From: zirk@celece.ucsd.edu (Karin Zirk)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw
Subject: VW Campers - LONG!
Date: 26 Jan 93 01:37:29 GMT



This post is in response to requests for information
on VW Campers.  My point of authority is that
I lived in my '71 VW bubbletop camper for 2 years
and at then end of February, I'm moving back into it
and heading for Baja.  Please keep in mind that these
ideas are only my own and are based on my experiences
in those 2 years.

TO POP OR NOT?

I have a bubble top van which is high in the front 
(7.5' from the ground) and sloops down in the
rear which forms an out door storage space for things
like my recycling container, barbecue and solar panel.
If you only use your van for camping a few weeks out
of the year then by all means stay away from the
bubble top.  The extra storage room is not worth
the loss of handling.  However, if you will be
living in your van for a long time, I can't imagine
not having that extra storage space.  

When you're living in your van, it ends up driving you crazy 
after a while if you have boxes of things piled around.
Then when you want to cook or go to sleep you have to
start moving boxes around.  I know this might not sound serious
but if you have to do it 8-10 times a day after a month or
so you end up pulling your hair out.  So with the bubble top I can
keep all my stuff stored in the various compartments, cabinets
and closets, safe and snug even during off road driving.

The other thing is that if you're parking on public streets,
highway rest stops (especially on the east coast), or other
"free" camp sites, you can't pop your top without drawing
even more attention to your self and then you might get
a ticket for sleeping in your car which is illegal in most
states.

CAMP EQUIPMENT SET UP

On refrigeration - this piece of equipment seems to be one
of the most important and definitely one of the most 
troublesome.  Its the only way to keep food fresh for more
than a day or two at a time.  However, I find the energy
demands can be somewhat limiting.  I have an AC/DC fridge.
Although since I never stay in campgrounds with hookups
I depend totally on my AC.   I have a black box which splits
the power coming off my generator and channels in to
two separate batteries.  One which I use to start my engine,
headlights, etc, and the second, which is a deep cycle, which
powers my fridge and interior lights.  In addition to being
powered off the generator, my deep cycle battery is directly
connected to a solar panel which sits in the storage compartment
on the roof of my van.  This is very necessary, because if
my deep cycle is fully charged, I have 2-3 days, (depending
on weather), of camping before that battery is dead.  
However, the solar panel, under the right conditions
allows me to go have power in the deep cycle battery for
a week or more at a time (if the sun has been shining).  Even
so, I don't run my fridge at cold, just at cool.

One solution to this problem is to have a propane powered
fridge.  Many people I've talked to say these provided
you with the most cooling capacity.


On running water - Running water is a must.  By all means
keep your sink in working order.  It serves many purposes.
You can cook or clean in it, use the water, heated on the
stove, to take a sponge bath in.  My sink is an air pressure
sink.  When I fill my tank with water, I must put compressed
air in (it has a tire like fitting so you can do it at
the gas station, or with a electric pump that plugs into
your cigarette lighter).  This means that when I turn
my faucet on water comes out, just like in a house.  The
more standard VW way is a pump handle which you use
when you need water.  

On stove - If you have to go without something, I would
recommend you go without a built in stove.  I have one and
like it very much.  But a portable stove would serve
you just as well, with the added feature of being able
to cook outside on hot days, when you don't want to heat
up the inside of you van anymore than it already it.


On heat - I don't have a furnace, but I want one badly
and will hopefully be getting one soon.  When you're
camping in the mountains and the temperature drops to 
10 degrees F, it is a must.  Otherwise you end up with
ice on the inside of your car every morning - not fun.
10 degrees outside translates to 25 degrees inside.  OUCH!


On the Bed - I prefer the style of bed that allows you
to fold it up made, sheets, blankets and all.  However,
if you don't camp that much, you have more room for
hauling things with the more standard VW type bed
which is a seat that folds out and then you spread your
blankets, sleeping bags, etc on top.

On Bikes - I can't travel anywhere without my bike.
When you park your car and cruise a town on your bike, you
feel more at home and get to experience the town much better.
I have a bike rack on the front of my van.  I also
have a metal spare tire holder there that is bolted, welded
and rusted onto my van.  So I hang my bike on the rack
and lock it to the spare tire holder with a u-lock.  That
way, my bike is always handy and secure.
If you do this watch it when you go off road.
Then my advice is to take the bikes and put them inside
the van or you'll end up bending your rims.  (this happened
to me in Baja last year).



If you have any further or more specific questions please
feel free to ask.  I should be at this email address
for the next 2 weeks - after thats it off the Baja.

Karin Zirk
kzirk@ucsd.edu