<<Vanagon based vehicles - Westy's included - are notorious for engine
fires and the vehicle burning up.
I WOULD NOT make that lengthy journey - as fun as it is going to be(I
envy you) - without replacing all the fuel hoses in the engine are aft
(to the rear) of the "Firewall" first. Especially with my kid along.
��
You must consider that you are driving an 18 year old vehicle with 18
year old rubber fuel hoses.>>

Allow me to elaborate on the 18 year old rubber hose subject.

Another fun thing to do would be to spend some time on the side of the
road in Never  Never land, due to a ruptured aneurism in one of way too
many coolant hoses.

What an ultimate pain in the buttocks to be getting an unexpected
ethylene glycol steam bath when you aren't expecting it.

Yea, this can put some zing into a fun filled road trip sitting on the
side of the road watching the Van bleed to death.

Starting under the spare tire cover and working back towards the engine,
replace every 18 year old rubber coolant hose.

This would be another wise, and expensive pre trip decision to make.