50 years ago I went all through Mexico and Guatemala in a 67 Combi, took a year, amazing journey, where that thing would go was outrageous, I had grown up in the Southwest with CJ's, so knew 4wheelin', to my astonishment the combi just kept going, one thing I discovered is the reverse is a granny gear, If I couldn't get up a hill in first, turn it around and go up backwards, and unlike a CJ, I always had a place to sleep, I miss it dearly.
Welcome to the world of the VW bus! I had 2 back in the 70s. First a regular '65 bus, then a '68 Westphalia without the pop-up top. For the '65 I removed the back seats and built a plywood platform extending the raised floor over the engine enough to fit a queen foam rubber matress. The Westphalia I left basically stock. They both took me and my dad many miles over some unimproved roads that a sensible person would have never tried, but they did so without any major mishap. These vehicles are seriously badass!
OH boy your in for an adventure. Your right about the suspension I drove a split cross Australia in 73 when it was hundreds of miles of corrugated roads, and found out the suspension would iron out the bumps at 60 mph. I would suggest you dive into other utuber post for a collection of spares and tools. Just because you might not know how to fix something, somebody (probably in their 60s) will come along and help.
Welcome to busdom. Watching you lug your bus up and down those hills I feel complelled to inform you that, lugging an aircooled engine is one of the WORST things you can do to your motor. Give her some beans and keep the revs up. Airflow for cooling is paramount, and keeping it a gear lower than you think will keep that fan spinning and cooling better. Also, are you still running the RGBs or as others in the 4x4 world call them portal axles. They came stock on every pre '68 VW bus and are a must for any off/rough roading. I ask because you could barely make it up that one little hill. If you have a beetle trans and straight axles the final drive will be higher(better for highway speeds) and will not be advantageous for slow offroad driving. Best of luck and maybe we will meet on a Shasta trip some day.
What a beautiful machine indeed. Thank you for sharing sir. I am looking to get a SO42 here soon that I believe is the same Velvet Green shade as yours however it has a pop top which I wonder is long enough to allow me and others to sleep up there in some hammocks... Gorgeous Jack Russell jet engine with legs you have and awesome tablet you got there. DID YOU TAKE DOWN YOUR VERMONT OVERLAND CHANNEL??? I would love to see it as well.
do you have any install video of that wood stove? it looks like your chimney is just going through what used to be the sink/ice box vent, is that right?
I’m planning on a winter camping vid soon where I’ll go through the whole stove install. Used a hole saw to very carefully drill a hole in the roof. Hardest part was drilling through the feet of stove so I could wood screw the feet to the bus floor. Stainless steel ate up some drill bits. It’s a Winnerwell stove (amazon). Thx for watching!
Your bus sounds a little bit funny..maybe it's the video but is your exhaust (the actual exhaust air) hitting the back of the bumper or does it exit down? Anyway, that's pretty awesome you pitch a cruise like that. That's exaclty what the buses are made for and you get all that space inside! When I bought my 23 window deluxe I took it from Minnesota to Phoenix, over to Sanfrancisco and back to MN on a 6000 mile journey. That was pretty epic. I think I might have some videos (not of that...that was in 1993 I think) of my bus on my channel.
Yes, Nigel, the existing exhaust creates a pretty throaty odd pitch. I ordered a Vintage Speed high clearance exhaust through Heritage in England. Should be much improved. Thx for watching!
50 years ago I went all through Mexico and Guatemala in a 67 Combi, took a year, amazing journey, where that thing would go was outrageous, I had grown up in the Southwest with CJ's, so knew 4wheelin', to my astonishment the combi just kept going, one thing I discovered is the reverse is a granny gear, If I couldn't get up a hill in first, turn it around and go up backwards, and unlike a CJ, I always had a place to sleep, I miss it dearly.
Awesome bus. Love that wood stove and the full roof rack.
Sweet ride
So freaking cool!
Welcome to the world of the VW bus! I had 2 back in the 70s. First a regular '65 bus, then a '68 Westphalia without the pop-up top. For the '65 I removed the back seats and built a plywood platform extending the raised floor over the engine enough to fit a queen foam rubber matress. The Westphalia I left basically stock. They both took me and my dad many miles over some unimproved roads that a sensible person would have never tried, but they did so without any major mishap. These vehicles are seriously badass!
Jawolh ! Like wermacht !
Nice 👍🏻 I don’t own a bus but I admire those who do. The commitment to keep these buses alive is great.
Nice Videos Brother!!!
Hey man, come to NM!
Okay, now I can die.................I have seen it all!!!! 😊
Momentum is important when you have something like 38hp ;)
OH boy your in for an adventure. Your right about the suspension I drove a split cross Australia in 73 when it was hundreds of miles of corrugated roads, and found out the suspension would iron out the bumps at 60 mph. I would suggest you dive into other utuber post for a collection of spares and tools. Just because you might not know how to fix something, somebody (probably in their 60s) will come along and help.
Welcome to busdom. Watching you lug your bus up and down those hills I feel complelled to inform you that, lugging an aircooled engine is one of the WORST things you can do to your motor. Give her some beans and keep the revs up. Airflow for cooling is paramount, and keeping it a gear lower than you think will keep that fan spinning and cooling better.
Also, are you still running the RGBs or as others in the 4x4 world call them portal axles. They came stock on every pre '68 VW bus and are a must for any off/rough roading. I ask because you could barely make it up that one little hill. If you have a beetle trans and straight axles the final drive will be higher(better for highway speeds) and will not be advantageous for slow offroad driving.
Best of luck and maybe we will meet on a Shasta trip some day.
What a beautiful machine indeed. Thank you for sharing sir. I am looking to get a SO42 here soon that I believe is the same Velvet Green shade as yours however it has a pop top which I wonder is long enough to allow me and others to sleep up there in some hammocks... Gorgeous Jack Russell jet engine with legs you have and awesome tablet you got there. DID YOU TAKE DOWN YOUR VERMONT OVERLAND CHANNEL??? I would love to see it as well.
do you have any install video of that wood stove? it looks like your chimney is just going through what used to be the sink/ice box vent, is that right?
I’m planning on a winter camping vid soon where I’ll go through the whole stove install. Used a hole saw to very carefully drill a hole in the roof. Hardest part was drilling through the feet of stove so I could wood screw the feet to the bus floor. Stainless steel ate up some drill bits. It’s a Winnerwell stove (amazon). Thx for watching!
Your bus sounds a little bit funny..maybe it's the video but is your exhaust (the actual exhaust air) hitting the back of the bumper or does it exit down? Anyway, that's pretty awesome you pitch a cruise like that. That's exaclty what the buses are made for and you get all that space inside! When I bought my 23 window deluxe I took it from Minnesota to Phoenix, over to Sanfrancisco and back to MN on a 6000 mile journey. That was pretty epic. I think I might have some videos (not of that...that was in 1993 I think) of my bus on my channel.
Yes, Nigel, the existing exhaust creates a pretty throaty odd pitch. I ordered a Vintage Speed high clearance exhaust through Heritage in England. Should be much improved. Thx for watching!
All hat, no cattle. 😂
Where do you find your killer shirts?