

| Subject: | Re: Is Westy-lust justified? |
| From: | William Dummitt |
| Date: | Mon, 10 Aug 1998 14:01:36 -0400 |
There are as many answers to this as there are people who want to camp in a van. Everyone has their own opinion, and they all are right- for them. My own feelings on the value of the Westy amenities are, in the order *I* perceive them:: Pop-top- most valuable because it allows you to sleep without having to rearrange your gear. I'm only 5-11, though, and taller people don't care for sleeping in the poptop. Also allows you to stand while getting dressed, cooking in the van, etc. It is this particular innovation that sets VW campers apart from most of the clunky high-roof campers based on US vans. I've always liked the straight-up poptops on some other conversion types, particularly the one used by Country Homes. Sink- having a source of clean running water all the time is worth quite a bit to me. I often camp in primitive sites where the presence of the sink makes it a lot easier to keep clean. Stove- Handy when it's too cold or rainy to cook outside. Otherwise, I'd just as soon cook on a picnic table with the portable stove that I always carry. I could easily live without the Westy stove and use a portable stove inside when its cold. Fridge- Too small and temperamental to count on as my only source of cold. I still use and enjoy it, but I always have a cooler as a supplemental source of cold stuff and could go to a bigger cooler and forget the fridge without feeling deprived. A lot depends on the time of year you prefer to camp. I enjoy the fall and winter months and so the stove and sink are particularly useful when its cold outside. Then one can forget the fridge and just set your beer outside. I have added a heater to every camper I've owned and consider that more important than the stove and fridge, because it extends my camping season so much. Many campers carry elaborate camping setups and have side tents, dining canopies, etc. Because I'm a lazy man at heart, I value the Westy because all I have to do to set up camp is to pop up the top, swivel the passenger seat, and fish the appropriate beverage out of the fridge. But a camper like the Multivan without the stove and fridge might suit me almost as well as a full Westy. It is a fact that a lot of people are sure they want a Westy, buy it, take one camping trip, and then never get around to using it again. Personally, I like this because I can then buy their campers! My $0.02 Bill
Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »