Is my bus a proper camper?

[paulandabbe]

Hello doing lots of work on the bus, I am new to the VW scene so forgive me if questions are daft, I am replacing all the jacking points and riggers and bits under the ribbed floor, i brought all the bits I need, but my bus has another 'top hat' one fitted which fits onto a locator welded on the chassis and can be seen in this photo, does this mean it was a minibus as there are nuts on the underside of it, and the floor also has the boltholes as shown in these pics

If it was a minibus or whatever else, will it not be as valuable as a proper camper, or could this be a genuine danbury?

 

[steve92]

im sure someone will correct me if im wrong, but i thought the only buses that were origional campers were westys, and all the other conversion company got microbuses, and panel vans and converted them to campers.

 

[paulandabbe]

im sure someone will correct me if im wrong, but i thought the only buses that were origional campers were westys, and all the other conversion company got microbuses, and panel vans and converted them to campers.

Thank you for that

 

[robins]

what steve says, they were all panel vans or microbus not one came out as acamper
i think the ones with the hole in the roof like mine is the ones westfalia had and converted
and didnt make the hole any bigger

 

[BJ1]

Looks like someone has replaced the top hat section at some time, but didn't have a welder :lol:
VW never bolted the floor to the supports - makes it easy to remove though

 

[Fortunate Son]

In addition to conversion firms converting micro buses and panel vans, some converted kombis as well. Dormobiles were converted at Folkestone from either micro buses or kombis and latterly (around 74/74 onwards) from panel vans. (Kombis were micro buses without any seats / trim from the rear of the front seats back but did have factory rear windows as per micro buses). Now off to put my slippers on and light up the pipe! . As regards "proper campers" - IMHO any van thats a VW and is aircooled is definitely "PROPER"!!! 8)

 

[james_stan]

It's rusty and requires cutting, grinding, welding, filling, and painting..

..of course it's a PROPER CAMPER.

Cheers

James

 

[paulandabbe]

Looks like someone has replaced the top hat section at some time, but didn't have a welder :lol:
VW never bolted the floor to the supports - makes it easy to remove though

That would of been nice, but its also welded , and I'm gonna have to drill out the seized bolts

 

[paulandabbe]

It's rusty and requires cutting, grinding, welding, filling, and painting..

..of course it's a PROPER CAMPER.

Cheers

James

Its WAR!, ME verus RUST, I'm hoping I will win , there was me thinking I was the only one to have a rusty VW :wink: It is sometimes hard to see why I spend all my time money etc doing up this old camper, but then you look in to its eyes They seem to be alive lol Poor old hippy bus! Thanks James your coment made me chuckle.

 

[Trikky2]

Hehe - Yes it always makes me laugh when people say Westfalias were the only campers, the rest were "converted".

Makes me wonder what they imagine this german converter actually started with that was different to make the Westfalia camper. The only thing different was their use of the sunroof aperature rather than cut and reinforce their own. :lol:

 

[lisasbloke]

hello i noticed your doing your own welding on your van mine has some tin worm what sort of welding course should i take to learn how to repair my van as at my local college there are many courses in welding :?

 

[lobus]

hello i noticed your doing your own welding on your van mine has some tin worm what sort of welding course should i take to learn how to repair my van as at my local college there are many courses in welding :?

I did a beginners MIG course at a local tech college here in Melbourne, the first site of the molten steel forming and joining was like a revelation. Go and do a course anywhere and you will enjoy it. Then find some POS Ford or Gm product to practice on for a while. When you have stopped blowing holes in the donor unit have a crack at your bus. Somewhere out of view is always a good place to start.

 

[Toad]

Its starting to look real good........keep the faith (its encouraging me to get stuff done on mine too...slowly)

We must have a, whos bus is rustier contest sometime neighbour!

 

[paulandabbe]

Its starting to look real good........keep the faith (its encouraging me to get stuff done on mine too...slowly)

We must have a, whos bus is rustier contest sometime neighbour!

I hope you win :wink: , cant wait for the weather to get better.