Just thought some of you may be interested in how I get around our sunburnt country. I'll start with a couple of pics and if you're interested, then I can easily add more, but first up is a picture of me on the road 10th of May this year............
The Kombi has a simple interior with a double bed, specially designed cupboards and an 18lt Waeco which sits between the seats. It also has a porta-potty which normally sits on the piece of foam at the end of the cupboards, but no need to advertise and so it was removed for the shot. It also has a small table that can be attached to various points in the bus or swings outside the van. Cooking is done using a single burner canister butane stove. Waeco and lighting powered by a 100aH deep cycle battery....
Strangely enough, I can't find a picture of the old Kombi set up in full camp mode, but he has a "sail-rail" along the left hand side gutter into which I slip an awning for a bit of shade. The Kombi is fast becoming a rarity these days, although I also belong to an Australian wide Kombi Club. We often have little week-ends away and sometime longer trips to attend an annual Easter get-together called "Bus Stop" which is a family orientated event and held in a different States each year. This year it was on the Gold Coast and a bit too far for me. Next year it will be in Griffith in NSW and I intend to stop over at Green's Lake on the way there and back, so hope to meet up with a few members then.
Weedy Pigeon said
08:48 PM May 20, 2013
Still wonder whether this is the way to go. Not a lot to go wrong really. The motor comes out in 20 minutes, no cooling problems and will practically go anywhere. Used to live in one as a youngster in the late '60s early '70s. Any of these would have some serious miles on them now I should think.
neilnruth said
10:57 PM May 20, 2013
Hi QueenKombi. Your avatar shows us how the awning attaches to the sail rail. Simple but good. Gets you where you want to be.
Duh said
12:05 AM May 21, 2013
Very nice QC, one of our other members has a Kombi van as well (Jean and Alex) in addition to their caravan.....
jimanjen said
01:48 AM May 21, 2013
I like it!....I have a mate who is VW tragic. He eats, breathes and sleeps boxer engines. He would certainly approve. Nothing beats having a set up where not a lot can go wrong.
QueenKombi said
03:26 AM May 21, 2013
Yes, the engine is certainly simple enough, but parts are becoming unobtainable and very few second-hand units to be had. If they need a total rebuild you're up for $8,000.
They're a little bit different, but at times I wish I had the room of a "Winnie!"
And......good spotting neilnruth. About the awning I mean
GaryKelly said
09:48 PM May 21, 2013
Nice Kombi, Queen, and I'm sure you're very attached. I had one for 8 years back in the '80s and '90s. I live in Taree now and there's an annual Kombi Fest at nearby Old Bar. I shot a video of the one last year that you can see here.
QueenKombi said
05:25 PM May 22, 2013
GaryKelly wrote:
Nice Kombi, Queen, and I'm sure you're very attached. I had one for 8 years back in the '80s and '90s. I live in Taree now and there's an annual Kombi Fest at nearby Old Bar. I shot a video of the one last year that you can see here.
Thanks Gary. Yes, I am very attached to the old fella. Owning a Kombi isn't for everyone. You require a good basic knowledge of the mechanics which are rather different from most vehicles and of course being almost 40 years old means things sometimes break. I originally bought it so I could do a bit of camping with my old dog and quickly fell in love with the Kombi.
I do know of the Old Bar festival, but unfortunately work prevents me from venturing too far from home at this stage. Such a trip in an aging vehicle means I'd have to take too much time away from the job and as I'm only rostered to do 4 days a month (which I couldn't even survive on, let alone live) means I can't go too far in case somebody takes a "sickie" or holidays and I can fill in for them. Still, I have 2 years, 7 months and 15 days, 4 hours and 22 minutes before I retire and maybe even sooner if the planets align, so Old Bar and a couple of other events are in my sights............. provided I don't swap the Kombi for a Toyota Coaster. Lately and for whatever reason, I've been searching for them in Gumtree and Carsales. I doubt a Toyota Coaster would be welcome at a Kombi event
Just thought some of you may be interested in how I get around our sunburnt country. I'll start with a couple of pics and if you're interested, then I can easily add more, but first up is a picture of me on the road 10th of May this year............
The Kombi has a simple interior with a double bed, specially designed cupboards and an 18lt Waeco which sits between the seats. It also has a porta-potty which normally sits on the piece of foam at the end of the cupboards, but no need to advertise and so it was removed for the shot. It also has a small table that can be attached to various points in the bus or swings outside the van. Cooking is done using a single burner canister butane stove. Waeco and lighting powered by a 100aH deep cycle battery....
Strangely enough, I can't find a picture of the old Kombi set up in full camp mode, but he has a "sail-rail" along the left hand side gutter into which I slip an awning for a bit of shade. The Kombi is fast becoming a rarity these days, although I also belong to an Australian wide Kombi Club. We often have little week-ends away and sometime longer trips to attend an annual Easter get-together called "Bus Stop" which is a family orientated event and held in a different States each year. This year it was on the Gold Coast and a bit too far for me. Next year it will be in Griffith in NSW and I intend to stop over at Green's Lake on the way there and back, so hope to meet up with a few members then.
Used to live in one as a youngster in the late '60s early '70s.
Any of these would have some serious miles on them now I should think.
Very nice QC, one of our other members has a Kombi van as well (Jean and Alex) in addition to their caravan.....
Yes, the engine is certainly simple enough, but parts are becoming unobtainable and very few second-hand units to be had. If they need a total rebuild you're up for $8,000.
They're a little bit different, but at times I wish I had the room of a "Winnie!"
And......good spotting neilnruth. About the awning I mean
Nice Kombi, Queen, and I'm sure you're very attached. I had one for 8 years back in the '80s and '90s. I live in Taree now and there's an annual Kombi Fest at nearby Old Bar. I shot a video of the one last year that you can see here.
Thanks Gary. Yes, I am very attached to the old fella. Owning a Kombi isn't for everyone. You require a good basic knowledge of the mechanics which are rather different from most vehicles and of course being almost 40 years old means things sometimes break. I originally bought it so I could do a bit of camping with my old dog and quickly fell in love with the Kombi.
I do know of the Old Bar festival, but unfortunately work prevents me from venturing too far from home at this stage. Such a trip in an aging vehicle means I'd have to take too much time away from the job and as I'm only rostered to do 4 days a month (which I couldn't even survive on, let alone live) means I can't go too far in case somebody takes a "sickie" or holidays and I can fill in for them. Still, I have 2 years, 7 months and 15 days, 4 hours and 22 minutes before I retire and maybe even sooner if the planets align, so Old Bar and a couple of other events are in my sights............. provided I don't swap the Kombi for a Toyota Coaster. Lately and for whatever reason, I've been searching for them in Gumtree and Carsales. I doubt a Toyota Coaster would be welcome at a Kombi event