life is like a dogsled team. if you ain’t the lead dog the scenery never changes.
A nice watercolour from a 1974 VW Campmobile brochure.
On the front of the brochure is what looks like a classified ad…
FOR SALE:
VACATION RETREAT
lg frnshd rm w/vu
dbl bed, loft
w / w cptng
curtains
panelling and insulation
closet, table
refrig, stove
even the ktchn sink
immed occup
priced to sell
Genius.
[ 1 comment | x trackbacks ]
Fellow bug_pack members Kristen and Mike lost their bus when a recycling truck broadsided them. Mike, who was driving is ok, but many memories are lost.
[ 1 comment | x trackbacks ]
Eulogy to a VW Camper:
Buddy’s Buddy (BB) was purchased in 2004 on ebay. I was looking for a pair of front seats in decent shape for Buddy and found a whole bus for $400 in Connecticut. So my friend Owen and I did a road trip to to CT one weekend and towed it back. In was in “fixable” shape and it appeared that somebody had attempted to start restoring it,
BB lived with Underdog and Buddy in our driveway for a year or so, until we got tried of pushing him around - he didn’t have an engine. The greatest thing about having a parts bus is that you can experiment. I had never owned a VW bus before we got Buddy, so BB became my laboratory. Its dash was ripped apart, seats and cabinets removed, windows popped out. I learned how buses were put together and more importantly put back together on BB.
When it came time to find a new home it I offered it to friends for $1. Yes $1. The condition was they had to restore BB. Without an engine and lots of body work to do I didn’t have any takers. So BB left for the German Supply stud farm in Stouffville.
At the farm BB started his next life, donating parts for other buses that came under Scott’s tutelage. Eventually Scott moved the German Supply shop to downtown Toronto. BB remained out to pasture, rusting in peace.
In 2007 we got serious about the Underdog Project and BB become our main source of body metal. He was moved to the German Supply shop in Toronto for convenience. The cutting began and soon BB was full of holes, beyond restoration. It was sad to see him in this shape, but he remained useful donating parts for other Bay window buses.
Fast forward to today, Scott called me to tell me BB was going to meet the cutting torch - the grim reaper of the automotive world. Scott captured BB’s last moments as he was reduced to chunks.
I’ll think of BB every time I stomp the gas peddle or brakes in Underdog, because under my feet is BB’s floor. Here’s to you, you kept so many other buses on the road. I hope you find that great campground in the sky.
RIP Buddy’s Buddy (1976 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper).
[ 1 comment | x trackbacks ]
We had our first camper adventure with two kids (and all their gear) last weekend. Buddy the Bus is starting to get a little crowded. We only went for 3 days, but the back was packed so high I could barely see out the rear view window. So even though the Westfalia seats 4, it clearly doesn’t hold all their gear. What’s a bus owner to do?
I’ve seen many Westies with roof racks, but getting your gear up there is an impossibility for those who are height or upper body strength challenged. Since a Volkswagen Bus is pretty much shaped like a flying brick (some say a loaf of bread), it makes sense to start looking at trailers. Stock aircooled VWs aren’t know for their speed or torque, but have no problem pulling some weight - good gearing I guess. I’ve flat towed Karmella with Buddy, without issue, but I wouldn’t try towing a large caravan trailer.
I found a great thread on TheSamba about trailers. It makes sense, your bus created huge “airwake”, so putting your toys back there wouldn’t create any extra drag. There’s some cool old mini trailers that would match the vintage of Buddy, but finding a 30 year old trailer that’s not rusted out will be a “quest”. My favourite is the Colman Versa trailer. Motorcycle trailers also seem to be a popular choice because of their light weight and size, but can be too small and can’t really accommodate bikes, canoes or kayaks.
Then I found the SportsRig. This would be perfect, except one caveat - the $2000 price. That’s a lot of dough for a trailing I might use 3-4 times a year. Rack and Roll also makes something similar, but tis the price. Both units would let me use my Thule roof “coffin” box on their cross bars and standard roof rack mounting hardware for bikes, etc in the future. They’re light weight, easy to store in the winter and super versatile.
Maybe the micro-trailer used market is where I need to be looking. The SportsRig is in my sights, just not my wallet. Suggestions, comments, donations of a micro-trailer are always welcome.
[ no comments | x trackbacks ]
I thought I’d post this pictuture, because its the #1 thing I’m asked at VW shows — "You have a sunroof in your Westie?! How did you do that?"
The answer is "I didn’t do that", some former owner did it and judging by the style of roof, it was probably installed soon after the purchase date. Overall I’m pretty happy my Westie came with it. We took the glass out when traveling through the Rockies, which resulting in some great shots. It adds a lot of light to the front cab, which is nice. It does effect the cargo holder up top, but I’ve engineered something similar to a BBQ grill that can sit in what’s left of the holder to support any large things I want to put up there. It does leak on occasion, but only if I’m parked on a hill.
I’ve never seen another Westy with a sun roof. If you’ve got one in your bus, feel free to post a link to a photo in the comments.
You may also notice my roof panel is wood, in contrast to the white mactak that you usually find on most bus roofs. I also have a former owerner to thank for this. Most of the panels in my bus are a nice finished birch plywood veneer, which adds a lot to the “cottage of wheels” look.
[ 1 comment | x trackbacks ]
Welcome readers of VW Camper and Commercial magazine! Our 2004 Victoria or Bust trip has been published in the March/April issue. If you’re interested in more photos from the trip they can be found on Flickr.
Feel free to share your VW Bus trip stories in the comments.
[ no comments | x trackbacks ]
My friend Vil sent me a couple of clips from a recent Fifth Gear episode. The hosts test a new VW Eurovan California camper and a Brazilian watercooled Bay Window-style Danbury Rio camper, including an “overnighter”. It’s a great segment and they bring up an interesting third option.
[ 1 comment | x trackbacks ]
My favourite shirt site, Threadless, sent me their weekly newsletter this and low and behold one of the designs had a bus in it. Congrats to Andy Pitts for getting on Threadless with his Still Life with Van. Looks to be a nice 70s VW bay window Westfalia set against that metropolitan backdrop. Yes, of course, an XL is on its way.
[ no comments | x trackbacks ]
Alex demonstrates his sleeping accommodations in our Westie. The "child hammock", suspended over the front seats, is how the Westfalia can sleep five – two adults up top, two below and one kid in the hammock.
[ no comments | x trackbacks ]
Buddy’s cabin is going to be a little cooler this summer thanks to a windshield sun screen made by Fanchers. Jonce stopped by our camper at this years MVVF to show us his prototype screen for a Bay Window bus. We liked it so much we bought it on the spot. Fanchers also makes sun screens for Vanagons.
[ no comments | x trackbacks ]
Actually they call it a Caddy Life Tramper. Is it just me or does Traddy Life Camper sound better? Anyway its no Westfalia, but I guess it beats sleeping in a tent. Keep trying Volkswagen.
[ no comments | x trackbacks ]
As sang by the Man in Black…
| I’ve been everywhere, man I’ve been everywhere, man Crossed the deserts bare, man I’ve breathed the mountain air, man Travel…I’ve had my share, man I’ve been everywhere I’ve been to Banff Calgary Portage La Parrie Minnesota North Dakota Seatle Washington State Can’t remember the date. Vancouver Wisconson Michigan Idaho Toronto Ottawa Regina Blane Isn’t that a shame. |
Charlottetown British Columbia Massena Nova Scotia Frontenac Chateau Montreal Expo 67 was real. Sussex Calgary St. Lawrence Seaway New York New York Kakabeka Falls Magentic Hill And a few times to PEI I’m not sure why. |