On Wed, 28 Aug 2002, Timothy Hannink wrote:

> I don't see any need to drag a bunch of fluids around
> for the whole trip. Most of these items are flammable
> and/or corrosive and would not the kind of things I
> would choose to keep in my bedroom with me for the
> next year.

I'm not saying to carry around a year's worth.  It's good to have enough
fluid to replace everything in the cooling system if you blow a hose.  On
a Westy, in a pinch that could be the contents of the water tank --
there's no real reason you need to carry around a lot of antifreeze.  If
you routinely use a little a gallon of 50/50 premix would be handy,
though.

> All of these items (with the exception being the blue
> VW coolant if you use it) are readily available in any
> grocery, hardware or auto parts store in any size town
> these days.

VW's take some 'odd' oil weights that are sometimes tough to find.  Few
grocery stores or discount stores carry 20W50 or 15W40, so I've always
liked to carry at least a couple quarts.  Saves scrounging for it if you
develop a leaky seal.  (I once had a F*rd van go from using no oil to
leaking a quart every 500 miles, on a long trip.)

The ATF's probably unnecessary, though, I'll admit.  I don't think I've
ever had to add any to any car I've owned.  The fuel treatment is
optional.  Gasoline fuel treatment can be had anywhere, so there's
probably no need to carry it.  Diesel fuel treatment is harder to find, so
I've tucked a bottle into the back cabinet of my van.

             _ _
  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
 / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------------------
| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
 \__, |\__,_|_|_| "The VW camper is a brilliant invention -- it's like a
 |___/             Swiss army knife for the road... It's the stealth RV."
                                                        -- Wayne Curtis