Bus is now a GeoCaching Travel Bug

Do you GeoCache? If not, you should. Read Getting Started on GeoCaching.com. I've been doing it for about a year now and love it. It's fun to do with the kids too.

If you do cache already, be on the look out for my bus. It has a Trackable item decal on the driver and back sides.

If you see it, note the coordinates, go to GeoCaching.com and log that you've seen it. If you have a cam, take your picture with it and upload it.

The basic premise with the car decals is that the car moves all over the place. If you're in the "know" about geocaching and you happen to see the decal and note the unique code, you log that. Then people like me can see how and where it's been spotted.

Casey

60k Mile Update

Was looking at the odometer this morning and saw I hit 60k Miles.

This begs the question... is this this the first time this bus has hit that number? 2nd, 3rd? Is this even the original gauge? I think everyone who's taken a bus on asks himself the same question from time to time. From what I've seen of my bus, I would say it's the first time and that it's the original everything. When I got it and since gutting it, the ease with which that has happened has been because almost everything is exactly the same as the diagrams. The next owner, if there is one, will not be so lucky :)

I haven't blogged of substance for a little while. I thought I would take this opportunity to layout what's ahead for the bus. Here's a list of items that I want to do next:

• Finish the Headliner: I had ripped the other one out, it was fabric. I FatMat'ed it and then insulated with reflectix. Since then I've only put in the headliner that exists above the cabinets in the back. I still have the ones above the middle section and above the front compartment. I'll be continuing the bamboo sheeting that I found at Menards.
• Install the Satellite Radio: I have a Sony head unit for my radio. I also bought the Sirius/XM unit that goes with that. It literally is a matter of plugging it in and securing it. I'm going to put the antenna on the dash. I had had plans to run it up on top of the luggage compartment, but that's just a lot of work :)
• Trouble Shoot the Steering Column: My turn signals don't turn off after I am done turning. My hi-beams don't come on. My horn doesn't work. I have to adjust the space between the controls and the steering wheel base. Apparently that will fix my problem.
• Install the Fog Lights: They're not really fog lights, they're just cool looking retro lights I got from Harbor Freight for Cheap. I need to take the bumper off and install those. Should be pretty easy.
• Install the Reverse Light: I saw this on a couple pics and thought it was a good idea. On the driver side in the rear, I'm going to put an additional light on the bumper that illuminates on demand. The idea would be that I can see more if I'm backing up... would be good for woods, camping, blinding people behind me.
• Re-install the Water Tank: and install the new pump. I broke the last tank while trying to get it out of the cabinet. I got a new one from the samba and a new pump. Need to install them and be done with that.
• Install the New Coil: I bought a new coil a while back and have been hesitant to install it because the last one blew up. When I do it, I'll have to adjust the spark gaps as well I think.
• Undercoat and De-Rust the bus: Ziebart is a good place to go locally. I'm not sure if they do any kind of rust conversion, but they will undercoat the bus and seal the jambs.

There's probably other stuff to do. That's about it for now.

Casey

Loud Engine = Cardboard

So I got home the other night and picked up the bus. Started it up and man, it was loud. Figured it was the lifters charging up so I let it go until I got home. Never went away.

I opened up the engine hood and there was a freaking piece of cardboard under the fan shroud.


Pulled it out and problem solved.

Casey

Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance

Was reading a post yesterday on The Samba and the guy was talking about stuff he'd found in his bus. He mentioned and showed a picture of this book by Donald Miller.

I'd never heard of it, but it has obvious ties to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig which I happen to be reading right now. Friend bought it for me after I told him about the peace I was finding while working on the bus.

I actually had looked around and when I found nothing existed, considered writing my version of the Zen book for Volkswagens... That's really the genesis of this website. Obviously I didn't look hard enough, but I guess I was meant to find it when I did.

So, Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance is out of print. You can get it used through Amazon and other online book retailers. That's what I did. Should get here by next week sometime.

Anyway, once I get it and read it, I'll write up something about how it was.

Casey

Trip to Lake Geneva

This weekend we took the bus up to Lake Geneva.

Started out on the interstate which was a mistake. Wind and traffic was throwing the bus all over the place. Got off to let one of the kids use the bathroom and reprogrammed the GPS to avoid highways and tolls. All in all it took about 3 hours to get there... mostly because of traffic. Bus did great.

Second day took the bus around Lake Geneva. Again it drove awesome. Second battery died which means that the Dual battery relay I installed from BusDepot is not working. I haven't looked yet, but I suspect that it either isn't tripping on OR the fuse blew. I went out today and picked up some connectors in case I need to figure out a new way to connect it. I have my voltmeter with me so I should be able to somewhat diagnose the problem. This means that all of my interior lights, radio and anything plugged into the 12v sockets are not working.

Other than that, I bought some new windshield wipers today. I'd been eying them for a while but they're expensive... like $17 a piece. They're the RainX Latitude and man are they awesome. My old ones were just normal. They missed the part of the window directly in front of my eyes. These new ones basically squeegees the entire window. It's insane. Also, they directly replace the current wipers, no futzing around with any adapters or crap. Popped the old ones off and the new ones one.

no pics today because I have limited connectivity at this hotel.

Casey