VW CAMPER NEWBIE!

[Joshua & Lauren Adams]

I just came to the realization that I have an extremely rare opportunity to have the grandest adventure of all time!!

Me and My wife own a 1975 VW Campmobile, in almost perfect condition......

We are getting married in JUNE

The plan for our honeymoon is to live in the bus for 1-2 years......

Seriously,  What should I do next??? How should I prepare for this journey?? I need expert advice.

Photos and all that jazz on the way!!

[regis101]

Camera, journal, ice chest(s), credit card.

Keep us posted.  Have fun.

[Gary Marrs]

Joshua,

If at all possible you should go to Buses by the Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Az this January. There will be over 300 Buses there and there will be all kinds of people there who spend long periods in their buses and lots of advice. I passed through Albuqueque earlier this year after Buses by the Bridge, my wife and I drove to Florida and back up here to Oregon we were on the road for about 3 months. There are some things you need for sure one is a couple of good heaters, one electric and one propane, the Mr. Buddy heater, AAA for sure, other things you will kind of figure out as you go. You will want to plan out where you want to go and and try and follow the warm weather, not the hot, or the cold and snow. Be sure and come up the the Pacific Northwest, it's out of this world in the summer. It would be a good idea to do some short trips to get a grip on things and you will start seeing what you are going to need and what it's like to live together in a small place. You are going to need places to camp at lower prices, etc.... If you come to BBB we could talk about all kinds of things you will need.

[Larry Chase]

Joshua,

I second the suggestion Gary made ... come to BBtB 2013 in Jan. There will be many long distance, long duration travelers and great campfire conversations.

Also a couple of links that are essential for your travels;

Vanagon Rescue Squad
http://www.vanagonauts.com/Vanagon-Rescue-Squad74.htm

Aircooled Interstate Rescue Squad
http://www.type2.com

And lastly our own North American VW Repair Shops listings and reviews;

The largest VW shop listing anywhere
http://www.roadhaus.com/shops.php

Hope to see you at Havasu or somewhere along the blue highways.

Larry & Maggie

[Joshua & Lauren Adams]

Thank you guys for the advice.....we will try our best to make it to the BBtB. With the holidays and all the madness, we have to get insurance and registration first and foremost.

Its kinda of scary to make such a huge lifestyle change.......... I think we both feel as if we dont belong in "The System" any longer. But more importantly we just love to be on the road. 

Side note....

Here is my extra cash plan:

www.joshuaadamsart.com

[Jonathan anderson]

Great Links- Thanks!

Larry Chase said:

Joshua,

I second the suggestion Gary made ... come to BBtB 2013 in Jan. There will be many long distance, long duration travelers and great campfire conversations.

Also a couple of links that are essential for your travels;

Vanagon Rescue Squad
http://www.vanagonauts.com/Vanagon-Rescue-Squad74.htm

Aircooled Interstate Rescue Squad
http://www.type2.com

And lastly our own North American VW Repair Shops listings and reviews;

The largest VW shop listing anywhere
http://www.roadhaus.com/shops.php

Hope to see you at Havasu or somewhere along the blue highways.

Larry & Maggie

[Randall Ellis]

Camp in it a couple of times before the big adventure - it will help you figure out what you want to bring along and point out any items that need attention before you depart. I'd also suggest taking it on a couple of longer road trips to make sure that it's running well. Check your tires for wear and replace them now if they are getting a bit worn - the expense of a set of tires once you start your trip will likely be more inconvenient than paying it up front and knowing that its taken care of (don't forget the spare!) Install a air filter element, belt, points, condenser, plugs, plug wires, rotor, and distributor cap for the same reasons.

If you have not already done so, replace all the fuel lines (or have them replaced professionally) with quality German lines so you don't have to worry about them on your trip - 37 year old lines are not to be trusted. Also, just to be safe, get a fresh fire extinguisher or two. If you are going to be cooking inside be sure to have one within easy reach of the stove in the event a surprises. Its always better to be safe than sorry and a grease fire can pop up without warning. In a confined space it can get very dangerous very quickly, so be prepared.

Pick out a good heater that runs on propane, not coleman stove fuel - you will not always have the luxury of electric hookups and a propane heater can be safely run inside where coleman fuel cannot. Know in advance how much you can afford to spend each night as campsites with electric hookups tend to be a bit more costly than those without. Also, know the laws for overnight parking in the states you plan on traveling though - getting arrested for vagrancy will not be pleasant and some states are very touchy about people RVing in parking lots. WalMart will sometimes allow you to stay in their lot, but not always any more - check before you stay to avoid issues.

If you stay at a formal campground, be aware that many will not appreciate you dumping your sink drain water directly on the ground (there is no grey water tank in your Westy - I have the same year bus by the way) so you may need to either not use the sink in campgrounds or purchase a portable grey water tank ('blue tank'). Or, just don't use the sink while you're parked there and run it on the side of the road somewhere where the little bit of soap in the water won't be an issue.

If you have the deluxe edition with the house battery you may want to go ahead and replace it now before the trip, that way you won't have to deal with it dropping a cell or running short on power unexpectedly. Sears have decent batteries at lower prices than most places, and they come with a good warranty. Dual use batteries will work pretty well without breaking the bank, but a true deep cycle battery would be best. That said, deep cycle batteries can be as much as 3 times as expensive as the a dual purpose...

All that said, enjoy your adventure! Life has risks, so do a little prep work to avoid the avoidable and then enjoy the ride! Lastly, keep us posted on your trip if you get the opportunity to be online.

- Randy