29 October 2014

Silly stuff that bothers me

Did a little finicky tinkering today.

Why doesn't the yellow light work on the water level indicator when the red and green work fine? Bad connection.

What happened to the sound in my right rear upper speaker? Answer - I disconnected it because it was behind my child's head - time to reconnect.

Test fit the grey water tank. Had no instructions to determine which brackets and bolts go where?  Sure I could figure it out, but why turn a 2 hour job into 4 hours?  Called Bus Depot and they provided a link to pictures.

Tightened up the stove top so it will not rattle like it did.

My mirror in the closet came loose.  Needed to replace the support plastic tabs.

Installed the walkway trim piece I had in my garage.

Silly little stuff - but stuff that bothered me.

Spent some time relocating the summer time junk that was accumulating in the Thingamajigger's garage space. Getting to be that time of year.

Contemplated some pop top work and thought better of it.  No major projects before the Veterans Day parade as I am towing the float for my son's Cub Scout Pack.

18 October 2014

Grey water tank

Typical RV's have three types of water storage tanks - 1. Fresh water;  2. Black Water (toilet sewage) 3. Gray Water (sink sewage). While the black water tank is generally not built in to our vans, I felt that the grey water should be.  Have used a bucket in the past, but a nasty spill (and resulting cleanup) this summer got me thinking there had to be a better way.

Most states consider the water that drains from our Vanagons as sewage due to high concentration of solids. So what are the options?

There is the bucket method.  The water drains straight down through piping to empty out under the van into a bucket.  This requires a walk to the latrine, or a proper sewage dump station.  There are tanks that also provide a 'safer' version of transport. Generally wheels are attached. But venting needs to be considered as well.

Also, where do you store the bucket or tank on wheels?

There are collapsible tanks, that can be thrown out when they get too grungy.  But they tend to be too tall to drain directly into, requiring a tubing system to use.

Tanks. 
There are a few options here.  I have seen some on the Samba successfully modifying an older Bay window water tank to mount under the van.  I even bought one to do this, but then thought better of it.  I have also seen some make a tank out of 4 or 6 inch schedule 40 PVC.

Then I saw this little gem.  
 
 
 
 
 
Bought it with mounting kit. Little bit on pricier side, but it's made especially for this purpose by the factory.  Designed to work around your propane tank, it mounts up under the kitchen with its own mount kit.
 
Once I have a few moments, I will install it and add some pictures.

Bus Depot provided this link for the installation directions.  It is in German, but pictures are worth a thousand words, right?

http://www.vwbusshop.de/WebRoot/Sage/Shops/GuenzlClassicParts/MediaGallery/Anleitungen/Abwassertank_Joker.pdf


12 October 2014

Salem Massachusetts

at Halloween!  What a fun time.

Ran around the city taking in the Halloween frights.

Transporterfest was this weekend at the Lars Anderson Museum in Brookline.

Some of the participants found their way to a campground in Salem for some pre-show enjoyment.

Good to see all the usual folk (notice I make no reference to normal), and meet some new VW people.

LP

25 likeminded VW folk.


Lots of laughs, VW stories and such.



Sunrise over the cove at Winter Island