we know some folks love a/c; some are indifferent; and some hate it.
my point about keeping the a/c stuff intact  was  pragmatic: you've got
an expensive option on your van, on top of the camper premium. if you
don't ever plan on selling your van do what you want. but if you sell it
you're limiting your perspective buyers(you can leave it in and just say
"needs freon" ha ha). driving for miles on the hi-way with every window
open ventilates me like a hot air convection oven, i get that wind
fatigue, cant hear my wife(snicker), and it makes my cigar burn
unevenly. what's even worse is relying on the vanagon "ventilation
system" with the windows shut.

on the topic of how to keep cool when you stop to camp: a year ago i
looked at a beautiful 81 (air cooled of course). it didn't have any
power options at all; hey i'm buying this thing as our families primary
vehicle and my wife will/does drive it daily w/ 2 kids. but this 81 was
great, whoever got it for $2500 got a great deal--very nice/clean, i was
looking all over the country for a good westy(w/air) and this was
literally 2 blocks from my house and was worth at least a look.  the
lucky folks who did pick it up solved the hot interior problem by
cutting a couple chunks out of both sides of the canvas and gluing
bug-screen over em.   they plan on replacing top any ways, been told.
chris c

Subject: Re: door for westy above-bed storage

A valid point in your geographic area, but not mine. A vehicle without
air
conditioning is worthless here in Florida since it is unusable 9 months
of the
year as basic transportation. Heck, I used my A/C twice last week.

--- David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG> wrote:
> I like A/C just fine, but I think it's kind of pointless on a Westy.
Why?
> I won't have it when I stop to camp, so why get used to it while
driving?
> It just makes the heat seem twice as bad when I finally stop.

Currently a chilly 51F.