Travel and Camping in VW Camper--my most unlikely car and only Volkswagen I've ever owned

See like a fun mode of transport. I love the way all the old VWs looked. Old school style. Enjoyable read.

I would just love to have an old vintage VW camper. That would really be cool.This was an enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing, and I will share this as well. Voted up and interesting.

dahoglund, great essay on you VW experience. I remember a time when you couldn't give them away, now I want another if it's decent it's 20,000. Originally a 36 horse power air cooled engine, I remember my Dad looking at it as I puttered in the drive, shaking his head and looking at his feet. He said "Boy, ain't no doubt who's gonna be the first one to the crash", it's funny now but then I didn't think so. You mentioned your wiring was screwed up, they all were! you never saw such a rats nest of wires shoved in a hole in you life. I've owned more than 7 and less than 9. I have every specialty tool it takes to rebuild one stem to stern. I looked at the bug as the big kids go cart. They put out the 40 horse later and they would get a feller there just not fast in the rockies out west here. No heat and a rag for a defroster, ha! I have so much brain space filled with VW know how if I could erase it I wouldn't be forgetting all else. Super read! Easy to follow you done large sir! I enjoyed the flash back, peace, 50

I have a Chevy Astro conversion van with the extended height top. The mileage isn't that great(about 20mpg) but it has all the room and fold down bed in the back. The captains seats all fold down too and we have slept six people in there when we were going across country to a funeral. One night in it and when we woke up, we had another 2 hours to go. We just couldn't go any further without sleeping for a while. 24 hours of driving from central TN to Northern NV. 2 drivers.

Dahoglund , I had a beetle as a kid , but always wanted the van, we do a lot of camping and love it . Ive had fifth wheels , truck campers and now a pop up. Tent camper. I like this the most . Seems like your outdoor camping in a tent trailer.Nice memories.

Interesting Hub. Pat's husband always regarded VWs as 'hippie cars' probably because of the camper. Several of our friens had them, but we were never into camping.

VWs seem to have come on a lot since then. Pat's daughter bought a sedan-style VW earlier this year (its called a Polo). She lives in Scotland and has already had a lot of snow this winter. She says she is very happy with how well the car performs in winter weather.

I can remember my grandpa through this page. It reminds me of how much he loves his truck and my mom.

Sweet note.

I so remember them!! I owned a vanagon for a while. We lived at the beach and when my daughter, dog and I would come home we would just hose the thing out! It was great! Thanks for the memory,

your new fan!

love it. I would have bought it : ) hubby converts our mini van for sleeping when we go camping. I like the vw idea especially for mileage. I am amazed at all the stuff that fit in it.

There very hard to find!!

Those that you do find are very expensive, even run down ones requiring a full restoration.

Never had one myself, but I wouldn't mind one even now (still being a hippy?).

Certainly was a vehicle that was different, yet oddly enough, I think anyone who owned them had a certain connection with them if you know what I mean. The inside of the one you depicted here reminds me of a narrow pop up camper. :)

Wow, I remember when these came on the scene. It was a must buy - the whole concept of the VW, including the Beetle. Now I want one. I think of all the people I want to come visit me - and wouldn't it be nice to have one of these set up as extra space way out back. And how this can even be a writing space should I need it.

Interesting that you can leave your dog in it without fear. That says a lot about the quality of VW.

Great hub and great fun. Thanks a lot!

Definitely a little cramped. Great hub.

We've been driving a 71 Bus for a year now, we picked it up from Lake Havasu and drove via the Grand Canyon back to Charlotte NC - I must say it was a trip of a lifetime to see America. We'd just pull up and camp wherever we wanted - this was the height of freedom for us as we have 2 young boys and so this was a vacation away from it all. Since then we've been camping all over the Smoky mountains in NC and enjoy the practicality of the Bus plus the kids love it. Quite reasonably priced too - but be prepared for some mechanical maintenance..

There are mini-motorhomes where one does not have to pull a car along. My parents had one after having had a large fifth-wheeler and also a large motorhome where they did have to pull a small car with them for greater mobility when parked somewhere. They really enjoyed the ease of traveling with that smaller one. Unfortunately my Dad died when he was in his 50's and that ended traveling that way for my mother as she was never comfortable driving those vehicles.

If one adds up the expense of purchasing a motorhome; the added gasoline use when driving them; renting spaces in parks for the night...renting a motel room is probably less expensive. It is simply the convenience of having everything with you...getting further out into nature...being able to take one's animals with one, etc. that makes them attractive. Their dogs LOVED going along on their trips!

Sounds as though you and Rose had some fun experiences in your Volkswagon Camper. That trip up to Pikes Peak certainly would tax many a vehicle...not just the one you were driving. Talk about using gears!!! I remember.

You could write individual hubs about each of the places you visited in your camper. Just a suggestion. I think it would be interesting and am sure others would also find it to be of interest.