Hi, Well it's been just over a year since I bought my first ever VW bay and since we haven't had a poptop ramble for a while I thought I'd post my thoughts on the year for comment and ridicule. I'd always liked the idea of owning a VW camper; the freedom, relative comfort at Glastonbury, nostalgia and ability to just go away for the weekend and create family memories to name but a few. However, there was always one overriding feeling in that I like the ability to get into a car and it start first time, have it beep at me when it needed something and I could hand over the keys to a professional who would tinker with it for 5 minutes, come out with the phrase 'these cars just look after themselves, they just run and run' as he passes me a green MOT... That all changed last year when we were confronted with the potential issue of taking a 9 month old to Glastonbury and the wife catagorically stating that they weren't camping. A few phone calls to find out the cost of hiring a motorhome later, and a few shots of rum to steady the nerves I was faced with the fact that it was going to cost over £1500! Then up popped someone on my shoulder and whispered, 'you could put that amount towards a camper'...I still haven't worked out if it was the angel or devil that said it... So, after finding this site, asking some questions and some intensive research later I found myself staring at a thread on here offering a Champagne Microbus from California. The journey across pailed into oblivion as, fellow Champagner Ricky's log cabin, captured the fevered anticipation and whipped TLB into a frenzy of 'is it here yet', but arrive it did, as the second wave of cavalry for the Champagne invasion, 5 days before Glastonbury. With help from the site, Dale aka Outlaw, and various others I managed to turn it round and get to Glastonbury...my first ever drive in a VW camper was 3 hours up the road and back, lucky? You bet, that's why she is now called, wait for it, Lucky! A year has now passed since that fateful day that has changed my life and bank balance and what have I learnt? Well read on if you've nothing better to do. - There is no such thing as a cheap vw camper I've come to realise that you can spend £3k on a camper but then it needs £7k worth of work to get it road worthy. £9-10k seems to be a good overall spend, for example mine was ~£4.5k imported. As it's only ever enjoyed American sun, the UK rain has taken it's toll on the window rubbers. I've had to refit the whole interior and the FI system is playing up making carbs a strong possibility. These buses cost money, and don't tell yourself they won't... - Fuel Injection is a cruel mistress Working, it is simply the best system on a bus, but when it fails, boy is it a nightmare to diagnose and get parts for. - Get your hands dirty The VW bus is one of the simplist things to work on, few working parts and usually only a couple of different screw sizes. I've learnt to ask a few questions to see how it's done or how long it will take but you really can't beat just doing it, you learn so much more, and the good thing is that in 99% of cases if you do mess up it's either easy to put right or cheap and just more of your time. - The van is there to be enjoyed, use it and enjoy it. That is what they are made for. Mine has sat under it's rain cover for over 6 months now and it's only recently that it dawned on me the amount of money from tax and insurance I'm wasting, let lone the actual cost of the van is rediculous in the current climate. She almost smiles at me when I take the cover off and give her some attention, and as soon as she is working again I will be using her to create memories. - Finally, TLB is quite simply the best. I know I have asked stupid questions, we are all noobs once, but everyone has pitched in with knowledge when they can help, others have gone out of their way to help and all of you have made me feel welcome. I hope over the coming months and years of bus ownership I can repay all of you with my knowledge and help when it is required...and I hope to meet you all at CamperJam...
Nice story Gary, hope you do make it to c.j woud be great to say hi, i reckon your bus likes tight schedules, it's gonna run the night before......
Class ramble bud K+ soz about the lack of poptop rambles but i am trying to do book , there is defo no such thing as a first draught !.
Nice post...all of it is true . I've had mine for 8 years, and currently use it as a runabout and delivery van. Not quite the intention...
nicely put, Basil has just had his 3rd MOT with us,I have never owned any vehicle that has had 3 mots!!ongoing restoration in the winters and using in the`summer` a weekend camping with mates with cider makes it all seem worth it ;D
