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1950 miles, for the solar eclipse

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:24 pm
by weekender
Just completed a fantastic trip, 1950 round trip miles from MA to SC to catch the solar eclipse. Van was nearly perfect (ignition module acted up some, but never left us stranded for more than 10 minutes). The eclipse was breathtaking, and exceptional experience. Ran into another B owner in a campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway -- he is not a member here yet (hopefully I convinced him to look up the site). He has an identical 1993, same as mine. Always a joy to run into a fellow B owner.

The previous week, we were at Acadia National Park in Maine - an annual vacation -- saw another B van. Did not get to meet the owner, it was newer, but in pretty rough shape.

Always impressed how comfortable and easy our vans are on long distance trips! Need to plan more fun!

Re: 1950 miles, for the solar eclipse

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:00 am
by lido14co
Sounds like a great trip


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Re: 1950 miles, for the solar eclipse

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 12:35 pm
by ZachS
weekender wrote:Just completed a fantastic trip, 1950 round trip miles from MA to SC to catch the solar eclipse. Van was nearly perfect (ignition module acted up some, but never left us stranded for more than 10 minutes). The eclipse was breathtaking, and exceptional experience. Ran into another B owner in a campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway -- he is not a member here yet (hopefully I convinced him to look up the site). He has an identical 1993, same as mine. Always a joy to run into a fellow B owner.

The previous week, we were at Acadia National Park in Maine - an annual vacation -- saw another B van. Did not get to meet the owner, it was newer, but in pretty rough shape.

Always impressed how comfortable and easy our vans are on long distance trips! Need to plan more fun!
We did an eclipse epic too. I gotta say this van has been a game changer for our family. We have had 2 great 5 day trips and a few overnighters as a family and a three dayer at The Gorge Amphitheatre in central wa. The van has performed heroically on every trip so far. Lots of elevation. Two 5 day stretches off the grid with no issues supporting a family of 4. I got a 100w solar kit right before I left on our first big one and I haven't installed it, but I have it harnessed and I set it up for stays longer than a day and it more than keeps up with our use - even with our really weak house battery (one full charge of the water pump and it needs a charge. I can't wait to get the panel installed permanently - maybe add a second and more battery storage.

We've put about 3500 miles on it including the trip from Boise to Seattle when I bought it. Averages about 10 mpg. I'm starting to notice a little slop in the front end. All the bushings look old enough to be original. I plan on re-sealing the front bunk window this winter.

I'm also thinking I'll coat the top of the hi-top with roll on bedliner. I did this on my sprinter work vehicle to patch some body damage and it looks great and works great. I used Monsta Liner. It's tintable and comes in a bunch of great colors. I'll post when I embark on that project. One of the POs had the top repainted and it's sloughing off. Seems like the top paint suffers on these rigs and I think bedliner will create a permanent, sealed, protected, grippy surface that can easily repaired forever.

Here are some eclipse pics
640 miles round trip from Seattle to Trout Creek campground near Madras Oregon. In spite of a the hysteria, it was not crowded. We picked up a primo spot (first come, first served)

Loaded for bear. 15 extra gallons of fuel, 7 gallons of drinking water, barely enough beer, support bike
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Visitors from the Warm Springs Reservation. They couldn't drag us away.
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Time lapse to totality
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Re: 1950 miles, for the solar eclipse

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:59 pm
by Choptop
Nice pics, can't wait to take my first outing w/Aunt B.

Re: 1950 miles, for the solar eclipse

Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 10:20 pm
by 190-b-651
ZachS looks like your taking everything but the kitchen sink. One thing about the 190's storage isn't plentiful. I like the hitch rack but do you really need 15 gallons of extra fuel is it really worth the risk of your family. Im not trying to tell you what to do by any means just aware of the risk of someone rear ending you your van would be an inferno in seconds. Something to think about.
Glad everyone had a great trip to see the eclipse unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to see it for myself.

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Re: 1950 miles, for the solar eclipse

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 11:58 am
by ZachS
190-b-651 wrote:ZachS looks like your taking everything but the kitchen sink. One thing about the 190's storage isn't plentiful. I like the hitch rack but do you really need 15 gallons of extra fuel is it really worth the risk of your family. Im not trying to tell you what to do by any means just aware of the risk of someone rear ending you your van would be an inferno in seconds. Something to think about.
Glad everyone had a great trip to see the eclipse unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to see it for myself.

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Re: the gas. There was so much hysterical chatter in the Northwest prior to the eclipse I thought it prudent to have backup. My friend in Bend, OR said many stations were out of gas the week prior. I figured we would be in long lines of traffic on the highways and this thing seems to gulp gas no matter what it's doing. I was worried we were driving in to a gasoline desert and I wanted to be able to get back out.

Turned out I didn't need it. The gas shortages we're mostly from locals hoarding. Only saw one station out of gas, and that was in a 1 pump town on the way home. Hardly a soul on the road on the way down. No issues at all. Luckily we didn't get rear ended.

... Almost ran out of beer though.

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Re: 1950 miles, for the solar eclipse

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 12:30 pm
by 190-b-651
Hahaha thats would have been a disaster I do believe a kegarator will fit in the closet.

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