The reasons we suddenly stopped van life
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- Опубліковано 17 кві 2021
- About time to share why the channel have been so quiet lately. Many of you reached out and I figured the easiest way to answer was to make a video.
/ benedikteroness
/ simonbraeck
/ huskyzulu
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#vanlife
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/Simon
Welcome back! Downtime is part of vanlife (even with a T6 like mine). There's always something to fix or to upgrade, but the reward is worth the time, effort and money spent. So excited for the new season! Keep up the good work!
Thanks Alexandre! I would be so awesome making the van ready for winter trips too, I am afraid of the rust though. Cheers to a new season shortly :)
please have the CV axle joints replaced , they can cause you to loose drivability if one breaks or the bolts fall out leaving you stranded. this happened to me in the first mile after I subaru swapped my van which was really sad but luckily I was close to home. can't wait to see truck norris back at it and watch some more amazing videos from you two. love the channel. cheers!
We did already replace these, thanks for the heads up though. You will see more from us going forward :)
Great update. Hope all is well and you get back on the road soon.👍🏻
Thank you, we will be there soon :)
You guys are optimistic..Welcome back👍🏻❣
Haha, yes indeed. Lets hope it will treat us well the coming months
Never stop exploring so that we can enjoy these wonderful videos of yours........enjoy the little things!!!!
Thanks for sharing......
Thanks! We will keep it up, don't you worry :D
We're patient viewers. :) Take your time!
Glad to hear that :)
Simon, hats off to you and to your partner..! Showing/ Having such a patients is incredible with VW..! Hope everything will be sorted out soon and we don't have to wait for the outstanding Journey you are making us to Enjoy..!👍
Thanks :) We try our best to keep our heads up and look forward. This summer might be amazing, as long as the van keeps running!
Stoked! Hope you guys get up and running soon! All the best!
Thank you. Fingers crossed we will be out there shortly! :)
Good to see you guys again! You’ll be back on the open road in no time and putting out great videos as always. Best of luck my friend!
Thank you! I hope it will be within some weeks from now, fingers crossed!
Welcome back, and good to hear the update. Things will take some more time, and then you will enjoy. All the best.
Thanks Oren :)
I am so bummed to hear about Norris which I am looking forward to your next adventure. So sorry to hear this. Moving into a new apartment will be a new beginning to start fresh in life and move forward to something better! Wish you guys the best!
Thanks man! We keep pushing and finally being in place in the new apartment is giving us more time to focus on Norris. I guess he will be back at it within a few weeks now, fingers crossed
I had a lot of trouble selecting gears after a gearbox change. The problem was in the year linkage from the stick to the gearbox. I changed all the bushes and the gear selector and got a kit to refurbish the gearstick. It made a huge difference and the parts were relatively cheap. I changed everything I could get. Just Kampers in the UK do a bundle kit with everything you need
Thanks for the advice, we keep digging to find the problem :)
Great to have You back, look fwd to follow Your adventures and inspiring footage with Truck Norris. Great work to keep the van alive! 💪👌
Thanks, we really look forward to take him back on the road again :)
Glad to see you back on the channel! We also just bought a van and also find it very hard already with all the things that always need to be fixed. BUT it is all worth it in the end :-)
Thank you! Thats true, get used to the feeling😄
Glad you’re not giving up!! You give hope to the t3 folks using their vans!! I enjoy your videos and look forward to your next one!! Also appreciate you showing the downside to vanagon life - you’re actually keeping it real!! Thanks!!
We keep pushing, I know we will enjoy the fruits of this labour eventually. And as you say, the reality of these vans needs to be balanced, you get enough of idyllic perspectives on how these vans behave via Instagram etc!
You are sooooo close! The reunion will be that much more magical, Truck Norris will be amazing!!! In the mean time come to Idaho and use mine ; )
Yes, fingers crossed! I would love to do some cruising in a Vanagon in the states!
Good luck , take time to fix it all good.We 'r looking forward to better times for you. !
I hope it will run like a clock for a few thousand kilometers at least, haha!
Thank you for the Update Video. Good luck for Noris, there will be better times soon! And you both are so lucky you are allowed to Travel through wonderfull norway … we would like to, but cause of Corona no visitors allowed.
Thanks for watching! I do agree, even though the season is short for a van like ours, the good months are so wonderful that it kind of makes up for it😊
Great to see you again, glad you're doing well and I'm sure you'll be back on the road soon. You seem to have great friends to help you out. We've just come out of our third lockdown in the UK and have some really nice weather so we've been out with our Syncro. Looking forward to your future updates. All the best B&Y
Thanks, I really don't know what we would have done without these guys. Alright, sounds like you got the head start on us this year, glad you are enjoying some time in the Syncro! :)
Really looking forward to see you again! Rikard and Marius visited on Thursday and helped me get the engine out of my Beetle. Now it’s with magician Kilen for a rebuild - getting ready for a lot of new summers on the road!
Likewise! :) Thats exciting, that little thing will fly after that work is finished ;)
Welcome back, we couldn't wait for the next episode. I spent last winter in my garage in freezing temperatures, upgrating and repairing my T4 with similar problems to yours. Some things I have repaired 3-4 times and there is still a lot to be fixed. I hope the cars will pay us back in the summer. As for rust, try to see bodyshops in Poland, certainly they are much cheaper than in Norway.
Thank you! I would love to take Norris to Poland, I hear great things. We were really close to doing it right before the pandemic, so we will definitely do it when we get the green light once the borders opens again.
Go, guys, gooo!
Yeah! :D
I feel your pain, my T4 has been off the road for 3 months, with various issues. Progress is slow, but I'm getting there and fingers crossed I should have it running by the end of next week.
I hope you resolve your issues soon.
Thanks William. Thats a bummer... Fingers crossed, we need to get ready for the sunny van season :)
Buena suerte! Espero veros en carretera pronto!
crossing fingers for you guys! im in the process of restoring my syncro and considering a PD130 1.9ltr looking forward to hearing your real world review when Noris gets back to 110% best of luck you two.
you two are persistent! congrats on doing whatever you have to do to get that van ready to ride. Enjoy the upcoming van season!
Thanks! It will be worth all the effort in the end :)
Well done on new home & yes Norris will be fixed & better than ever . We love your adventures 👍🎯🇨🇦. Thank u both 10/10 👍😊
Thank you! Big things happened the last month. And hopefully we will have more good news when Norris returns from the garage this time.
I know the pain only too well. Just "one last repair and we're good to go" has become a much to frequently used phrase
Thats right... Fingers crossed the van will behave the coming months, haha
Phew, that’s a relief, I thought you were giving up!!! Can’t wait for the forthcoming adventures.....
Yeah, we will keep pushing and lets hope the effort gives us some trips without the need to stop and fix things "all the time" :)
I’m sure it will pay off and feel even sweeter on that first trip!
We cannot wait!! Bought a vwt3 myself and there have been many problems that need fixed as well. Hopefully we both will have a summer full of volkswagen vanlife!
Yes, fingers crossed! Good luck on your van, it will bring many happy moments for sure :)
@@SimonBraeck haha for now it's just that everything is breaking but I see that thats not uncommon so we keep the faith! 😅😊
we have all been there, haha😊
No worry about it, take care and i'll wite from México!
Thanks Mario :)
Can’t wait to watch your 2021 adventures. Stay safe
Thank you, we are so eager to get out in the backcountry to explore more of this mesmerizing country
Oh my gosh! We thought: This is it, and you both are through with the van for some reason. And we are SO HAPPY, you're not. I don't think, the problem will be too big. You will find the solution soon. Take care! Dirk from Cologne
Aww, thanks! Well, it presents a lot of challenges persisting with this old thing, but at the end it makes the enjoyable moments even more enjoyable!
@@SimonBraeck I agree!
Hey guys ... from New Zealand. Just want you to know that we love enjoying your videos down here. We have a T3 as well and can relate to all the tough stuff you’re going through with the van. Keep moving forward and you’ll be rewarded in no time!!
Hey! Thanks. New Zealand is where we fell in love with this kind of traveling, when renting a Sprinter van and touring the South Island. Would love to come back some day and would be so fun if we could do a similar trip in a T3 next time :) Good luck with your van!
@@SimonBraeck if you do, send me a message. Will send you out in our Westfalia 👍👍 in the mean time, keep going on your inspirational vids!! Love your work!
Count me in! Thank you so much🤗
Congrats on the new apartment and good luck with getting Noris up and running asap!
Thanks man :) Would be the cherry on top if Norris gets back better than ever in very short time!
Life is always more fun after some manageable set backs. Keep up the good work!
I know! Thats what I will tell our kids (if we ever get any!) 😄
So looking forward to being back on the road soon 😎💪🏼
You know it🤗
Good to see you back
Thanks Paul!
Very soon will be on the road, I wish you the best of luck. Cheers.
Thanks Hugo!
The engine sounds great! Looking forward to hearing about the fix for the clutch and your new adventures.
Thanks Scott! Progress being made every week now
Hey guys. So good to see you again!!! As for you little blue beastie, he’ll defo be whole and healthy soon enough. Perhaps you could even find the time to pop over to northern Sweden and let Norris meet my T3 Doka Louie. 😎
Hey! Thank you, better prepared than ever, I sure hope! A T3 meet up is always fun, lets see how the border crossings look like when summer hits :)
@@SimonBraeck sounds like a plan 😎
We know what you are going through. Had to replace the engine in our '87 westfalia hochdach this winter. And loads of parts in the rear end chasing a different problem. It is painful, and expensive...
Ouch, that sucks... The light at the end of the tunnel would be that hopefully it will take longer before the next breakdown occurs. We sure hope that's the case with Norris too!
@@SimonBraeck yep, new engine is noticeably stronger... Keep going, is worth it!
Many vanlife channels have had to adapt for one reason or another. Many have homestead or some have changed country. Some have changed to backyard exploring. Just depends on how much you actually love the process of content creation. I’m sure you will get back on the road sometime soon.
This is great news, already missed ya guys and your bus
Thanks Lorenzo, lets hope we can continue without too many problems the coming months!
Keep up the good spirits@
Thanks😊
Sucks about the van, but congrats on getting a new place. It looks great!
Thanks mate! Exciting times
Hi Simon. We feel some of your pain. We also ran into major issue. Our SVX EG33 engine failed on a newly purchased Vanagon and we are replacing now with another EG33 that works. EG33 is the Unicorn of Subaru engines so we have spent the winter searching for the EG33 once we realized we had a Head Gasket issue. We look forward to traveling also this spring and will hopefully have our Bus back in another month. Good luck with the Clutch and we look forward to seeing your next video !!!
Hi! Ouch, that's a bummer... I am so thrilled that there are so many out there taking good care of these old things and keep them a somewhat "common sight" on the road. Good luck to you too :)
I had to replace the transmission at 250Kmiles. At that time I added the positraction. If you have to do the transmission, I highly recommend it. You'll have better traction in snow and sand.
Sweet, thanks the advice!
Salt will eat a van! Cars that I grew up with lasted 7 years before you saw holes in the floor. Glad you are taking it easy this winter.
Yeah, that's the thing... I know you can apply some a protecting coat underneath the van, but Im not sure I trust it enough to spend money on it while being sure that its good enough to actually start using the van winter time.
@@SimonBraeck It's not that good. My folks would that stuff sprayed on when they bought a new car. They got 7 years instead of 5.
Keep your spirits up! You will soon resume your beautiful adventures!
We are waiting for you in the Southern French Alps, who knows? you are welcome! ;)
Yeah, we are realizing that the worst part of the job is already done. Soon we will hit the road again. The French alps are tempting, but I guess this year is a bit too soon regarding the closed borders etc.
Nice to see you again!!!!)) You have any problems with clutch system? Pump it like a brake system. I have problems with clutch too. Good luck guys!!!!!
Hi, thanks! Yeah, we did that already, it must be a problem somewhere else. We will keep searching
Man, I'm worried about you! (
Yes, I know myself that T3 can have something that is very difficult to diagnose .... I am experiencing the same shame as you. My T3 decided not to turn the starter ... I still can't find a reason ...
Fingers crossed 🤞🏻
Thank you!
Slowly, i have t3 10 years and know all the problems. (At least I think I know) In any case, the problems are always present but they can be solved. The T3 is a vehicle with a soul and when I look at you I see myself in the past tense. Good luck with the problems and keep shooting video.
Oh, maybe I can say the same in a decade from now. Until then I will keep learning how to fix it and bring tools and spare parts along the journey. So rewarding to fix things and I think all the challenges just enhances the experience.
@@SimonBraeck Every trip is a new experience with T3, ever a man thinks that he has already experienced everything, something new happens, but it's all the charm of the story with the van.
Also, I am free to invite you to Bosnia for a tour of the mountains and lakes, and a good camping barbecue. :)
I can relate . Isn’t it interesting how much a VW can impact your peace of mind? Don’t lose heart, there’s a reason it’s called a VANAGON,AGAIN AND AGAIN.AND.............
The problem with your van is the hydraulic system, I had the same problem with my t4 bc there was a leak in the hydraulic system the clutch started to fade away as I was driving and at a certain moment I just couldnt shift anymore. I had to replace the whole clutch and hydraulic system. It hurts the wallet but feels good knowing my van will last for a long time now ;)
So strange, was thinking about you guys last night!
And here we are! :D
@@SimonBraeck Probably the spring vibes, eh? Good luck on the van!
Oh, I’ve just finished with my engine.
I’ve changed the cylinder head gasket. Today was our first start after the winter in garage
Exciting! Looking forward for a proper chance to test the new engine out.
Thats so disheartening! I know how you feel, I just got done swapping in a new motor in my 1980 Vanagon after blowing it on one of our trips. You'll get back on the road, take your time!
Ouch, I am sorry to hear that. Lets hope ours will be fit for fight soon and last the planned month or so on the road later this year :)
@@SimonBraeck I hope it works out! Good luck man :)
Time for a scooby conversion
If you come to Alta hit us up 🤙
alright!
Hi! I have a question,when start and finish the van season in Norway?
I dream to come to Norway from Barcelona in my van when the pandèmia allow it...
I look forward to yours new videos!
hydraulic master and a pain in the butt to remove slave cylinder and a metal line and flex line - my 85 gas vanagon clutch system....as for me, 252 miles, and subaru engine failure, I too have spring fever ! Following... found one guy who is on subaru engine 4 or 5...well, my limit is 2 more (4 is my total limit) then, I'm going back to air cooled....rust work has already started on the 78 bay
Hi. Just wondering when Norris was just turning over but not starting, how did you get him started? Did you have to adjust the timing..... I'm having trouble with my own van that is just turning over but not starting so just wondering what you did. Thanks love the show.
Hi! He started eventually, just needed to circulate out air and make sure the different fluids reached the correct places. We timed the engine before starting it.
@@SimonBraeck
Perfect thanks.
🤞🏻
I so hope Norway opens borders at least to vaccinated visitors. We wanted to come for the fall.
Yeah, the government said that they estimated everyone here to be vaccinated within the summer. But the vaccines looks to face issues, so it can be a challenge. Fingers crossed!
hi man look you in Russia. Im install engine like you. 1Z but no turbo. Now i want turbo. I watch you chanel for simple swap 1.9d to 1.9td :D
Hi! Alright, the turbo should be a nice upgrade :)
Good luck!
@@SimonBraeck Thx! :)
I really hated constantly having to crack the bleed valve on the radiator. It's currently out of stock, but I would definitely order one of these when available. It'll make your life so much easier. intrepidoverland.com/shop/t3-vanagon-front-heater-valve/
Thanks for the advice, will check it out :)
motor not sound good. error in time settings...
Ah, Vanagon life. This too shall pass. Think of the past only as it will give you pleasure.
90% i orden, ikke lenge igjen til dere er på veien. Happy days!
Jærræ, det kommer sæ no! Vi har heldigvis flinke folk i ryggen
Guys, why are subtitles disabled in the video?
Hmm, didn't turn it off on purpose? I can check the video settings, thanks for making me aware of it
"Automatic captions may not be ready at the time that you upload a video. Processing time depends on the complexity of the video's audio." It looks like it might take some time before the captions are automatically generated.
@@SimonBraeck Understood, thank you.
@@SimonBraeck Now there are subtitles
Hay thanks for you update on you van i have left you a message on you instagram.
Sure thing! I will check it out :)
Lol, macbook, coffee mug and haircut that is all that matters :D
Pretty much, haha
These are 33-40 year old vehicles. Any vehicle that old will require constant upkeep. Be prepared, or buy another type of vehicle.
Time to convert it to electric!
Maybe in the future when it allows for a bit more range, distances in Norway are big!
I repeat again- for the money and TIME you spent fixing your van, you could buy 2 new vans :) I understand that you disagree, but just calculate your hours and convert to money and you will see that I'm wright ;) From what I see in your videos- this car was born to create problems :)) I'm sitting in another side of the screen and already want it to burn, so imagine what I would do if it was my car and had such a lot of troubles :)
Haha, ouch! In that case Im glad your not the owner right now, haha :D
'Cause you came to your senses & realized nobody cares ?