Well guys I took my time working out some pictures, but here you go!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2014208&id=1457880199&l=da8583176e

It was a great trip. I've been driving happily around Reno for almost 2
weeks now and getting even better gas mileage : )

-Craig Cowan
'85GL Sunroof
Turned Westfalia
Turned Bostig

On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 5:46 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:

> The problem I developed with my aux battery cirucit is quite an odd one. I
> had it setup the way the stock westy was, with a relay triggered by a field
> wire (in my case the defroster switch). It worked.
> Once i upgraded my batteries to Karl Mullendore's UB1200 4 deep cycle
> batteries however, things went crazy.
>
> I had a fuse inline between my relay and my starting battery, and a
> seperate fuse inline between my aux battery and the loads on it. The load
> fuse did not blow. However, the fuse combining the two batteries did, as I
> let the aux battery get low enough that when the charge power was added it
> worked as a dead short (I could start the car and the 30A fuse wouldnt blow,
> but as soon as i reved the engine it would blow). As a result of not
> catching this for 2000 miles or so, during which I had been running the
> Dometic fridge on 12V, the Aux batteries fell to a level where the amber
> light on the westfalia panel started to flicker on the red one! It was at
> this point that I pulled the whole system in feer of damaging the batteries.
>
> Since my fridge is out of an '80, it has its own "field wire" circuit to
> its own relay. Since the field wire was still getting current from my
> defroster, but the aux battery was not actually receiving a charge, it had
> been running off the aux battery!
>
> Many other faults were determined in my system. I will be reevaluating the
> system in plans of an upgrade soon, probably to a Surepower 1315, comprable
> Yalanda, or similar type combination "smart" relay/isolator and some heavier
> wire at that time.
> It goes to show you that the stock system of relay and what not, won't
> handle an 88ah deep cycle pack and a 140amp alternator (I think?) once the
> pack gets low!
>
> -Craig
> '85GL turned WESTY
> Bostig in the back
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 11:11 AM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 3:26 PM, craig cowan<phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Well guys, its time I thank the masses.Over the course of the last few
>> > months, plenty of people have given me great advice on preparing for the
>> > vanagon-dream-trip. I cannot possibly thank all of these people
>> > individually. I would also like to thank list members Peter Osianoski
>> and
>> > Tom Buses for allowing me a place to park for the night on the way out.
>> I
>> > also cannot speak highly enough of the gang Peter assembled (some of
>> whom
>> > are list members but names I forget), my meeting with Bob Stevens in
>> Salt
>> > Lake City, and a few other vanagon nuts I had a chance to talk with
>> along
>> > the way.
>> >
>> > I just completed my journey from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to Reno Nevada,
>> > over the course of 5 days, alone. I made the trip using my 1985 (mostly)
>> > vanagon which I have rebuilt from a piece of junk almost 5 years ago
>> now,
>> > converted to a full westfalia, and now installed a Bostig Engineering
>> engine
>> > conversion in! Many of you may have noticed I didn't ask any questions
>> > during the bostig install... because it's that easy! I cannot speak
>> highly
>> > enough about this product and won't go into a rant about that but will
>> say
>> > this, I've had my engine conversion running for 3 weeks now. The
>> lettering
>> > on the Ford Focus engine indicates I purchased it from the junk yard on
>> > 5-3-09. So the conversion only took about 2 weeks of working on and off,
>> > alone, and I immediately took it across the country! I don't know how
>> many
>> > people can say they put 1 tank of gasoline on an engine conversion
>> before
>> > taking it the next 3000 miles, but I can!
>> > With that said, the trip was just wonderful! I averaged 21mpg between
>> all my
>> > tanks of gasoline, with my best tank coming in at 26mpg. This was
>> > maintaining speeds of 70-75mph the entire way! I did run a few tanks of
>> E85
>> > ethanol as well, paying as low as $1.20/gallon!
>> >
>> > All the mechanical systems on the bus performed as expected, and it was
>> very
>> > sure footed throughout the entire journey. I did still have intermittent
>> > problems with my fridge blowing out while driving (but it appears it
>> only
>> > blows out above 70mph. If i Keep it to 70mph it will stay lit all day!),
>> and
>> > my aux battery charge circuit frying (Questions will follow about how to
>> > better set up my charge circuit to accommodate my 88ah of deep cycle
>> power
>> > under the drivers seat). It's time for an oil change. I never even
>> checked
>> > the oil, the entire way across the country! The little zetec just keeps
>> on
>> > running.
>> >
>> > Anyway, I am now spending my summer in Reno Nevada, teaching Sailing
>> > Lessons. If anyone is in the area or the surrounding areas and has
>> > suggestions for weekend getaways to camp, or would like to meet up with
>> me
>> > somewhere and do some camping, i'd cherish the opportunity. Furthermore
>> if
>> > anyone is in this area and needs some wrenching done, consider me a free
>> but
>> > only "pretty good" mechanic.
>> >
>> > In August, I will be making a similar trip home. I'm not sure that i'll
>> be
>> > taking the same route, but may make my way through the mountainous North
>> > rather than the relentlessly boring "middle". In my mind, Nebraska needs
>> to
>> > be eliminated.....from everything. Regardless, I look forward to meeting
>> > more of you guys!
>> >
>> > Sincerely,
>> > Craig Cowan
>> > '85Gl turned WESTY
>> > Bostig in the back.
>> >
>>
>>
>> There is no better feeling. Getting ones ride to the point that it can
>> be trusted, firing it up, hearing it purr, and hitting the road with
>> peace of mind. Enjoying the fruits of your labour. I too know that
>> feeling.
>>
>> Sounds like an awesome time man!
>>
>> Not to be a nag, but is there a fuse installed between positive post
>> and load on your aux. battery?
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>>
>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>>
>
>