on 2/22/04 8:43 AM, Joy Hecht at jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> I've been reading the list with interest and thought it was time to send in
> a few questions.  I'm sorry if these seem naive - I'm a newbie to Vanagons.
> I just got my (first?) vanagon in November, and mostly haven't gone anywhere
> in it - though for not going anywhere, I've had enough repairs done!  I hope
> this isn't a trend.
>
> Matilda is a 1989 burgundy Westy with 130K miles on original engine.  I am
> moving into her - I kind of already have, gave up my apartment, sold all my
> furniture, gave away much of my stuff, and put the rest in the basement of a
> house where some friends live, though I own it.  At the moment I'm still
> parked in "my" driveway while I finish off some work, but by mid-March I
> should be on the road.  (I consult for a living, can do that from anywhere -
> that's how I can, I hope, pull this off and stay solvent.)
>
> I'm a real non-techie, regarding both auto mechanics and everything else, so
> I have lots of questions.  Here's a few to start - none related to actually
> keeping Matilda running:
>
> -       Electric power.  Here in the driveway, Matilda is plugged into the
> garage
> outlet, so I have light, heat, computer, radio, and the ability to recharge
> my cellphone.  On the road that won't be so easy.  Does anyone have
> experience with having a second battery to provide these services?  What
> kind of battery should I get, how do I connect it to the first battery, how
> do I plug things into it, and how much can I expect to be able to run off a
> second battery?
>
> -       Pop-top canvas. Mine is in okay condition, not too beat up.  I was
> thinking of replacing it in order to have three windows, but then started to
> think I might be able to put additional windows in the current canvas.  (I
> have no other technical skills, but I can sew.)  Has anyone ever done that?
> Do you have any advice?
>
> -       Roof racks.  I will be carrying a long skinny kayak on my roof.  I'm
> looking at Yakima racks.  A friend is giving me most of the pieces,
> actually, ones he doesn't use any more.  I have not yet sorted out how to
> attach them to the pop top.  Does anyone have experience with Yakima racks
> on their Westy, and which hardware did you need?
>
> -       Refrigerator.  The previous owner of Matilda said the refrigerator
> didn't
> work, but I said he had to fix it before I'd buy.  So he did - but when I
> actually showed up to buy her, we could not get the pilot lit.  We tried and
> tried and tried, to no avail.  Finally he cut the price and I took her.
> Other than this, the refrigerator (apparently - according to the repair
> place) does work - electric and battery are okay.  (I can't really test it
> now, as it's cold outside and the refrigerator is very cold even without
> being in operation.)  Does anyone have experience with uncooperative Dometic
> refrigerator pilot lights?  I've read some of the stuff on the web about
> repairs on Dometic refrigerators, and tried to find repair people, without
> success.  I assume there's some kind of starter for the pilot?  Anyhow, if
> anyone knows much about pilot lights on these refrigerators, please let me
> know!
>
> I'll be heading south from the DC area in March when I hit the road - Chapel
> Hill, Outer Banks, Charleston, Savannah, Georgia coast (good kayaking), and
> I don't know where after that.  I'm open to suggestions, and would love to
> meet other Vanagoners.   Are there networks among you for people who want to
> meet each other in their travelers?
>
> I'm looking forward to hearing from you with any advice you can offer!
>
>
>
> Joy
>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Joy E. Hecht
> Consultant on Environmental Policy and Information
> jhecht@alum.mit.edu
> http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Check out www.semyan.com

Nice upgrades.

Pete
'87 Westy
"Joe's Van"