Traveling With the Vw Bus & Camper


Book Description

Introduced in the 1950s, the VW bus was designed to be multifunctional. Since then, it has come to symbolize fun, freedom, and adventure. VW bus owners fully incorporate their vehicles into their lives: Some treat them as an extension of their home, while others undertake epic journeys in them, across desert and sea, and through Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some strap surfboards to the roof and head for the nearest beach, while others soup up the engines and take them drag racing in California. All will spend hours restoring and customizing them and even more time talking about them with fellow bus owners. Traveling with the VW Bus and Camper is a tribute to this passion, to the owners who have lavished time, effort, and inspiration on their campers, and, of course, to the VW bus itself. This book traces the cult of the camper, from family errands to vacation home to design icon. Above all else, the campervan is living history and readers will find chapters dedicated to travel narratives detailing road trips from England to Afghanistan and back, ad campaigns that sell the VW bus lifestyle, and weddings and other family events that feature buses in their ceremonies. Obsession or addiction? See for yourself.




Big Book of Camper Van


Book Description

Anyone who has ever driven a Volkswagen camper will appreciate the appeal of this unique vehicle with its styling and versatility. Over the years it has given joy to millions of people and is now synonymous with the surfing culture that has become so popular today. The origin of this legend dates back to a darker time in history when the determination of Adolf Hitler saw the birth of the equally iconic Beetle. By the end of the Second World War, stripped down Beetles were being used as trucks to ferry parts around the Wolfsberg factory, but Ben Pon - the first to sell Volkswagens outside Germany - saw its true potential and was instrumental in the arrival of the Type 2 T1 camper van (or bus as it was affectionately known) in 1950. The VW camper has seen many changes over the years but is still going strong today and, if anything, has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last few years. The Big Book of Camper Van takes you from the beginnings through to camper vanning in the 21st century. It is a 'must have' for anyone already in love with them, as well as for those who are new to the wonders of the VW camper van world and the joy it undoubtedly brings.




Saving Charlotte


Book Description

"We drove away in an unlicensed car that we did not legally own, complete with a bashed in front end, a badly cracked windshield, and a headlight propped in with duct tape, a tree branch and a piece of foam found lying on the ground. It was not an encouraging way to start our 3,000 mile journey!" Ever dream of buying a one-way airline ticket to purchase a sight-unseen, salvage titled automobile and drive it home 3,000 miles? Join Kat and Ned as they "rescue" Charlotte, an unlicensed, reluctant, but endearing VW Syncro bus who drags her wheels at first, but eventually really gets rolling. Kat and Ned had a vision of building up a Syncro into a cool, capable overland adventure vehicle, dreaming of the advantages of "bus living." But would the dream turn into a nightmare? The adventures and mis-adventures are hilarious, turning a four day drive from Connecticut to Nevada into a two week escapade of mysterious mechanical issues, cop-dodging, heat waves, torrential thunderstorms, missing credit cards, and Mississippi mud baths. Can't get out of Hartford...Can't get out of Buffalo...Can't get out of Elkhart...you can't imagine what can go wrong on a trip like this! Charlotte balks, spits, sputters and lurches but never stalls, while Kat and Ned persevere, finding that, in spite of her VW idiosyncrasies, Charlotte has a truly endearing soul. They also find that their dream of "bus living" has become an addictive reality. "Only in a VW Bus would somebody attempt something like this...and get away with it! What a great story! A must-read not only for the VW Bus crowd-but for the wanna-be's too!" S. Lucas Valdes - GoWesty Campers




VW Type 2 Transporter


Book Description

A highly illustrated look at the inside story of the first version of the iconic VW Transporter or ‘Split Screen’.




The Van Conversion Bible


Book Description

Want to wake up to a breathtaking new view every morning? Have you been dreaming about owning a vehicle to fuel your adventures? Building a campervan gives you total freedom to create your very own rolling home. Escape the daily grind, hit the open road and re-write the way you live. The Van Conversion Bible is the ultimate guide to planning, designing and converting a campervan. It’s more than just the story of how we built our own van Ringo, it will help you build a van bespoke to your needs. It provides definitive answers to your questions (even the ones you haven’t thought of yet!) to ensure you save time and avoid expensive mistakes. From detailed gas, water and electrical system diagrams to a step-by-step build guide, you’ll find everything you need to start your journey inside. Whatever your skills and budget, you can learn how to build your dream campervan. Your very own home on wheels awaits…




Grandad's Camper (A Grandad's Camper LGBTQ Pride Book for Kids in partnership with GLAAD)


Book Description

A Stonewall Honor Book Children's Illustrated Book of the Year--British Book Awards Best Illustrated Book -- Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2022 Discover a wonderful grandfather-granddaughter relationship, as a little girl hatches the perfect plan to get her Grandad adventuring again. And don't miss the inspiring sequel, Grandad's Pride, available now! "As warm and friendly as a kind grandparent." Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW "For the hope for new adventures, and the glimpse of intergenerational kindness and understanding, this lovely book should be on every shelf." School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW Best Picture Books of 2021--School Library Journal Future Classic Picture Books of 2021--Bookstagang's Best of 2021 "An effective tool for teaching empathy, and the intergenerational bond at the story's center is a heartstrings puller. This picture book, in which a girl helps her grandfather embrace life again following the death of Gramps, may well aid young readers in understanding others' grief." Shelf Awareness Gramps and Grandad were adventurers. They would surf, climb mountains, and tour the country in their amazing camper. Gramps just made everything extra special. But after Gramps died, granddad hasn't felt like traveling anymore. So, their amazing granddaughter comes up with a clever plan to fix up the old camper and get Grandad excited to explore again. This beautiful picture book honors love and reminds us not only to remember those we have lost, but to celebrate them.




The Vanlife Companion


Book Description

Welcome to life on four wheels. Hit the open road with this practical and inspiring guide. In the first half, you’ll discover how to choose and customise your perfect van, and get it fitted for sleeping, cooking and storage. In part two, we’ll tell you how to stay safe, save money and park legally, then share the best road trips around the world, complete with awesome itineraries. Lonely Planet’s The Vanlife Companion is a great introduction to the global #vanlife phenomenon and is geared to helping you have amazing adventures of your own, whether you’re building a van from the inside out or renting one for the trip of a lifetime. We feature 20 classic campervan routes to fuel your wanderlust and hear from people about how they got started and life on the road. Features 20 classic, must-drive campervan routes across Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States, West Africa, Nepal, Australia and Canada Expert advice, tips and guidance from our travel experts Profiles of #vanlife personalities and how they created their dream vans About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world’s number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we’ve printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You’ll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.




Home Away from Home


Book Description

Using a rich wealth of visual material and stories from owners around the world, Home Away from Home looks at the world of camper vans and motorhomes from Airstream to Winnebago, via the ubiquitous VW bus. Lars Eriksen and Kate Trant outline the cultural and social history of the camper van and motorhome in the USA, UK and Europe, looking at a range of phenomena from surf and hippy culture, to family holidays and travel in retirement years. A range of vehicles from recent decades is presented in detail, within the context of their technical development as well as the design strategies that dictated their appearances. Whether about a pioneering spirit, large horizons and wide open spaces, economic travel or a comfortable change of scenery, what is common to camper vans and motorhomes is the need to create a 'home away from home.' This book illustrates the culture of camper van and motorhome travel by looking at the owners and their clubs, telling stories of road trips, adventures and epic voyages.




Vanlife Diaries


Book Description

A photography book celebrating the nomadic lifestyle and community of vanlife through interviews, essential advice for living on the road, and more than 200 photos of tiny rolling homes. Inspired by the blog and Instagram account, Vanlife Diaries is an inspiring and detailed look into the world of the rolling homes built and occupied by a new generation of modern nomads: a range of professionals and creatives who have ditched conventional houses for the freedom of the road and the beauty of the outdoors. More than 200 photographs feature the vanlifers, their pets, and their converted vans and buses--VWs, Sprinters, Toyotas, and more--with the interiors uniquely customized and decorated for their work and hobbies, as well as the stunning natural locations that are the movement's inspiration. Interviews and narrative captions share the stories of these nomads and how they decided to pursue vanlife, and provide practical tips and inspiration for downsizing, finding and converting your vehicle, and working and living on the road.




How to Live in a Van and Travel


Book Description

Living a mobile lifestyle is now more possible than ever before. It's the new option. Forget hostel costs or rent. You have transport and your have a home. You're free to travel the world and you can do it on a budget. This book shows you how.