I'd add known good used alternator.
and for an automatic..
it can't run if the starter doesn't work ..
or barely  can be towed to fire up ..
heavy part to carry ...
but ...you can push start a manual trans easily ..
but an automatic depends on a working starter quite a bit.

I have rebuildable core ones for sale fwiw.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Hardy" <david@PLANETMIND.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 8:45 PM
Subject: Re: 86 Westy Camper w/automatic : list of emergency gear

My advice would be to focus on the stuff that would really strand you,
and also those things not readily available in the middle of "What's a
Vanagon?" Country: fuel pump relay, fuel pump, ECU, hall sender or
spare distributor, spare water pump belt, ignition switch (cheap).
Those 2 relays in the box over the coil are pretty important, too.

Then there's the McGuyver-fix stuff like bailing wire, 16 guage
insulated wire (like 30ft), various hose clamps, coolant and fuel
hose, nuts, bolts, screws, duct tape, WD-40, and a good headlamp. a
spare gallon of water of course. All depends on your level of
McGuyver-ability, though.

And tools: sockets, 8,10,13,17mm wrenches, metric allens, vice grips,
needle-nose, cheap multimeter,etc. Cell phone w/internet, for sure. I
like to carry a soldering iron and solder - works off my 400W
inverter.  Definitely the Bentley.

Stuff like cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel filter, thermostat, are
unlikely to really strand you and are usually easily found - and you
should replace all that stuff before leaving if it's suspect, anyhow.
It's cheap.

Water pump - yeah, if you have the skills to replace it. I guess even
if not, it would be nice to hand it to a mechanic, rather than waiting
a few days for the shop to get one.

And as mentioned, whatever flavor of roadside assistance you can get
is well worth it for peace of mind.

We're thinking about a trip down into Mexico, so this has been on my
mind lately.

David