Being a world tourist in a Vanagon myself, I disagree about USA/Can =
travelers vs. others being overly prepared with doodads etc.... While =
traveling in South America, we saw the most outrageous non Vanagon =
vehicles. Germans, Swiss, and a couple of French Over landers (shipped =
their rigs) spent up to two years traveling around with big, HUGE 6x6 =
trucks(Mercedes, Mann, and some smaller 4x4 Toyota camper vans) They =
were like totally over kill. The Busses that we met on the road from =
the US or Can, Westys mostly were winging it with minimal additions. I =
upgraded my suspension and switched to 15=E2=80=9D wheels. Which proved =
to be very helpful on dirt and back country roads, and for tire =
purchases. We put 40,000 miles on the van(Paco) for the 14 months that =
we were traveling around South America. I blew/wore out 6 tires(two =
from something on the road, 4 from improper alignment.) Nacho(Brad and =
Sheena, the kids trying to raise $ to drive through China) did some =
major renovations. That is in my experience is the exception rather =
than the rule.... I did have a tranny blow in Chile which was almost a =
trip ender... But we managed. I spent a lot of fun times with mechanics =
fixing, brakes, tires, tyranny, and corroded gas tank problems. I had =
the Alternator rebuilt twice, and the starter cleaned with new contacts =
added. The engine did just fine, it was all the parts that I =
didn=E2=80=99t replace that had to be repaired. Just a word of warning =
to any that are thinking of going south with 2.2 L Vanagon, this engine =
was exclusive to North America only, so it is little known in the South. =
My engine was a big hit at a Westy party that was given for us and a =
Canadian Family in Buenos Aires. They couldn=E2=80=99t get enough =
pictures of it. So engine parts, and some of the running gear and =
suspension would be difficult to find. So being prepared is always a =
good idea. So I guess there is a fine line separating over prepared and =
prepared and just winging it. Like most of you all know breakdowns can =
happen anywhere with a Vanagon.