Sounds like there should be an Iron Butt Association for vanagons--see
www.ironbutt.com  You would have almost qualified for the Bun Burner
1500....  :)
bmc  :)
"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: Tim Hannink <tjhannink@EARTHLINK.NET>
> Reply-To: Tim Hannink <tjhannink@EARTHLINK.NET>
> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 08:44:47 -0400
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Trip Report
>
> Arrived back yesterday from a nine day trip to Michigan. Now I know why I
> bought my camper, for vacation trips. Had four adults and an 8 year old and
> all were comfortable for the 3,000+ miles of driving. We only camped two
> nights, both in the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, OH. I had
> purchased a cot and modified it to fit on the front doors, so my 8 year old
> had her own little cabin up front and was very happy sleeping there.
>
> Anyway, the van performed almost flawlessly, averaging 19-20 mpg at 70 mph.
> I am using a quart of oil every 800-1000 miles, but have been ever since I
> installed the 1.25 ratio rocker arms. The low pressure A/C hose parted in
> Nashville on the way up. The metal fitting that connects to the  "S" pipe
> off the compressor actually broke off inside the fitting. I will be trying
> to find a replacement fitting sometime this week.
>
> Since the A/C wasn't working on the way home, I decided to drive straight
> through from Ohio to Florida so by the time I hit South Carolina, Georgia
> and Florida, the temps were a little more bearable. The net result was 1300+
> miles in around 22 hours including some long breaks.
>
> I saw no other Vanagons on the road, but plenty of loaf busses running
> around the countryside.
>
> Good to be home,
>
> Tim Hannink
> Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
> Winter Park, Florida
> http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
> http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink Vanagon Album
>