Westy Life Community

Winterizing Your Vehicle

2010-02-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

We've posted a pretty helpful article with tips about winterizing your vehicle. Read it here. We'll be the first to admit it, though... we're not the experts on winterizing. We live on the California coast, where a dip below 45 degrees sends the locals into a frenzy. How do you winterize your vehicle?

What Gasoline Grade Do I Use in My VW Van?

2009-08-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

On many VW forums, there seems to be a nearly endless debate about what gasoline grade to use (or not use). In the full article below, GoWesty weighs in on the issue.

Click here to read the full-length article!

What are your thoughts/experiences?

Suspension Groaning: Vanagon Front Upper A-Arm Bushings

2009-02-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

The old heehaw heehaw heehaw syndrome. If you own a Vanagon, chances are pretty high that you're familiar with that sound. It's a sound that emanates from the front end of your Vanagon when you hit a bump... and it almost always indicates an issue with your upper A-arm bushings. Now the hard part: Which brand bushing do you use? What about the installation?

Read our complete article here.

If you've got any experience with this issue, we'd love to hear about it. Share your knowledge with some other Vanagon folks!

Wolfsburg Weekender: What Does That Mean?

2009-02-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a lot of confusion about what, exactly, the term "Wolfsburg" means. Pair that with the Vanagon Weekender model, and the confusion becomes more pronounced. The following article is designed to bring clarity to this somewhat baffling topic.

Read the complete article here.

Rust: It Never Sleeps

2009-02-03T14:14:00.000-08:00

If you own a VW camper, you've probably had to deal with some rust issues at some point. We're located on the coast, so we compete with the salt in the air on a daily basis. And because we work on campers from all over the states, we've seen some pretty hideous rust jobs. A customer suggested we pen a little article on the topic of rust. Click here to read the full article.

We know you've got some rust stories. And you've probably got good advice about how to deal with it: treatment ideas for that little spot rust or the dreaded seam rust. Let us hear from you.

What Type of Coolant Should I Use in My Vanagon?

2008-12-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

Do you have to use the (very) expensive OEM coolant in your Vanagon? Well... we work on a lot of Vanagons, and we say "no." But the naysayer out there will say something like, "Well, of course GoWesty doesn't want you to use the OEM coolant. That's just job security for them!" And while that logic is understandable, it's just not the way we operate around here. We don't just work on these vehicles. We drive these vehicles. And the techniques we recommend to our customers for vehicle maintenance and longevity are the same techniques we apply to our own vehicles.

Read about our opinion on coolant here.

What say you?

How Far Can You Tip Your Westy?

2008-12-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

At GoWesty, we've got some serious Syncro guys. They like to push the limits of off-roading, oftentimes pushing their vehicles very close to the brink of disaster. So, it wasn't long before we decided to see just how far over a Westy could go prior to tipping over. It's the kind of experiment you always dreamed about doing when you were a kid... and now you're all grown up and you've got the proper tools. Fun stuff.

Have a look at the full article here.

How Do I Get Adequate Insurance Coverage for my VW?

2008-12-16T09:50:00.000-08:00

You've spent lots of time and money on your camper. Then, on some fated day, you get blindsided by someone in an SUV talking on their cellphone. Luckily, no one is hurt... except for your beloved camper. And the insurance company wants to cut you a check for $3200? Hold on a second!

Click here to read our entire article about getting the right coverage for your camper.

And if anyone out there has any stories (good or bad) about insurance issues, we'd love to hear them.

"Cheap" Vanagons Are the Most Expensive

2008-12-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

We get lots of calls from customers who are looking for advice about buying a "really cheap" Vanagon. The problem with these "cheap" vehicles is that they rarely end up being inexpensive; in fact, it's the cheap ones that often end up costing the most in the long run. So, unless you've found some incredibly altruistic camper owner who is willing to sell their immaculate Vanagon to you at a bargain price, the old adage applies: Buyer beware.

Check out our full-length article on the subject of "cheap" Vanagons here.

Towing with a Vanagon

2008-12-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

The trailer hitch that we make for Vanagons is really strong. Honestly, your Vanagon is going to break in half before that hitch fails. But we don't want that to happen, and neither do you! If anyone out there has any interesting towing stories, towing methods, or towing questions, this is the spot to talk about them.

Read the entire article here.

Hard-Top to Pop-Top and Why it May Not Make Sense

2008-12-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

In the Vanagon world, anything is possible. Anyone who owns one of these unique vehicles knows that. Have you converted your hard-top to a pop-top? Care to share any thoughts with the rest of us?

Click here to read the entire article.

Bio-fuel vs. Petroleum

2008-12-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

The bio-fuel vs. petroleum debate for VW campers is an ongoing conversation. If you'd like to share your $.02, we encourage you to do so here.

Read the entire article here.

Are You a Vanagon or Eurovan Person?

2008-12-08T11:22:00.001-08:00

There are two types of folks in this world: Vanagon people and Eurovan people. Occasionally we'll find someone who embodies the elements of both. What do you think?

Read the entire article here.

Hybrid or Hype?

2008-12-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

We get a lot of questions about converting VW campers to hybrids. Anyone out there tried this? Had any success? Horror stories? Share your experiences with the rest of us!

Read the complete article here.

Engine Core Charge: A Necessary Evil

2008-12-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

Engine core charges are simply what we consider a "necessary evil." What do you think about this whole process?

Read the complete article here.