Hey all,

In a moment of complete synchronicity I made the decision to move on from my little modern city car to a vw kombi. The switch took only five hours courtesy of ebay and a quick trip round to the sellers house to check her (my new blue dubb) out.

My amazement from my first few trips in her was not just the amount of power in the engine but at the fact that a kombi wave exists. Virtual strangers pass me buy and practically hang out the window of their vee dubb rides to show their appreciation of seeing another kombi or the like on the road. This acknowledgement just seems to add to my kombi's charm and as each day passes by and the vw specialists look over her I am constantly reminded that somehow with no knowledge at all, I have managed to find myself a strong work horse that has practically no mechanical probs. Fingers crossed this doesnt change.

Given the good fortune it seem that she will be ready for her first road trip sooner then i thought.

And what a road trip.... 12 months to travel from Brisbane to West Australia. So far the plan is to head south at the end of November and get myself to the West as soon as possible. But MY CONCERN LIES IN CROSSING THE DESERT? any suggestions....

I would also love to meet up with other vee dubbers along the way in order to make my trip as interesting as possible and to check out some of the vw shows/car rallies/hill climbs any info would be fab!

:sandrine

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hey son of jim

am interested in getting some awnings to extend off the kombi what is your recomendation? or have any in stock?

Any other thoughts

kittendeluxe

Sound slike you got a good buy!!

The best way across the desert is by taking Highway 1 across the Nullabor. There is PLENTY to see and do between where you are and where you are going without the worry and risk of a off-road desert trip

ask kombibob, he has done that crossing once or twice.. sounds like a great time to be had..:thumb

Nothing really remarkable to do when driving volksies long distance.

1. If possible, install an oil temp guage, and dont run it any hotter than about 120°c. Depending on the temperature ,wind, age of engine and other factors, this can mean sitting on anything between the legal limit of 110 down to about 85 - 90.

2. Put clean oil in before you leave Brisbane. Change oil religiously every 5000km and your kombi will love you for it.

3. Have the mechanic check on the condition of all the rubber engine bay seals, and replace any if they are faulty or cracked. This is cheap insurance - if the engine bay seals are poor, your kombi will be sucking hot air off the exhaust to try and cool itself - not good !

4. Relax and enjoy the trip. Take your time and see everything that interests you across the nullarbor (coklebiddy cave is interesting, and from memory there are a couple of other caves through there that are easily accessed), because remember its a bloody long way to come back for a second look !

5. Take a digital camera and post photos here when you get back !!!

I'd start by checking and replacing as required all of the important rubber bits such as the brake, fuel and vacuum hoses, the various rubber boots and seals and the rubber disc at the base of the steering column. Also replacing the ignition components is worthwhile so as to start from a known good point. While you're at it keep an eye out for missing/loose nuts, bolts, etc. There, that should keep you busy for a while!

Yep, as the others have said.
I did a round Oz trip in our '77 bus. It was a blast and can't wait to go again!
Just do things at kombi pace. Take it easy on the old Westy and it will do you proud.
I found best economy ~80kph (actually most traveler's we met said the same regardless of vehicle) and it also put a lot less stress on the motor. The people who screamed past you were easily caught up again as they need to make more stops, both for fuel and fatigue from driving so fast.
If you are concerend about your kombi, it's probably a good idea for a check up from a VW mechanic in each capital city you pass through. They are easy to find there, but less frequently outside.

I guess it's also good advice to carry a few spares, a good workshop manual, and survival kit of some sort (including spare water/food etc).

Most of all make the most of the trip!

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewthread.php?tid=21916&page=1#pid185819 

Just returned from long service trip in my 76 kombi auto camper. Great trip.13,000 kms, 15 litres/100km, went melbourne, the rock, kings canyon, Darwin, Cairns and down the coast to Vic home. Only problem was a wheel bearing near home on return. Taking bikes and having a wind out awning was essential. Do you want pics and advice?

Put the car on the Train carrier and catch a plane over less stress and no wear n tear on yr car.

Thanks guys for all your advice,
So far I have had a major service, replaced all the seals in the engine and i am about to take have her electrics checked.

I have run into one difficulty though. My oil light was broken so after the service it was replaced and now everytime she goes over 100 degrees the light comes on BUT only when I stop at traffic lights or have to brake.... My mechanic has just about checked everything and is recommending an engine overhaul? Any suggestions. I will put this up on techtalk as well:sandrine

an engine overhaul will cost you up to 2000 (?) dollars, add on the cost of fuel, food, other parts (new wheel bearings, spare tyres, etc) and you just may find it easier and maybe even cheaper to ship it and take a plane.

BUT

i crossed the simpson desert with my father in our 4wd and on motorbike, and it was one of the best excperiences i have ever had. it is well worth the trip and i say go for it and have fun. but make sure you have lots of spares, and oi personally wouldnt be going anywhere without a decent gps (global positioning satellite) and sat nav cellular phone.. even when you are on the road anything can happen, so it really pays to know exactly where you are (a good pgs can point you out to within a metre these days) and the ability to contact help if you are stranded. if you can tell an emergency help line your exact co ordinates on a map, then help will arrive much sooner if need be.

A couple of easy things to do to check on the engine condition (to check on the mechanic's recommended engine rebuild).

Do a compression check. A fresh VW engine should get around 130+psi on each cylinder and less than 10PSI worst to best.

As the engine ages the compression drops - general wisdom says to start planning a rebuild as soon as any one cylinder gets below 100psi. The engine will still run, but with reducing power and increasing fuel consumnption.

Try grabbing the engine pulley (you'll have to remove a few covers to see it on the pancake Kombi engine) and pull it in\out. If there is any visible movement it's probably too much (crankshaft engine play should be only 3-5 thou.) This gives you an idea of bearing/saddle wear.

These two tests give you some indication of the condition of the top and bottom of the engine.

What oil did you use for the oil change. Any good 20w50 works well in the Aus climate. Any thinner than the 50 upper number tends to be a little thin for a hot engine and you'll find the oil light might flicker at idle.

As one poster above said, the Kombi engine is best driven on it's oil temp - keep it reasonable and the engine will run for ever. I spoke to some Brit Kombi travellers at Coober Pedy a while ago who said they had been told to stop drving when the temp hit 40c. Not necessary, just don't push it with that heavy vehicle on really hot days - a cruise at 80kmh will get you there only a little later than pushing it at 110 on a hot day (I say this despite being a truck operator who HATES to see slow cars and caravans because it means loosing all that momentum and long periods of acceleration when trying to pass.)

Take only what you really need so you don't load the vehicle to the waterline. They can take a bunch but it works the car harder so just take what you need and you'll get better economy too.

Take essential spares. Fan belt, a set of plugs, jack, tools, and most important, enough water for say two days - 4 litres per person per day is the general rule. if you do have a problem on the road it gets darn hot in the middle of the day out there and you'll drink heaps.

Join the RACQ at the premium level (RAA Premium, RAVC Total Care - whatever it's called in your state). Most states haver three steps in cover - go for the highest.

I do lots of car recoveries in country areas (I run a car carrier truck/trailer combo - Just got back from Roxby Downs a few minutes ago), and you can see the relief on the folks faces when I turn up and know they can get back to the big smoke without forking out $5-600 for a long tow.

Regards

Because you will be travelling across Oz in summer, it is a good idea to fit a set of "elephant ears" to the air intakes. Get a suitable metal bowl, cut it in half and pop rivet it over the air intakes to make them more efficient and to catch much more cooling air. I have crossed the Nullarbor twice and gone up the Great Central Road from Kalgoorlie to Alice Springs once, in summer in my air cooled dune buggy. I fitted an extra air scoop made from big plastic plumbing fittings and it made a great deal of difference.

Fit a remote oil cooler with long lines and be sure the engine has adequate ventilation..
Most campers you see have had scoops and such added to them for a reason...
Kombis traditionally cook the number 3 cyclinder on really long runs, if they are not rested and allowed to cool down every so often...

Check you U2U for my phone number,
I run a Towing Company in Perth....:kiss

This is Ollie so named because of the Martini olive paint. The screen,mp3 player and awning we put on before the trip. She is a real cruiser and delightful to drive. We had an awesome trip and will post more details soon. The Sturt Hwy and the trip across to Qld was a blast. The cattle grids can loosen fittings.

[ Edited on 7-11-2005 by Peter_Sedgwick ]

working now, awesome van pete!

[ Edited on 7-11-2005 by Kroozin_Kikko ]

This is the sun awning my work mate put on. Keeps the inside cool and allows the fridge to work more efficiently. We carried the bikes which allowed us to stay set up and explore towns. We found a great mechanic in Mildura who knew heaps about kombies and had a 10,000 km service at Townsville. We broke a roof rivet but it still worked ok with two. We stopped every hour or so and the oil cooler is a job l should have done before the trip. Took basic parts and added small quantities of oil between service.It certainly was an adventure. Everyone noticed the KOMBI.

Peter, Unreal Setup tah for the photo. I am keen to take my bike but i am unsure as to whether to attach it via a bike carrier off the tow bar or is there any other suggestions?

Also where did you get your awning from?

I am about to put a bumper on the front of the van despite making it front heavy?:sandrine

[ Edited on 7-11-2005 by kittendeluxe ]

BIG cheers for all your advice I am going to book in to have a compression test done and will also have an oil cooler added. I will fill everyone in on the result once this has been completed.:sandrine

[ Edited on 7-11-2005 by kittendeluxe ]

The elephant ear advice has been great. Does any company make them or is it bettern to make your own?
:sandrine

Very easy to make your own or go check out some wrecking yards, they should have some there pretty cheap..
Saw some once made from a baked enamel coated baking dish that had been cut in half and each half riverted on.. Didn't look like a "Factory part" but they did the job Really well and if you have a baking dish that you'de otherwise be giving away, it won't cost you anything to cut it up...
Otherwise if you want to pay the postage I can send some from here...

[ Edited on 7-11-2005 by WABaja ]

Awning from Clints. Agreat asset.

Glad you liked the stone guard. Besides looking great it gave me some protection on rough roads around NT and outback Queensland especially when the roadtrains hurled past. l ordered it from Roof Rack World in South Australia. It cost around $200. l sprayed it black.

I also suggest fitting a big Donaldson air cleaner with a pre-cleaner dust collecter up on the roof rack. Do not feed the air to the engine down a cooling air intake hole. They need to be unobstructed, especially in summer. For cold weather running, where you need warm engine room air to prevent icing up of the carburettor, keep that air cleaner and incorporate a bypass system to give you the two options. Consider removing the standard oil cooler to eliminate the different cooling of the cylinders, and fit an oil cooler with a fan outside the engine bay and up in the airstream somewhere. Resist the temptation to fit the oil cooler in front of the engine air cooling intake. That's OK in winter but not in summer. You do not want to pre-heat the cooling air in summer. Tune into the sound and feel of the engine. If when running in high ambient temperatures, the engine seems to be unhappy, upon inspection the oil seems a bit hot and thin and especially if the engine ticks alarmingly when turned off, stop and take a siesta. Would you like to work hard in the heat of the day? Love your Kombi. Don't expect it to like it any more that you would.

I did a similar trip from Adelaide up through Alice and all the way to Darwin many moons ago when I was backpacking.

Take plenty of water. A gerry can of fuel and a can of oil.

Your kombi should perform just fine.

Take it easy on the corrigations! I speak from personal experience.

Oh and, have a great journey, you cant beat it.

"elephant ears" are available from plenty of VW places.
"Kombisaint" on the forum makes and sells them also and will post them to you.