VW Doka From Poland- Chapter 3 "Let's Make It Cool!"

This 1989 VW Vanagon "Doka" Pickup Truck came to us from Poland, and it's in HORRIBLE condition! After months of looking for the worst one available, I'm confident we found it!
Chapter 2:
In this chapter, we make it cool! With the help of our partners at GOWESTY Camper Products, we added the necessary accessories to make it a badass ride!
It's got fresh wheels and tires, a suspension lift and revitalization, a functional stereo, and a cool license plate! There are new mirrors, and ALL the oil is still coming out of the the engine!
Be sure to check out the other chapters, and subscribe for the next chapters!
Links to some products we mentioned:
Gowesty.com

[@JackStolz]

Ah man I’ve been excited for a new Craig vid! The endless handkerchief magic trick with the bags really frigged my rig. Big chuckles all around. The Doka looks so awesome! Are you going to make a fourth vid talking about the head gasket saga? I’d love to see that.

[@TheBarefootForge]

Of course! There will be a chapter 4 soon. Head saga, turbo upgrades, winch, and some use/adventures!

[@OldtimerRescue]

The stainless steel tubes will help to prevent the engine for overheating, because it is a great way to cool the water. In winter you have to insulate them a little bit, otherwise you don't get enought temperature to use the heater in you cabine. Best regards from Germany, Ralph

[@noahman27]

Umm, Ok, So apparently this is my dream channel! 😍 For whatever reason, I just loooove these busses. Brings me back to my childhood when we toured thru England, France, Italy, and the rest of the year in Israel in our ‘71 Westy. Very very special adventure. And then we had another 8 busses over the years. There’s just nothing like them!

[@TheBarefootForge]

Gota love the busses! They’re fun!

[@mrozpa8472]

Greetings from Poland🇵🇱. very good job!!!, it's hard to believe that this car is made in the USA

[@TheBarefootForge]

Hard to believe it made it out of Poland!

[@crjmccc]

Great video as usual. Wish you showed more of the jobs you do on the van end to end but I'll take them as they come! Looking trim in later footage, it's a good healthy look man - keep going with that and the videos 👍

[@TheBarefootForge]

Thanks man! I’m down 50pounds since I got the doka! One of the things that’s been delaying fresh videos is all the hard work I’ve been putting in towards prioritizing myself and my health- I’m glad it shows! Thanks friend!

[@Rob01978]

Loving your videos! Greetings from a UK VW owner

[@leejensen7550]

Thanks for another video Craig. Good stuff. Love seeing the doka make progress!

[@TheBarefootForge]

Slow and steady, that’s its philosophy!

[@ginomenna1768]

you guys are so funny, it makes watching so enjoyable

[@TheBarefootForge]

Thanks friend! What was your favorite part?

[@ginomenna1768]

@@TheBarefootForge the belly of the beast HAHAHAHA

[@ginomenna1768]

@@TheBarefootForge The bags of whatever coming out of the subframe,🤣🤣

[@BloodRaven1969]

Loving the look with the wheels/tires, lift and mirrors. The last time I saw column wiring that look like that was on a 1984 Dodge D-50 4x4 at the harness plug end, and it scared the crap out of me finding it! Post fix it did correct half the electrical issue with the old thing.

[@TheBarefootForge]

It’s got a whole new vibe and energy! Wait till chapter 4 when we add a winch! : ) Ya, that wiring is terrifying. I’ve fixed it and everything is working correctly except one circuit, which is next on the list of repairs.

[@BloodRaven1969]

@@TheBarefootForge Absolutely great to hear that! I'll happily wait for the next update. Happy upgrading!

[@piotrsetkowski5665]

Greetings from Poland :) Cool project.

[@Waltygo87]

Bro, I love your videos! Great content how do you have a great sense of humor! I noticed when talking about the mirrors around 25 minutes you must’ve had some editing issues. You repeat yourself about the mirrors and then also when talking about the clearance and stance of the new wheels and shocks shortly after Can’t wait for part 4!

[@TheBarefootForge]

I’ll check into that tomorrow and see if I can fix it! Thanks man, I really appreciate that! It’s hard to edit and catch everything!

[@alexanderdenette5101]

for the ends popping out of the long coolant lines I have had good luck drilling and using some pop rivets to retain them as well as give a new feature to clamp against. the headlights are factory European H4's that have a city light instead of the parking lights in the directional

[@TheBarefootForge]

Ya the euro city light thing is insane and horrible to deal with so far. Lol. I’ve seen the pop rivet trick, but I’ve also seen it create a weak spot in the pipe and the whole thing crack off in a ring around where the rivet was drilled…

[@superconfort]

Mirrors, mirrors, big and small. Mirrors, mirrors, I love you all

[@TheBarefootForge]

Heck ya!

[@J.F.K.O]

The thing you do with the mirrors is. Adjust to your liking and then park it outside for 3-5 years preferably in a location with a lot of vegetation. after 3-5 years you wash the car and accidentally unseize them. Leave it for 3-5 years again now when 3-5 years have passed you need to remember not to wash it or park anywhere near other cars, otherwise start over again :P

[@TheBarefootForge]

I’ve used this method in the past- im not a fan. Truck mirrors are a reallllllllll nice upgrade!

[@J.F.K.O]

@@TheBarefootForge There is an LT at my local scrap yard gotta see if it has mirrors. The original are annoying as heck

[@vDC2me]

It just takes one aunt that was awesome that's my vanagon with pipe clamps

[@richardroos5965]

I've been meaning to ask if you resolved your head gasket issue ? I can't believe all the problems you have to address. You are certainly performing a Transfiguration of this Doka...giving it a new life!

[@TheBarefootForge]

The doka is now on its third head and 5th head gasket- but it drives. Stay tuned for chapter 4, the saga of the head!

[@BoxersGarage]

Great following you, great choice to lift the DOKA ⬆️ Gotta ask, how drunk were when editing this video, several repetitions through the end of the video 😂 Great stuff 🤘

[@jochen7919]

Every take was good though. Repeating the take home points makes taking home the take home points more easy! Hilarious episode once again!

[@TheBarefootForge]

Ah ,that somehow published the wrong file. I'll cut it up, thanks for catching that!

[@BoxersGarage]

@@TheBarefootForge sure thing, thanks for the great content 😉

[@kapteinsuperskoot6986]

I think the same "auto-electrician" who did your wiring did mine *facepalm* I have had to redo 90% of the wiring. Mine also had two engines' worth of wires in (swapped from aircooled to Essex V6). Good luck. Please be nice to the DoKa.

[@TheBarefootForge]

Thanks man! Ya, the previous owner always screwed us all! lol But yours is running well and reliably now?

[@kapteinsuperskoot6986]

@@TheBarefootForge Overheating, using oil, dripping water, crunching gears. You know, it's a DoKa :) Going to redo the engine soon (V6 Essex). Electricals are 100% though.

[@grilledcheeseeater3443]

ok you convinced me il buy the finger sander

[@TheBarefootForge]

Everyone needs to shorten their fingers!

[@sgsax]

Truck is looking great and so are you, if you don't mind my saying. Considering this beast was barely road-worthy, you've done miraculous work getting it this far. Can't wait to see the story of the exploded head. 😁 Your unbridled enthusiasm and positivity about the horrors you've seen on this thing are what keeps me coming back for more. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheBarefootForge]

Thanks buddy! I’ve been working really hard, I’m down 50 pounds since I bought this bus! It’s good to hear it be noticed!

[@RKMProductionsinc]

I like how you mounted the mirrors but could not find the video in your playlist on how you do it. Is it a separate piece or part of a longer video?

[@TheBarefootForge]

That video doesn’t appear to be up right now. I’ll get that fixed at some point.

[@kaqubek]

Having recently imported a Vanagon from USA to Poland (the more usual way) I had a similar but at the same time opposite experience with headlights. Where are the parking lights? There is no opening for the second bulb here! Then I recalled that they are in the indicators. That's crazy! ;)

[@TheBarefootForge]

Absurd! Easily rewired though…..

[@scooterboyify]

more doka videos!!

[@TheBarefootForge]

There will be soon. Definitely due for an update!

[@chrishomel9558]

Man, This car makes my Westy look like a show car. I'm doing much of the same suspension upgrades, and it does make a huge difference. Very entertaining. Can you tell me more about those stock mirrors? ;-)

[@TheBarefootForge]

The stock mirrors are absolute abysmal garbage. You should find great joy in destroying them.

[@nealart]

Today I learned what Carolina Squat is.

[@TheBarefootForge]

And knowledge is power!

[@scooterboyify]

FINALLY!!!

[@TheBarefootForge]

Plenty more content in the pipeline! I’ve decided to lower expectations and production values, but publish more.

[@montanaharkin]

Need more doka content! Gonna rebuild the engine?

[@TheBarefootForge]

Probably going to spitefully throw out the engine, grinning ear to ear as it’s cast into a dumpster.

[@VanaConn]

Alcar makes most of the steel wheels worldwide. Alcar 9905 if I recall correctly

[@TheBarefootForge]

Can you look into that for me? That would be super useful for the next project. : )

[@Ease_E_Street]

i cant find your video on the truck mirror installation video you mentioned in this video

[@TheBarefootForge]

Ya, I don't seem to have that one up right now. I'll get it up.

[@Achilles3588]

Learning so much from this, and experiencing a bit of deja vu too, figuratively speaking.

[@TheBarefootForge]

Thanks man! I’m glad I could share some useful info and hopefully a good smile as well! What are you working on?

[@Achilles3588]

@@TheBarefootForge'91 Syncro Doka imported from Belgium (I think), was a 1.6 TD JX, blew a head gasket and now it's a 1.9L TDI AFN. Pouring money into at least as fast as you seem to be.

[@TheBarefootForge]

@@Achilles3588 I’ll race ya! I bet I can pour money faster, even if you can pour it harder.

[@Achilles3588]

@@TheBarefootForge Does a monetized YT channel or a paying sponsor like GW help fund your expenditures? 'Cause I got neither of those.

[@TheBarefootForge]

@@Achilles3588 every bit helps! Every comment helps! But you’d be surprised how little KZbin pays… This video will make $50 by the end of the year, If that.

[@ihatelogincrap]

I know folks like the big tires etc...but frankly the big tire peeps round here are the toxic masculinity bro dozer type. -cringe- factory power mirrors look the best IMHO and don't require poking yet more holes. Your saying it yourself, not doing it any favors there....that said, props to rescuing it and your other adventures rescuing these things. I'm guessing yours is temor beige like my '85. Sorry for the slight neg points...you do you man ! I drive mine daily on the street, carat springs, 17" wheels and 50 series tires. Great for the streets. soon to be my only vehicle. My other car is just yard art now anyway. That bed looks like someone draped a blanket on the support framing and brushed it with fiberglass. Good luck moving for with it. Generally enjoy your channel.

[@TheBarefootForge]

I’m pursuing the bro-dozer life style, this glorious beast has earned some “truck nuts”. You’re absolutely wrong on the mirrors- whenever possible, add as many new holes to the car. The factory just forgot to add those holes- you get to! Drill lots and lots of holes.

[@wankelFan2]

8:39 thats the way european hedlights are

[@TheBarefootForge]

Ya, they’re weird! I didn’t realize the headlight buckets were different though! Once I got US round headlight buckets, I was able to put modern dot LED headlights in and they plugged right in, including the daytime running light option. Easy.

[@Auxbeam]

Hi Do you need some great vehicle lighting to help you better driving, off-road? We're the pro auto lighting manufacturer for nearly 20 year and we're looking for sponsorship!

[@TheBarefootForge]

Hey Friends! Let's make it happen! We should showcase your products on this and future builds!

[@iscariotproject]

i have actually owned car just as crappy as this one,jesus it was a deathtrap

[@TheBarefootForge]

….”but did you die?”

[@hooh125]

it seems irresponsible :)

[@TheBarefootForge]

Checking all the boxes!