Since I keep many new vanagon parts in stock, for the occaisonal emergency
visit by a vanagon person with an issue ....
I figure I might as well have some of them in my van , which I do.  Not big
heavy stuff..
smaller more technical parts.
I always would have on board , for example..
a known-good distributor.
a good ecu.
a good used fuel pump.
a box of miscellaneous hose parts and hose junctions and clamps ( used that
in a real incident recently )
a spare fuel filter
 an igniton coil if I have a good spare laying around.
a new igntion switch ..so small , light, and likely, that it's mandatory in
my book.
a spare   alternator or at least a voltage regulator for on.
spare betls of course.
a spark spark plug wire or two ....
a spare good used distributor cap and rotor .  I just had a real incident
where a cap came in handy.

the list can go on and on.
I tend to carry a lot, and be pretty prepared for most anything. Within
reason.
I sometimes carry a spare CV joint if I don't know the recent history of the
ones currently on the van.
and of course, a Bentley tech manual.

it comes down to 3 things mainly when there is a problem..
the required part/s.
the tools needed,
and the tech savvy or tech info.  ( and a place to do the work of course.
Going to a FLAPS parking lot or being nearby is only smart .
 Having the book along .....you may not use it, but some shop saving you
might.

good thermostat, I like one of those along too. The cooler one usually.

scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: Minimum spares kit. Was: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty
Darn Quick

> so, mark, what is your list of the must, or at least really should carry
> items?  I have asked this before on the list, and I got more "you're a
> worry wart" type answers than I did useful information.  but now I have a
> prime suspect for providing useful information.  I do carry spare belts.
> I have a roll of "Rescue Tape."  I carry extra coolant, and of course oil.
> But a reasonable list from an expert would be handy.  An alternator seems
> like an awfully big and heavy item to carry a spare around.  Would making
> sure the one on the van is sound before departure be a reasonably cautious
> procedure, or do you really think I need to carry one?  Same with water
> pump of course.  Now, that has gone bad while on the road.  Cost a fair
> amount, too.  The nasty thing there was that the water pump was new, but
> obviously faulty.  I did get a refund from the original bad one, but I was
> still out extra cost.
>
> thanks, David
> ---- mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:
>> There is no clear answer as to where to stop. My wife and I use our vans
>> for many long trips away from home, 1,000 or 5,000 or 10,000 miles at a
>> time. Much of the time we are away from cities or large towns. Vanagon
>> specific parts are not the most common things stocked by FLAPS, should
>> there even be a FLAPS nearby. Need a WBX waterpump on a Thurs afternoon?
>> Expect to wait until Monday at the soonest and pay double the price.
>> When it shows up as the wrong one, wait again for another day or two.
>> When the gasket is damaged when you open the second box? Do a Micky
>> Mouse repair and hope for the best, far from home on lonely roads.
>>
>> Experience has shown us what is more likely to fail and what is hard to
>> obtain quick. We carry those parts, particularly the smaller ones, as
>> well as basic tools and some special tools that a given FLAPS may not
>> stock. We rarely need them. They are like insurance. It is easy to say
>> an insurance policy was a waste AFTER it expires without a claim. I have
>> not used my AAA towing for many years, but I renew each time anyway.
>>
>> For spare parts we can shop at our list vendors at our leisure and save
>> a lot of money over what the parts cost from a FLAPS in some small town.
>> They even tend to ship the right parts, something the FLAPS have failed
>> me on more than once.
>>
>> If you do find yourself broken down away from home and in need of parts
>> and/or tools, have the tow truck take you to a big FLAPS instead of a
>> repair shop. Then you can try the repairs yourself, with ready access to
>> tools and parts as you discover the need. I have bought a cheap floor
>> jack or wheel ramps more than once just to do a repair out behind or
>> across the street from a FLAPS. Even when I have the needed part with me
>> I don't always have all the equipment to change it. Some stuff takes too
>> much room.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>>
>> Poppie Jagersand wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Rocket J Squirrel<camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
>> > "if you are into fixing it yourself..
>> > and going on semi-remote trips and being your own rescue team ..
>> > one should, or could,  have more than one alternator total."
>> >
>> > But where does this end?
>> > ----------------------------------
>> >
>> > I also ask: How many spares should one really carry? Wife drives Toyota
>> > with no clue what to do if it stops... So do 99% of others whether they
>> > drive a car or RV.
>> >
>> > I used to have spares and tools filling the whole storage under the
>> > bench, but with a growing family there's need for the wife and kid's
>> > stuff too!
>> >
>> > Spare regulator is easy: I have one in the glove box.
>> > Spare alternator? I'd rather know how long I can drive on a full
>> > battery and know if that will take me home. Or bring one of those ctek
>> > pocket size chargers and make sure my next campsite has power to charge
>> > overnight.
>> > For the Diesel I've even wondered if there would be a way to jam open
>> > or remove the stop solenoid so it can be push started and driven w/o
>> > any electric whatsoever.
>> >
>> > Spare belts make sense.
>> >
>> > Similar theory goes for other things. Full hose set has been trimmed to
>> > just the octupus and the other split hose, assuming anything else can
>> > be fixed with generic hose from a FLAPS. Would be nice with a proven
>> > "clamp-on" or "tape on" solution for minor leaks. Should get some plugs
>> > so I can plug off heater core loop, and would be interesting if it is
>> > at all possible to close off rad loop and drive slowly w. just heater
>> > core and fan on max. (remember at Canadian temps the heater cpore can
>> > remove 30-50,000 Btu at peak.)
>> >
>> > Tool kit has gone from the full works, to a neat "sockets store in the
>> > handle" 3/4 driver and the sockets  I actually need + 2 extensions
>> > +6mm allen . An adjustable wrench, Original VW 10/13mm wrench and
>> > screwdriver (recently lost at Dinner Roch, BC  :(, electric multimeter,
>> > some spare wire, electic tape, hose clamps, nuts and bolts.
>> >
>> > Martin (and '82 Westy "Poppie")
>> >
>> >
>
> --
> David McNeely