My wife truly likes the stove, sink, refrigerator.  I would be fine without them.  If I ever needed to cook inside when raining, I could do it anyway, with the little backpacking stoves we use outside and the window open.  But, she likes the stuff, and I love my wife.  That's why we kept the beast after buying it in the first place -- her liking it.  I'd be fine with a tent, like we used to use (and still do sometimes).

So far as bears, MOST places (not all) a hardside vehicle is ok.  However, after seeing brown bears in Alaska (not when camping in a VW), I believe they could actually turn over a camper if they were determined to get at stuff inside.  Even black bears can get into vehicles, and have done so regularly in the Sierras, mainly Yosemite.  But as I said, most places, a hardside vehicle is ok.

DMc

---- J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> Exactly the reason I am excited about the possibility of getting a Weekender, after many years of full camper Westy's I too rarely used the stove/sink/fridge.
>
>
>
> Jeff Stewart
>
>
> ----- "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
> > Westy's appear to be a grand vehicle for traveling and camping, but i
> > have never had an opportunity to use one that way, let alone even drive
> > one to see how they handle. Yet a few years ago, I spent an entire
> > summer camping out in Alaska in my '85 GL. I found it convenient,
> > flexible, and comfortable for the most part. I never found a need to
> > have cooking facilities inside, nor sink, nor even a refrigerator. In
> > fact, cooking inside could have created a bear problem with the smells.
> >
> >

--
David McNeely