Whoops, forgot to add something I found on the web on starting a
car-sharing cooperative, for those of you that are interested.

http://transitionus.org/sites/default/files/HowTo_StartACarSharingCoop_v1.0.pdf

I doubt the author had a Westy in mind.  More like a Prius used for in-town
stuff.  But that's not to say it couldn't work.  Plenty of pitfalls, for
sure....

On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 2:58 PM, Mark Hersh <cmwolfsburg@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks for all the replies.  Just to clarify:  I'm not considering going
> in to this group -- I have a Westy already, with plenty of sweat and $
> poured into it.
>
> But there are lots of good points here for my neighbor to consider.
>
> Mark
>
> PS  Was a Henry J named after Henry J Kaiser?  I know I could wiki it but
> the name just poppped into my head....  My only knowledge of the car comes
> from the section in my dad's 1954 Motors repair manual.
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 7:42 AM, forum email <nij.forum@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Question 1) how well do you know the people in the group?
>> Eventually something will go wrong in the dynamic and then its potential
>> for being a mess is very high.
>>
>> 2) how many people in the co-op?
>> Most people do NOT want to camp outside the good months so you need to set
>> up a timeshare thing where weeks are allocated in advance,  the most
>> desirable weeks have a higher cost. If you lived in Roanoke VA everyone
>> would probably want the Natural Bus weekend.
>>
>> 3) Will all in the co-op understand what it takes to drive a 25-35 year
>> old
>> vehicle?
>> You would need to decide in advance if its a co-op then any repairs are
>> the
>> groups  responsibility, not just the driver at that moment.
>>
>> 4)insurance?
>> Good luck finding a policy to cover this. If its titled by one person and
>> they hold they hold the insurance, who ends up with the liability if
>> something really bad happens.
>>
>> I could spend hours and pages listing the Pros and the Cons. They are some
>> wonderful advantages to sharing,  but they are also some huge drawbacks as
>> well.
>>
>> In the end it comes down to you?
>>
>> Nij
>>  On Jun 17, 2013 9:02 AM, "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <
>> kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> > I would not do this.  My sister had a Westy rental business for a
>> couple of
>> > summers and really what we found out is that you have to be really picky
>> > who you rent to.  The person needs to have common sense and also treat
>> the
>> > vehicle with a small modicum of care (like pulling over when belts
>> break or
>> > lights are flashing).  We had customers abandon vans as far away as
>> Maine
>> > (from NJ) and then demand free rentals, etc. all because they had lights
>> > flashing, strange noises, and refused to stop and check them out.  When
>> > people rent or borrow a vehicle it is not the same level or ownership
>> pride
>> > or care that you have some a person who has a lot of time, effort and
>> money
>> > invested in something.  Instead they have more of a "I can do anything I
>> > want because I paid money." attitude which isn't helpful in keeping a
>> > Vanagon alive and well.
>> >
>> > Just my opinion,
>> > Ken Wilford
>> > John 3:16
>> > www.vanagain.com
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 12:02 AM, Mark Hersh <cmwolfsburg@gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > > So at a neighborhood BBQ tonight, someone  (a neighbor that admires
>> our
>> > > camper) came up to meand said they were thinking of trying to get
>> > together
>> > > a small "cooperative" with the purpose of joint ownership of a camper.
>> > > Figuring that they would all pay in for maintenance, cleaning, etc.,
>> and
>> > > knowing they would have to come up with some reasonably democratic and
>> > fair
>> > > way to allocate time slots.
>> > >
>> > > Seemed like a reasonable enough idea to me to volunteer to put it out
>> to
>> > > the group (because I'm not about to volunteer my camper!).
>> > >
>> > > Anyone have any experience with such a thing, or know of such a thing?
>> > A
>> > > Google search came up with a couple interesting leads, but I thought
>> I'd
>> > > ask the collective Vanagon brain trust.
>> > >
>> > > Thanks
>> > >
>> > > Mark
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > 86 Campmobile Six-Seater "Monty"
>> > >
>> > > Black dogs are euthanized at a greater rate than other-colored dogs,
>> > > regardless of temperament.  Learn about Black Dog Syndrome at
>> > > http://www.blackpearldogs.com/  Learn about black dogs in a Vanagon
>> at
>> > > http://www.pbase.com/mhersh/image/108220533
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Thanks,
>> > Ken Wilford
>> > John 3:16
>> > www.vanagain.com
>> >
>>
>
>
>
> --
> 86 Campmobile Six-Seater "Monty"
>
> Black dogs are euthanized at a greater rate than other-colored dogs,
> regardless of temperament.  Learn about Black Dog Syndrome at
> http://www.blackpearldogs.com/  Learn about black dogs in a Vanagon at
> http://www.pbase.com/mhersh/image/108220533
>

--
86 Campmobile Six-Seater "Monty"

Black dogs are euthanized at a greater rate than other-colored dogs,
regardless of temperament.  Learn about Black Dog Syndrome at
http://www.blackpearldogs.com/  Learn about black dogs in a Vanagon at
http://www.pbase.com/mhersh/image/108220533