to actually do work on the van myself. I'm beginning what is probably a one or two-year process to prepare for doing a similar travel plan to you - working from Nova Scotia down to New Mexico and Arizona for some cycling in the winter. Have you started doing that yet? I'm curious to know how it's all working out.
@@mathewwelsh9129 we're close to retiring & plan on traveling for a few years in the westy.
Nancy Baldwin
I carry a spare accelerator cable. Water from the on board tank will get you to the next auto parts store. No need for an entire gallon of anti-freeze. You will repair any problem that caused coolant loss when you get home anyway. Replace the 4-square lug wrench with a 1/2" drive breaker bar and 19mm impact grade socket to save space. I also have a lithium 12vdc battery pack for charging USB stuff AND, if necessary, jump the main battery. 12' tow strap with hooks, rope or line, air pressure gauge, wheel chock, fuses and more. If I were the video guy I would place the fuel pressure regulator in a zip-lock bags as most other parts are.
Nice video. I've had a couple alternators go out, so I carry a spare voltage regulator.
Good tip!
I just got my first Vanagon (Early model '85 GL) and this was exactly what I wanted to put together. Thank you for sharing this video.
Glad it helped!
nate
Thanks for the great video. I now need to think on this as we have a Subaru-powered rig, and may not go way out of cell phone range right away. So, now to figure out the starter set... Thanks for the ideas. Oj, and I can't believe you can fit that large a crate in the location where the spare was. That's wild.
Yeah the spare parts bin fits great up there and holds a ton of stuff!!
Nate
I dont have a T25 yet, but watching your videosmakes me feel ill be prpared to use it when i do.
I do however, have a classis bug, yours is cool as.👍
Hope you can track a good one down and take it on some adventures! In the meantime, enjoy that Bug!
nate
@ThatBaldwinLife haha, thanks. We just put an offer on a aussie 89 camper.👍 will do...
That was superb - thanks for going the effort of doing that Nate. You certainly have a lot of stuff but as you say, no mobile-phone coverage means you are on your own in a potentially dangerous situation. Here in England you can generally walk 10mins to a corner shop if you break down! Our list of spares is tiny but covers what our recovery service might not do or we can do ourselves: we have a carb cleaning kit, alternator belt, coolant (concentrated), oil, socket set, Mole wrench, adjustable spanner (crescent wrench), a kit of tiny Allen sockets/ screwdriver bits, gaffa tape, electrical tape, snow-cable ties (cheap chains) and fuses. And Waxoyl and Fertan - no really! Got to keep rust-proofing, even on the road...
Mainly we make sure we have people-related stuff like spare food, blankets, water, big First Aid kit and lots and lots and lots of childrens' stuff ie bucket-and-spade (do you have those in Canada?), kite, bat and ball set, colouring books etc! All the essentials whilst we wait for the AA!
We will get some of those clamps - superb. Oh yes - we have many spare Jubilee clips for hoses: v important those. And jump-leads.
More of those videos please and perhaps video some maintenance or repairs? 'Liked' as usual.
Sounds like you've got a good kit sorted for your van! We try and be as self sufficient as possible as we do travel to some pretty remote places here in the US and we can be many hours away from help. Will be doing a manual transmission oil change here in the next few weeks.
Take care!
nate
Totally understand the perceived overkill on tools and parts! I'm right there with you. With my 67 Westy, I always carried an extra generator belt, clutch cable, oil, limited specific sockets, and flat blade screwdriver. But now that I drive a 27-year-old Mitsubishi Delica, I have a whole box of metric tools (very extensive), and gobs of other tools, and a whole box of OEM spare parts.
If we just stuck with paved roads that had cell service and camped in campgrounds, we wouldn't carry as many parts and tools. But since we like to venture far off into nowhere, it is comforting that we feel we can fix most things that might go wrong.
Nice grab on the Delica, great vans!
nate
Great video, I have about half the amount of spares however don't tend to travel too far from home. Also I like how your tailgate makes the same sound as mine :)
Thanks! Glad you have some and are thinking of being self sufficient. I thought they all made that noise? :)
nate
Personally I’m more of a fair weather camper and don’t think I’d be so far off the beaten path that I couldn’t get help. But I completely agree that having the more exotic parts (at least the small and harder to come by ones) is a good idea. The known good ignition switch, ecu, unique hoses - even if you are towed to a local mechanic it will save you days to have the part.
I have had the fuel pump go bad mid trip, easy fix if you got one. But the other thing I’ve had go bad which you did not mention was the alternator, that doesn’t stop you dead but your range is quite limited. And besides the ECU and coil are there any electric components, relays?
I just replaced the alternator last year due to a bad bearing so I am pretty confident it is good to go for awhile. Worst case I think we could combine our starter and house batteries and get somewhere to get it replaced.
I have a spare fuel injection relay which can be used in several places and of course fuses as well.
nate
Great ideas on what to carry, have a 81 air cooled for last five years the motor froze up on a trip to Mammoth Ca, could not fix that, last month a trip to visit kids in Reno the coil went bad, nope didn't have extra coil. Great VW mechanic in Bishop, had to overnight a new coil but finished the trip.
Glad you were able to finish up your trip. Sometimes break downs can bring about new adventure but I would rather be able to have the part on hand if possible as these old vehicles are getting harder to source parts for. Thanks for watching!
nate
Few things I carry that were not in the list is a complete cv axle ready to bolt on, a 3 ft length of corrugated 1 1/4" radiator hose depending on year of van, a few feet of 5/8 heater hose, few feet of fuel line and a bunch of various hose clamps and barbs.
Good ideas. I usually keep a spare cv joint in my kit but during the video, I noticed it was not in there. A full axle is a good idea as well. I like the idea of the corrugated hose, I will look into that.
Thanks!
nate
Great video, I tend to carry lots of spares as well but I'm always considering adding more. Question: Do you actually run DexCool in your Camper? I've heard so many horror stories about it and personally witnessed issues with cars that use it. Please keep uploading this kind of useful information for all us Vanagoons...lol
We have run Dexcool for years with no issues. Always looks orange when we drain it. What issues have you seen?
nate
Hall sensor for the distributor and the Temp II sensor. Right up there with the ECU and air flow meter as far as failure rates.
We keep a temp II sensor on board but not the Hall. We replaced our distributor when we rebuilt the engine but it might be a good idea to keep a spare Hall in the kit. Thanks!
nate
I've had CV joints come apart on 2 occasions...now keep a complete spare and grease to swap out.
Seems a good idea to pay the bucks for good CV's cause the less expensive ones can strand you without notice😡
Yeah I try and only use very good used OEM joints if I can find them but did have to swap one out for a Lobro. Seems to be of ok quality so far.
nate
Hi there - great video - - where did you get those lights over engine compartment!?
Hi Chris. The lights are from Amazon and I tapped into a constant 12V source in the engine compartment so I can turn them on anytime. Here are the lights:
amzn.to/3lHEBLJ
nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife Thank you! Big fan and get a lot of tips from you guys - keep it up
Thanks!
Man iv been needing to see this video for too long
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
nate
This was a great video! Thanks for it - as a new owner (well, my GF technically owns it), I have been enjoying the tinkering and hacks videos. The Westy we bought has a rear spare installed, so I was just FLOORED by the clamshell under the front. However, I went and bought a 7 inch deep storage bin like you you have, but cannot seem to make it work as it keeps hitting different things underneath the front of the camper and will not close without really forcing it - which I do not want to do. Is there something I am missing? It looks like it works very easily for you and the bin I bought looks at least close to yours. Ideas? Thanks again for all the great ideas!
Hmm not sure. I will try and get some measurements on mine but it is close to hitting the shifter box and coolant hoses but just misses them
@@ThatBaldwinLife I actually found one that worked, and for others looking - the "Container Store" has something called a "boot box" that is about 6 inches tall. That is the key. 7 inches is about the most you can fit under there.
I'm looking forward to adapt a 911T to a Vanagon I saw one with a different sound, and asked the guy what's in there; he said it's a Porsche engine; guess I'll need more power than the regular engine
informative. Thanks for looking out.
You bet!
GREAT video!!!! Awesome job! Happy Travels, Friend!
Thanks bud!
nate
Another fantastic video, & I love with what you carry.
I always believe in Murphy’s law, & it will break down when your not expecting it.
That’s a great idea with the old tire under the front.
I’m going to put a grey tank there as is Australia we need to have a grey tank attached to the vehicle if not you can’t stay in some government reserves.
Keep the videos up as there fantastic 👍👍
Thanks Stephen. The grey water tank up there is a good idea. We have thought about putting in a grey water tank as well. We do not camp in campgrounds much but when we do, it is a bit weird that our sink water just drains on the ground. We use biodegradable soap so we are not worried about contamination but people look at us funny.
nate
From experience, I know you can't have too many spares or tools with you when driving an old vehicle to remote places. My tools include a 46mm 3/4 drive socket and breaker bar. Not all service stations have those large sockets as part of their inventory to assist in replacing rear wheel bearings.
Very true. We now keep the 46mm socket and 3/4" breaker bar in our kit. I didn't have either of those prior to replacing our rear bearings so now they live under our back seat just in case. Spare bearings as well
nate
I thought 1 spare ignition switch was enough ;) The only thing that has put me on the side of the road (2 events, years apart, different vans) was the fuel pump.
Yeah the used switch was my old one after I replaced it and the new one was the one the guy from Descend replaced for me. I usually don't carry two :)
nate
I know this is an old video but a spare alternator is a must
We keep a spare voltage regulator with us. The odds of the windings or bearings failing is very low.
nate
Very helpful. Thank you
You’re welcome!
Nate
Jesus these vans must brake down a lot 😳
I'm from Ireland and was thinking about getting this model van in the future , I've no knowledge mechanical stuff , maybe I shouldn't get one 😢
Anyhow love your videos , very interesting and very informative 👍
Not anymore than any other 34 year old vehicle that is used for camping and remote exploring. We just like to be prepared as we travel without cell phone service quite a bit and like to be able to fix what is needed on our own. Peace of mind. I would say anyone who wants to drive an old vehicle (any brand) should have mechanical knowledge to fix what is needed on the road.
Thanks for watching Sean!
nate
I would say, if you're not mechanically inclined, you'd better have deep pockets, cause they do need meticulous upkeep. But that's part of the adventure sometimes👍
Hi, Question what is the manufacture of your awning and what size is it 8’ or 10’.. Thanks
Hey Mike, that awning is an 8’ Carefree Colorado awning. We have since sold it and now have a 10’ Fiamma F45S
Nate
Probably would be useful to have tie wire and zip ties, both are great for temporary repairs
For sure! We definitely have those with us!!
Nate
can you do a vid about your engine? love to see it!
We plan on doing an entire van walkthrough soon and I will be going over the details of our engine.
Thanks for tuning in!
nate
What ladder to you have there w/ the extra fuel tank?
I built the ladder on the back of the van as the other options were too expensive!
nate
I see two types of Bentley manual, yours and a just green cover. What are the difference? Somebody knows? Thanks!!
Not sure, I have only seen the green ones?
nate
Where did you get your interior lights that’s above the engine bay?
They are from Amazon. There is a link to the lights in the Waterboxer engine video
Nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife ty
Awesome vid. Big help for folks. You got what you need but you may dig this ratchet/driver set I just threw in my Subaru. Fuggin love the thing. Can tear down anything in there except the engine with this one set. Do an amazon search for "Wera 056490 Tool-Check Plus"... It ain't particularly cheap but I've two other precision driver sets of theirs for a few years that I absolutely loved, saw this thing and bought it on a whim. I might buy another to chuck in my wife's car.
Wera 056490 Tool-Check Plus
That is a handy little set! Can even wear it on your belt! :)
Thanks for watching!!
nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife Zacktly. :) Thing is pint-sized but really well made. Cheers man.
I have a '91 diesel Vanagon, is the ECU something you only need for gasoline-fueled vehicles?
If you have an ECU on your diesel, then it is something that I would carry in the van if I was traveling to remote places.
nate
LOL, i think you should look into mobile repairs.... not sure what your missing, so much stuff
Yeah it is a lot but we go to some pretty remote places and having the ability to fix it yourself is important. But we hope we never need the spares!
nate
That's not a lot of stuff, you could even add to that a little. You are smart man to be prepared.
Thanks!
I like the way a vanagon, & eurovan looks from the 80's, & 90's, but are they that unreliable...
I got to 4 minutes in the video thinking after spending 20k for one that I couldn't work enough to keep one running.
No they are not that unreliable. We travel pretty far off the main roads with no cell service most of the time and want to be prepared for whatever could happen. If you stick with mostly to areas with service, there is not much you need to bring. Remember these are still 34 year old German vehicles and will need some extra attention.
Thanks for watching!
nate
Another spare MF Vanagon with a tow hitch would be nice...
AFM, CV joints, fuel pump, all (under normal circumstance) DO NOT fail catastrophically, so no sense to carry that stuff. I can drive without brakes or clutch so no sense in carrying anything brake/clutch related. There are several other hoses you should carry. Most important part you missed is a distributor. The hall sensor in the distributor, can stop your engine dead. Like the ECU buy a spare.
This is a warning to you and everyone out there. The location of the original spare tire is an integral part of the front end collision protection,
built into the vanagon. By removing the tire you have less front end protection, in a bad crash.. Carefully examine how the a front end crash will use the tire as a cushion and you will see for yourself...
I respectfully disagree on the fuel pump and AFM. I personally have had fuel pumps just die while driving down the road, no warning. Not on this van but other VW's. My buddy had an AFM that just got worse throughout the day then by the end of the day, the van wouldn't drive far. Luckily he was close to home. Good call on the distributor. I did replace mine during the engine rebuild but a spare hall sender is not a bad idea.
I hear ya on the spare but we have larger front brakes and our spare will not fit in there well. We tried. I can't imagine that VW didn't engineer some sort of tolerance in the collision if someone was running the spare with the bad tire in the back. That would be a law suit waiting to happen.
Appreciate the feedback and your perspective!
nate
I also keep hearing the false narrative without any proof that the spare tire is part of the crash protection system. There's no way any vehicle could be crash certified with a part that is designed to be removed. Logically and legally that makes no sense.
@@ravenm. it does not make sense what if you get a flat the have a collusion
Temperature gun lol, covid ready...lotta tools, lotta weight and space, where do you put your gear when travelling
Haha, didn't think of using it for that! We use it for checking hose temp or head temp is something seems off. We don't bring a lot of gear I guess. Our clothes and pillows go in the cabinets along with the food of course. Camp chairs go in the rear with the propane fire pit. Not much else to bring! It is really not that much weight. I am sure w saved half of that by removing the stock propane tank.
nate
I have a 86 westy, subie conversion professionally done, owned it for about 20 years, lived in it on and off, recently for two years travelling North America. I remember the days when it used to break down and you learned to have everything just in case. You seem like the type to replace every component, like myself, make it reliable, and then double up , just in case. ... I think that comes from owning it for a while and remembering the old days, but man I thought I was bad.
Definitely. We do our best to keep up on maintenance and replace aging components but sometimes the newer replacement part quality is not so good so you need to have a spare. All part of the adventure!
nate
15W40? you have 1,2HTP from FABIA???! 5W40 or 5W60 its ideal
We have a 2.2L WBX motor and 20w50 was recommended from the builder. We noticed lower oil temps with a 15w40 and are very happy with the Rotella T6 in that weight.
nate
You’re probably like me in the way of its better to have and not need rather than needing and not having it
For sure, especially for small items like this. Thanks for watching.
nate
Like.
Thanks!
Nate
I'm not mechanically talented. I need to find someone in Southern California who can help me restore.refurbish my 1984 Westy (expensive proposition but maybe I can find just the right person/business) by switching to a Subaru or diesel engine, solar panels with Jackery Explorer 1500, wider tires, lights, etc. to ship to Europe where I will be moving permanently. I welcome your ideas or referrals. Thanks. William
Hi William, I am not familiar with any SoCal builders but if you go on TheSamba.com on the Vanagon page and ask, I am sure you will get some referrals.
Take care
nate
I don’t see needing that much stuff. These are old vans you don’t wanna take them too far away from home first of all unless it was completely a rebuild at that point it should go for long trips without replacing stuff. 50+ years around VWs
It’s probably overkill. We take our old van on some long, remote trips where we might not see another car for a day or more. No cell service. Most likely no or limited tow service. I have rebuilt most systems on the van. That being said, new parts are not like the old OEM parts that might last 50 years. New sensors sometime last 12 months. Water pumps last a few years (our last German unit lasted 26 months). We take some rough roads that are hard on parts. We like to be self sufficient.
I know not all people travel like we do. If you have cell service or don’t venture to remote places, call a tow truck.
35+ years around VW’s 😁
Thanks for the feedback!
Nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife Can’t beat piece of mind! I just picked up 85 Westfalia got me thinking now…
Haha! Build that '85 into a van capable of extended, remote travel!!
nate
That's a crazy amount of hardware to carry. Why do you need that? Having your Westy checked before and after every road trip and serviced when necessary eliminates having to carry so many extra parts. Digifants have largely been rebuilt or restored. There are no bad solder joints if yours has been replaced. The spare tire up front was designed to reduce shock in collisions. The clam shell by itself is not enough. I've had my '88 since '96. Nearly 400k miles on it. I've had a few episodes over the years but nothing that wasn't repairable wherever I was in a couple of days. I don't take long trips hundreds of miles away from any form of life. Being prepared is better than being stuck and you folks like snow.
I totally agree it is a bit out of hand! I did take out the rear main seal after the video was shot :)
I do all my own work on the van and do a pre and post check after every trip and try and replace parts/items that are suspect. There are no shops involved in the maintenance of my van. That being said, parts do fail, and I will sacrifice a bit of space and weight for some peace of mind. Our ECU is a used replacement so no guarantees there are no bad solder joints.
Point taken on the spare tire situation.
We take many long trips that we may be without cell coverage or even see anyone else for a few days and I am stubbornly self sufficient and try and be prepared where I can. Have I gone a bit overboard? For sure and I am rethinking some of the parts that are in there. The extra water pump is next on the list.....
Thanks for watching!!
nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife I want to apologize. I didn't catch the whole video before I commented. You are entitled to carry whatever you deem necessary. If I had to do it I would likely just tow another Westy on a trailer. Everywhere I went. Or buy 100 and park them around America. I have had the lid off the ECU. It's easy. Check for bad solder joints and fix them if you see them. They were using an 80's vintage 8085 Intel micro for controls.
If you own one always have at least $1500 in your account. I own two, I know.
Yeah repairs on old vehicles can get expensive but way more manageable if you do the work yourself. We would love to have a second Vanagon but our garage is full with the Westy and Nancys 67 Bug.
nate
That doesn't exactly fit the minimalistic idea why don't you put just an extra van on top of your roof ?
I don't think we have ever said we have a minimalistic idea when it comes to being able to fix your broken vehicle when you are hours from a town with no cell service. Minimalist in terms of consumerism, yes. The entire spare parts bin fits in where the old spare tire was so it does not take up an additional room as that space would be vacant due to our spare relocation.
And how silly would we look with another Vanagon on our roof? :)
nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife Great video. I think maybe the more you do your own work the more your imagination can start building the worse scenarios! I'm a few notches below your skill level but found this useful and will add a few items to my stash. Just back from 2k mile trip (Seattle to White Mts CA) and that 2.3 WBX keeps running well with no oil use. But you never know
Glad it helped and happy your trip went well!
Nate