VW Camper Crazy

It’s a whole new world…

copymonkey — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:27:23 +0000

When I bought my first VW T25 Camper they were deeply uncool, so uncool in fact that they weren’t considered ‘cosher’ by the ‘real’ enthusiasts. Only the splits and the bays would wave at each other, although I never spent enough time in a splitty to find out whether or not they waved at the bays. I doubt it. Can anyone elighten me on that one? Anyway, in the intervening years the ‘brickies’ have started to wave at each other too. It’s like going back to the days of the 2CV, but safer and, quite amazingly, faster. So times have changed and now there’s the information super highway as well to help us in our camaraderie. And on there I’ve found some remarkable VW Camper related stuff. I got new curtains from a lady in Leicester. The most enlightening place I’ve found is Club 80-90, an online club for t25 owners. Obvously some of the members have actually met or go round each other’s houses from time to time or help each other mend each other’s vans judging by the in-jokes and banter, but it’s fascinating. And I love it. Plenty of advice, mechanical help, links, contacts and a very funny forum. Much funnier than my posts on this one. I’m working on it. Anyway, I joined, introduced myself and now I’m hooked. I’ve become a T25 geek, applied for my sticker, posted a few threads. It’s a whole new world this VW campervan lark, bringing people together who might otherwise never meet. It’s brilliant. You can still love your van without stepping outside. And if it breaks down you can still go on a trip with your new friends. It’s a whole new world alright.

Too hot, too cold…

copymonkey — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:17:04 +0000

Heating problems. Too hot in the cab. Classic T25. Apparently. Can’t get the thing to turn off. Let’s have a look underneath. Ah yes. The heater control pods are stuck open and the cables are corroded. It’s no wonder it’s too hot. But if I just undo this nut and….ooops.

Too cold in the cab.

Can anyone tell me where I can get a pair of (cheap) heather control pods and cables for a 1981 aircooled T25?

Falling in love again

copymonkey — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:10:07 +0000

The van (as yet unnamed) is back from the garage. Running fine and starting well. Sweeeeeeeet. True they found some rust, true there’s a bit of filler in there, true it needs a bit of TLC (and a whole lot more cash) to get it how I want it. But it’s mine, it’s working and I’m loving it. This T25 will be my third. Air cooled. In white. Don’t ask why I sold the other two if I loved them so much because it’s a long story. But needless to say, I’m back in the saddle and feeling good.

During one of my many moments of self doubt when I was agonising over the pros and cons of owning a van my wife said to me “you wanted a van because it makes you feel free.” I suppose that’s it. You can just take off anywhere (once you’ve got the kids ready) and park anywhere (as long as the police don’t stop you) and you can wake up somewhere new every day (upstairs on your own ‘cos the kids have come down stairs in the night and there’s no room for you) you can stick the kettle on if you fancy a brew (no downside to that ever) and you can sit there in your pants when you’ve just had a great surf. And as long as you don’t try and hit more than 50 mph you’ll be feeling righteous about your carbon footprint too. You’re not flying and you feel free. Job done. (Anyone know where I can get a couple of split pins to hold a Devon roof in place?)

What do you call yours?

copymonkey — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:42:15 +0000

So the new T25 has gone in to see my friend Ian at South West Classic VWs for its ‘make sure I won’t blow up’ check. I do this with all my t25s as they can have a habit of blowing up. As it turns out it could have blown up. The thermostat that controls the air flow over the engine to keep it cool was stuck closed. And whilst it might be winter now, you can almost guarantee that, as soon as you drive off the ferry, the sun will come out and spoil the t25′s maiden holiday. We also found a few bits and pieces that are inevitable, like rust at the bottom of the doors and leaky push rod tubes (whatever they are) but nothing major. So we’re ready to rock. With confidence.

Except that there’s one little thing niggling me. I’ve been wondering what to call it. Or whether or not I should call it anything at all. Or whether it is a she or a he. Looking on sites like VW Camper Crazy I notice that people always seem to have pet names for their buses like Billy, Bertha, Snowdrop or Rusty. My suspicous side tells me that it is deeply un-cool to give a car a name but then I still remember a 1303 Beetle a friend had for a couple of months (in 1985) that she called ‘Hungry Horace’ becuase she couldn’t get enough petrol in it. It’s the name that stuck. So what do you do? Become unnaturally attached to a rusting and expensive hulk of metal and give it a name that would make an american princess puke? Or drive around in a vehicle known simply and unemotionally as ‘the van’?

Since I have kids and since I know I am about to spend an awful lot of money getting the t25 back to its shiny, camping-ready best I’m beginning to think that maybe I should call it something. If only to reflect the love, elbow grease and cash that will be lavished upon it. But what to call it. I haven’t driven it enough yet to know its foibles so there’s nothing that stands out (OK, Horace, but that one’s taken). And it feels wrong to pick it up from the garage without a proper name. It’s like taking a baby home from the hospital unnamed.

So what do you call yours? Seriously, I genuinely want to know. Is it a Bluebell or a Dipsy, a Tyson or a Bumble? And why did you choose to call it ‘Gordano’? Because you love the fried chicken at the Services there or because you waited for the AA there on your first ever surf trip? Whatever possessed you to name it ‘Bad Boy’? Because you’ve got ideas above your van’s station or because the dog is afraid of it? Let me know. Please. Before ‘the van’ gets out of the hospital.

All aboard the happy bus!

The Vw California

thevwcalifornia — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:28:29 +0000

Good afternoon from The Vw California. This is my first post to the new blog on Vw Camper Crazy (or any blog for that matter). I bought a new Vw California last year and became such an enthusiast of them that I set up a website relating to it. When I was buying mine I found very little information on the web relating to The Vw California. Everything, (apart from Vw’s sales pitches) was about the classic V dub campers. Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of these, however, we needed a van to act as an everyday family run about, aswell as for camping trips and family ‘away days’. We’ve been dreaming about owning a camper for years, however, I have no mechanical expertise and didn’t want to risk owning a van that could potentially leave my wife stranded with the kids (or me for that matter), and so when we stumbled accross the new factory built california in a showroom, we got completely carried away and signed on the dotted line, as they say! I’ve got no regrets, I think they’re a superbly well designed and practical vehicle, with all the safety features and reliability expected of a modern vehicle. The Vw California is a future classic i’m sure. I think it bridges the gap for the Vw fans who like the idea of a camper, but can’t take the risk on a classic. The Vw California site is still very much under construction, feel free to visit and leave feedback, questions or advice relating to the The Vw California. In the mean time I hope to be a regular contributor here, fighting the corner for the new breed of Vw owners and sharing my experiences of owning one. Vw campers, whatever model, offer a unique experience for owners from all walks of life. If we share our experiences and advice, i’m sure we can all benefit, so forget your package holidays and keep camping!!

OMG. What have I done?

copymonkey — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:45:49 +0000

So it seems fitting that my first post on VW Camper Crazy should be about buying a new van. Well, not a new van actually, a 26 year old van. But new to me. As it was at one point to 10 people before me. I have been looking for a new T25 for some time and have visited sites like camper crazy almost daily, sometimes more, for the last six months, just to see what’s new. I’ve owned two T25s before (because they are newer and more reliable – what?) and pretty much know what to expect. So I’ve become rather blase about checking them out. It was the same with all the others: kick the tyres, check the fridge works, have a look in the back section where the noise comes from, kick the tyres again and then hand over my cash. I know, I know! But let’s face it, you’re going to have to introduce it to your mechanic at some point aren’t you? So why not drive it straight there?

And that’s the drive where the fear gets you. First there’s a rattle, then there’s a squeak, then a slight misfire, a sloppy gear change and the whole lot comes back to haunt you. All you remember is the faces of the AA men, the MOT bills, the hours at the side of the road. You’ve just shelled out a bunch of fifties and you’re feeling vulnerable. OMG. What have I done?

But you know, you are going to spend a few hours by the side of the road, you will meet a few breakdown trucks and you will fork out a load of wedge just to keep her on the road. But you will also get to wake up in the most beautiful spot on earth, or by the racetrack on finals day, or at the beach when the surf is pumping. You’ll be right there, with a cup of tea and a bacon buttie, absolutely loving it. And on cold winter days you can drive out to the hills, pop the roof up, stick the propex on and sit there in your pants, just enjoying the day, whilst everyone else sits in their steamed up cars with their cold flask of tea in their coats and hats.

So the new van has got a few rattles? Of course she has, she’s a T25 and she’s just about reaching her prime. Stick the kettle on and go with it. You’re VW Camper Crazy! Anyone for a cuppa?

Welcome Everybody

vwcampercrazy — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:15:26 +0000

Well the site is finally here. Something VW Camper Crazy has been thinking about for a while, a dedicated VW Camper blog. We are looking for regular contributors so if you are passionate about VW Campers and have something to say that you think other like minded people would like to read about then please get in touch via the www.vwcampercrazy.co.uk web site.