On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 6:15 PM, Peter K <bybike@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am looking at getting my first westy, and have spent the past couple of
> weeks looking through gowesty and thesamba to see what knowledge i can
> glean... along with reading all the the info here for the past week or so.

So, I'll say one little thing about the camping equipment, if you
decide to go with a full camper.  There is a little drain pipe that
pokes out through the holes under the door of the fridge.  It should
have a cap on it connected to the pipe with a chain (like a biker
wallet).  See if you can unscrew that by hand.  On mine, it was rusted
in place.  Water had built up in the back, it looked like, and sat
there, half way filling the firebox, long enough to put a rust line
there.  You wouldn't be able to see this without removing the fridge,
but you might get an idea of whether there is anything going on there
by this simple test.

I would love to hear everyone chime in with their
pre-buy-check-remorse stories of "what I wish I would have checked
before I bought my vanagon".  Like knowing to look on the tires and
see if they are rated for the van, for example.  Simple thing to do,
if you know to do it.  If it has the wrong kind of tires you know the
PO was either ignorant or knowingly skimping (don't know which one is
worse).

mike