My travel partner is, to put it mildly, skeptical of our vanagon's
ability to make a planned 1500 mile road trip this summer.   This is
not without cause :  in the 6 prior trips, three were problematic:
once the engine blew up, once it overheated in rather extreme heat and
we had to pull over for an hour, and once the alternator died (**) and
we couldn't run A/C and lights at the same time.   That time I had a
friend bring a new alternator and replaced it at the campground.   I
thought this was kinda fun but I guess definitions of "fun"
differ? :-)    Other 3 trips it was fine.

Negotiations with said partner have focused on strategies for
increasing chances of next trip to be a winner, and reducing anxiety.

Ideas included:
  * getting known issues fixed ahead of time by an actual mechanic
  * not driving up southern california mountain passes I-5 or I-15 in
traffic + 110 degree heat
  * a relaxed driving schedule so we feel no need to press on in
adverse conditions
  * getting AAA plus (100 mile) or premium (200 mile) tow package
  * having a list of vanagon friendly mechanics along the route

The van has a new engine (about 10k miles), ecu, afm, battery,
starter, alternator**, alternator wiring, fuel hose, injectors
(professionally cleaned), and radiator. (**) the alternator was
probably fine, it was the bad wiring.

Known issues :   minor exhaust leak, automatic transmission leaks a
bit but works fine.   The transmission is my only major worry, as it's
more or less the only major trip-ending failure I can imagine.

Any recommendations?  This is as much an emotional as technical issue,
methinks.