<snip> What tools do you keep in your vannies? What are the essential
tools to have for basic maintenance and emergency repair (I already have
duct tape covered! :-) ? <snip>

To some degree, it depends on what tools you're either qualified or
willing to use.

Years ago, I relied on Murphy's Law ....  i.e. If I had all the tools
and all the spares with me .... Nothing would break.  Then I got a
Vanagon.  It doesn't matter whether you've got the tools and/or the
spares .... it's gonna break anyway.

On one trip in my '84, extended family aboard, I pulled into a rest stop
and the engine died before I reached a parking spot (coasted into one).
It wouldn't fire.  I had fried the ECU.  Well, I had a spare under the
rear seat.  A quick swap and we were back on the road.  I have since
replaced my spare ECU.  Won't leave home without it.

On another trip in the '84, my water pump went out (leaking badly at the
shaft) without warning.  I had the tools .... but was at the mercy of a
FLAPS for the pump.  It cost me $100.00 instead of $50.  I now have a
spare water pump onboard.

When I went from Maine to Virginia to pick up the '85 Westy I had
purchased, I took a full tool box, and boy am I glad.  It ran perfectly
for 280 miles then it blew the big rubber head gaskets.  I had all the
tools with me to replace the gaskets which included, among other things,
the 10X1.5 tap & die for cleaning the studs and cap nuts and a torque
wrench.  I ordered the gasket kit from Vanagain and proceded to "open
'er up".  I did the job with engine in van and wheels on ground.  I was
parked on dirt so digging shallow trenches below the heads (to allow
swinging the torque wrench) made the job possible without stands.

I always have in the van I'm taking a trip in, belts, fuel filter, fuel
line, distributor cap & rotor, ECU, water pump, various lengths and
sizes of hose, various sizes of PVC pipe and clamps (for splicing hose),
various C-clamps, crocus cloth, sand paper, a multi meter, electrical
wire and aligator clips, and all the usual tool sets including extra
socket extensions, wobbles and u-joints.  Oh, .... and Duct Tape ....
heheheheh.

In the Westy, I have a water tank to rely on.  In the 7 passenger, I
make sure I have a jug or two of coolant .... just in case.

Mike

'84 GL 7 pass automatic
'85 GL Westy 4 speed