Crossing Europe in a 33 year old VW camper van! - ep. 1

[@SimonBraeck]

Do you think the van will survive the trip? Did we focus too much on the interior and too little on making the engine function?🤔😄

[@carlosbastidas8551]

think you're doing great half the fun is learning about the engine and the fixes ..seriously well done ..

[@SimonBraeck]

Yeah, I’ve become an amateur mechanic after having to fix this van time and time again. Always fun to learn new stuff😊

[@carlosbastidas8551]

@@SimonBraeck how did you fix the light in th speedometer, was it a fuse?

[@iangrimshaw1]

Piece of cake. Clearly needs full servicing and any thing fixed that is a common issue on these (carb rebuild, flexible fuel pipes replaced, proper adjustment of front wheel bearings etc.) We've been around Europe in our 1985 T3/T25 and at least twice around the coast of Britain (about 7 1/2 thousand miles each time) and many trips all year around. Enjoy!

[@iangrimshaw1]

Hmm, looking again maybe not the carb fix. Is it a diesal?

[@bartomiejwitek4510]

This is one of the most underrated channels i have seen so far. Why isn’t this video viral yet?! Stunning shots and incredibly entertaining and inspiring content.

[@SimonBraeck]

Wow, that’s so nice of you!😳🙌🏼 I work hard on trying to achieve just what you mention here; entertainment ans inspiration. Your comment means a lot to me, thank you very much😃

[@ernestodiburero]

Nice vids Simon. We (a couple of 55+ who like long walks, far destinations, roads less travelled, offroad motor cycling) just acquired a t5 of 2013 and started our vanlife. Your channel is inspiring. Keep it up !

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you! 😊 Way to go! Glad to hear, I hope we’ll do the same at 55+ 😉👍🏼 Have fun

[@cliveneilands1449]

I drove from Sweden to Croatia in my 78 Westfalia, engine was overhauled 6 months before we left.Just keep it fully topped up with oil, valve clearances done, and don’t rush, I kept about 110 on the motorways and that was fine.

[@SimonBraeck]

Nice! They are quite nice if they are taken care of properly. We didn't have time to overlook the mechanical stuff before our trip because the entire interior had to be redone. Now we are fixing the engine and other parts, it's still going strong though :)

[@literallyshane4306]

07:30 "we're having problems" and the auto-focus fails👌🏻 😄 Great video, subbed!

[@SimonBraeck]

Haha, yes! Didn’t think of that until now, that’s kind of funny. Thanks for watching and I appreciate you subscribing!🙌🏼😊

[@justinpope55]

How is this channel not more popular? Some of the nicest, most awe-inspiring footage that I've seen on youtube - well done, sir. Loving the videos that you & Benedikte have been publishing. Keep it up! I fully encourage you both to come over & enjoy Canada, my home (3 hrs. from Jasper). Unmatched beauty...

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you so much Justin! This made my day😭🤩 We have been there once, there’s a video on my channel too :) I fully agree, it’s unbelievably beautiful. We are actually considering going back there in April.

[@justinpope55]

@@SimonBraeck Cheers. I'd be happy to recommend some areas you may like.

[@garyp.7501]

I have a box of latex gloves in the back of my van for just these sort of issues.... Thanks again for these videos!

[@SimonBraeck]

Sounds like a great idea! Thank you👏🏼

[@HackPlanet]

Very nice cinematography.

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks! I really try to make the content looking as good as possible.

[@syncrovanCos]

I travel from about 10 Years with same T3 van, but Syncro 4x4 version, now full time, and I'm still alive, the van still make it. Off course, as any other vehicle, ,might have problems sometimes. For not, the rust is my main worry, but what can I ask it for, after 10 Years of abuse, in my possession only ? Have fun, with good and less good moments !

[@SimonBraeck]

Nice! Would love to have a Syncro. It’s kinda cool that such an old car is still being used so much worldwide. It’s a real icon. Thank you, we enjoy every day on the road :)

[@harryhole4427]

25 seconds in, Stunning photography and editing. Looking forward to following you all.

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you!🙌🏼

[@MaartenVanDamme81]

Great video Simon, love your channel. Much love from our T6 california family.

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks 🙏🏼 Great times when road tripping in these vans😀

[@bobaloo2012]

My 1982 Vanagon takes me 4-5,000 miles around Mexico every winter, just take care of the maintenance and they'll treat you well. It's a slow car, but it's a fast house....

[@SimonBraeck]

That’s true, well said! It sure is nice having a home in wheels. And Mexico in a van like this sounds decent😎

[@waverlyshegoes]

But the middle of nowhere is almost always best! Probably why I love Northern Norway. I would be like Benedikte, except already be swimming.

[@SimonBraeck]

Agree, often the more remote it is the better. Haha, it was really cold though😂

[@danielrohwedder6786]

Very nice. Great landscape you filmed.I live in Germany but i've never seen it like that before.

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you :) it’s a great country offering a lot of special places. And people are very helpful and skillful regarding our old Bulli 😊

[@GermanKorb]

Hey Simon, I enjoyed watching the first part of the trip. Thank you for sharing the beautiful sites of Europe. The nature is gorgeous and I really enjoyed the shots of the castles. That sucks that you encountered a few breakdowns with the van, but when you travel a long distance, little maintenance is always expected along the way. I learned from your journey, that it's a good idea to have some spare parts that may need a replacement. For example, the belt, spark plugs, hoses, coolant, and alternator. I saw you already uploaded the second part. Can't wait to watch that too.

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you! Of course, my pleasure. We had some quite interesting challenges along the way and even though we brought some spare parts, we couldnt cover everything we needed. We definitely learned a lot and got fixed a few problems that was important to get done. Luckily we met helpful people along the way and the old van seemed to charm people enough to always want to contribute in some way

[@martina_w]

I love your videos, i remember so many times we had problems with our T3. We have a book which is nessessary for this old van. Unfortunately only in german i think. Wish you a lot of good rides :)

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you! Oh yes, the challenge is real... We’re currently doing some much needed improvements hoping for less issues going forward. Love your van and it will love you😄 Thanks!

[@Mal_Outdoors]

Stunning photography. Amazing drone work. Beautiful people and a gorgeous dog! What more do you need? Looking forward to your next video. 🙂

[@SimonBraeck]

Cheers Malcolm!😃 I try to make it as good as I can, so I’m really happy when people notice my effort. Well, the only thing would be a bit more reliable van haha! But that’s also part of the fun.

[@fadlidewantoro330]

Nice video, with cute Husky

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you, she is pretty cool!🐺

[@blackdogwildtrails3123]

Nicely done! Funny I've always referred to this model is a T25, not a T3 but understand that both descriptions are used. I think in the UK T25 is more widely used in my experience.

[@SimonBraeck]

Cheers!😊 Yeah, I was a bit confused until I realized that it’s a thing in the UK. The germans call it bulli and it’s named a vanagon in the US. We just call ours Truck Norris😎

[@MarcusTDM]

Great video. Some really nice footage. Stunning scenery. What a great van and looks like its going to be an amazing trip.

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks Marcus :) It sure was beautiful!

[@epharrell]

@simon congrats on the great first episode. I have enjoyed your previous van build clips too. Best of luck with your travels. 👍

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks😊 So nice to finally taking the van on a road trip after all the work. Thanks for watching😊

[@lynnej.9357]

Beautiful! Thanks!

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks for watching :)

[@mamuphotographer7647]

Very cool. I have such a car too. You have visited very beautiful places.

[@SimonBraeck]

Ah, cool mate. Yes, we tried to find the best spots :)

[@badneck1947]

Brilliant video/photography and stunning locations. Very much looking to some more.

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you so much! We try our best :) New video coming soon

[@heartofsound59]

all the best for the journey ahead , a great vlog safe driving and happy tripping .

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you, we’re having a blast!

[@anthonvanderneut]

0:21 that looks like the Bayerische Seenschifffahrt (Koenigssee?) but your travels in Germany did not seem to take you anywhere near where they operate.

[@SimonBraeck]

You are correct! The intro is just a quick look into the different places we went and Koenigssee will be featured in a later episode :)

[@driveheritage]

Awesome video guys! Really looking forward to the next one :)

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you! :) I think we bought some parts from you as we built the car.

[@driveheritage]

@@SimonBraeck Ah that's great to hear! If you need anything along your journey do let us know! Happy to help :)

[@sytoable]

Beautiful video

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks :)

[@LiveTravelExplore]

Awesome!! Can't wait for more!!

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks! I plan on two more episodes from this trip🙌🏼

[@kamilgoabek3]

I couldn't have imagined for better afternoon! I wonder if you visited Poland during your trip? If not, you should think about it 😊 And of course I hope that VW will serve you for a long time!

[@SimonBraeck]

Good to hear :) No, we didn’t unfortunately. Heard great things, definitely on our list of places to see. Especially the mountain areas, Tatras.

[@kamilgoabek3]

Then you should definitely come 😊The Tatras are amazing in every year season! And I love to stay there as long as I can. Let me know as soon as you think about Poland, I will help you see the coolest places 😊

[@SimonBraeck]

Alright! I will definitely get back to you if we have some time to visit Poland. Dziękuję Ci!

[@jordansmith4289]

Truck Norris 🤣, I have an 81 Westy so I feel your pain of always repairing along the way... Fun to see your adventure!

[@SimonBraeck]

Hehee, yeah such a nice name ;) At least we learn new stuff all the time. Thanks!

[@brunovg]

Awesome!! Great views :)

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks Bruno :)

[@Maartennp]

Beautiful content, keep it up I'm so jealous. Just bought my own T3 2 months ago and can't wait to get it on the road. Enjoy life, greetings from Belgium.

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you! It’s a joy to drive around in the good old T3. Until you run into all the issues, haha. Good luck with your van!

[@PlayerCake]

Good luck on your camper! I’m doing up my own currently and loving it!

[@marioluka4128]

You are a perfect couple ❤️, I have enjoyed watching you.. Amazing shots and views.. And what i like the most in your video is the nice soft music and the way of editing the scenes.. Awesome 👌🏻💯

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks mate!😃💛 I try to make the videos like I would prefer watching them myself. So feedback like this warms my heart😇 Cheers!

[@leilal8053]

I adore Switzerland! 😊

[@SimonBraeck]

Me too!!!😄

[@advbikejunky]

Big love from Russia! Awesome vid, really enjoyed!

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you so much!😊 спасибо!

[@perryingto]

Beautiful photographs

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks!

[@kermitthesyncro7207]

looks like a kind of an adventure, keep it up 👍

[@SimonBraeck]

Yeah, we haven’t even seen the best placed yet. Thanks for watching :)

[@Italjohn]

Amazingly nice video 😀

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks!😄😉

[@makarone]

Thanks for sharing your journey, it's so interesting to watch. Beautiful places and a #vanlife ! Wish you all the best! Hoping this old buddy will drive you to all places you wish ;)

[@SimonBraeck]

Thanks for watching! It’s not too shabby, just need a lot of attention compared to a new car ;)

[@gardelito]

Hermosas imágenes!! los veo desde Argentina! gracias por compartir sus experiencias!!!

[@jasonosgothorpe882]

Truck Norris! Love it. Make some awesome memories guys. If you haven't already check out campervanculture if you need parts etc I understand they are a great help to fellow adventurers like yourselves

[@SimonBraeck]

Haha, yep! Gotta have a name ;) Cheers, some good ones are already made. We did some shopping there before we set out in this trip. Really good resource for spare parts etc!

[@cali_weejock]

We recently became owners of a Siberian husky (now five months old). How does your dog cope with travelling in a small van? We hope to do some similar exploring in the future and naturally with our dog. Thanks for sharing this nicely edited episode. Safe travels 🤗

[@SimonBraeck]

Ours is really comfortable on the road. We focused on this while she was young and did a lot of driving with her then. She realizes that being in the car means a long hike is coming up. She basically goes to sleep instantly after we start driving😂 Start early and you’ll be fine. Thanks for warching🙌🏼

[@WIDEARTMEDIA]

Hell yeah! I'm sticking with you guys on that journey here :D Great cinematography and the whole trip as it is! I'm about to get my hands on T3 in the near future as well

[@SimonBraeck]

Alright, cool! Thanks mate. Good luck on your van life and hope it will give you a lot of joy :)

[@Happy-dane]

Hey, if the T3 looks is what you really love, go for it. If you want a tough car you can depend on go with the ugly T4. I wanted to go with T3, but being a mechanic and knowing the cars I chose T4. But it's your choice and dream's. Good luck

[@newtongrindewald10]

Guys, is it possible to to make such roofbed on a van that didn't have it, or it is not? Cause you had it in stock, but I have the same van but it is not a camper and I want such roof. Sorry, my English is not perfect, but I hope you understand.

[@SimonBraeck]

Our roof is from a SCA T3 camper van. We bought the tent fabric from busdepot.com. I’m not sure about how you would install a roof like this without having it from the start. The lifting mechanism is a bit awkward. I think installing a sloping Westfalia roof would be easier, the parts will be much easier to obtain😊

[@ravenm.]

Very nice quality video! Yeah '84 westy also has the phantom speedometer light issue. What LED headlights are you running?

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you :) Ah, that’s too bad. I’ve tried fixing it several times, but it doesn’t seem to last. I got them from gowesty.com!

[@mathiaseriksen5270]

bro you are wild

[@SimonBraeck]

haha, thanks I guess😄😄

[@andychattaway5620]

Hi Guys, I've just discovered your channel, watched the first video and subscribed instantly. As a photographer I try not to sub to too many channels as they can be addictive and soon take up all of one's spare time. But I enjoyed this one so much partly due to the fact that I have just bought another camper van (sold my last one two years ago) and so I am inspired watching your travels. Sadly my dog will not accompany me this time as he passed away at the end of last year. He was sixteen years of age and had been a fantastic companion. So much so I can't bring myself to remove his details on my websites 'About Me' page. Fun Travels & stay safe. Andy.

[@SimonBraeck]

Hi Andy, thanks for leaving such wonderful feedback and a heartwarming story! There’s something special about dogs, I can’t even imagine how hard it must be to lose such a good companion. We really enjoyed traveling with our husky and I think she liked it too. Good luck with your new camper van! All the best.

[@andychattaway5620]

@@SimonBraeck Safe Travels ✌️

[@janispetersons9668]

Just like it supposed to be great people, great scenery and technical issues! :) Keep posting! P.S. what camera/gear do you use?

[@SimonBraeck]

Haha, what a compliment😃 Thanks! We use Sony cameras, you’ll find more details in the video description.

[@Steckerleiste5001]

Hey! Could you provide a list of visited places of this episode in the video description?

[@zepzop8471]

After a long time ... VELCOME

[@SimonBraeck]

Haha, cheers!😊

[@carlosbastidas8551]

Thank you for posting this gives me encouragement to try something similar now all I have to do is convince the wife and get a van like yours lol..by the way will you be coming to London later in the trip..

[@SimonBraeck]

Haha, cheers! Good luck convincing your wife, it’s worth a shot doing a trip like this in a charming van. I’m afraid we don’t have time to visit the UK :(

[@adiriko]

What type of lights are you using? Following :)

[@SimonBraeck]

Cheers! LED lights from gowesty.com

[@deepsingh2807]

Nice video . Can you suggest me how i can find a company of travellers for Europe trip or American trip ?. I'm a single traveller and this time I'm thinking about a nice company of tourists plz reply me .😊

[@KylesTechChannel01]

I love democracy and you? there is an app called "couchsurfing" where you can usually find travel pals.

[@The-River]

I fremtiden, på vei frem og tilbake til Europa er dere alltid velkommen her I Eidsvoll--på gården vår selveste Henrik Wergeland og Camilla Collett vokste opp. :-) Bare sende PM.

[@SimonBraeck]

Kult! Skal notere oss det. Mulig det blir en tilsvarende roadtrip gjennom Norge til neste år, så da kan det jo kanskje passe :)

[@sarran1955]

Hello, You have got your mirrors on wrong, fit them in the frame, less wind, less smash, same rear view vision.. Cordialement,

[@SimonBraeck]

Hey, we have fixed it already. I realized there was something wrong😄

[@margretheroness1655]

Haha, æ vil si at dokker hadde mye flaks på turen ut i fra korr ille det virka til tider 😂🙈 Veldig glad for at dokker kom dokker hjem igjen ☺️🙌

[@SimonBraeck]

Det verste har ikke kommet enda😂 men joda, man takle det meste. Han tyske karn der hadde jobba som bilmekaniker for VW i 35 år, det va ganske tilfeldig!

[@drgoldfinger89]

What is the color code of your van?

[@SimonBraeck]

Haha, long story short; we wanted a darker blue color, like the sofa and the front seats. The guy at the paint shop mixed it wrong, but we couldn’t return it because we were long gone at a aircraft hangar were the paint shop was arranged for us. So it’s kind of art by accident and I don’t have the color code...

[@danielmontoya322]

Hei Er det en 1,9 bensin dere hadde ?

[@SimonBraeck]

Hei! Vi hadde 1.6 TD på denne turen

[@margretheroness1655]

Hahaha awwe 😍😍 Zulu når ho kyssa på kua 😍😭😭

[@SimonBraeck]

Hehe ja😍😍 ho va særdeles skeptisk men til slutt gikk ho all in😂

[@leilal8053]

I miss Germany 😕

[@TROLOLOLOO100]

Hey I want to do something similar i was wondering how much the whole conversion cost?

[@SimonBraeck]

Cool! It will of course depend on how much you need to fix/upgrade and how much you can do without involving professionals. I don’t have an exact amount, but we used at least $6000 on the build...

[@mike520784]

I had the same van. Drove it to Morocco in 1993. Here it is now: photos.app.goo.gl/erW6T4GanQUxD7yk8 Was constantly underneath fixing the cooling system.

[@SimonBraeck]

Wow, that looks a lot like our van!😳

[@Vadimvanagon]

Круто!

[@dt-classics]

The best car ever! Good luck, and a peaceful journey! Dirk from dt-classics.de

[@SimonBraeck]

Thank you Dirk! :)

[@mikkelpedersen03]

så rart å høre dere snakke norsk😂

[@SimonBraeck]

Hehe, synes det er rarere å høre oss snakke engelsk😂

[@faggpietro]

Why is this beautiful dog always on the leash :(`

[@SimonBraeck]

It’s a shame, but you can’t let huskies free in new places. They have strong hunting instincts and will chase any wildlife. Combine that with being curious and disobient and it makes for a bad combination.

[@prof.krastavaclee8795]

If you have problem with obedience you should go dog training, good dog trainers realy know what are they takling about. And they can help in short period of time. With lot of training ofcourse.