Date:         Tue, 30 Oct 2001 10:43:01 -0800
Reply-To:     David Bingham <DBingham@CASAGOFASTICA.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Bingham <DBingham@CASAGOFASTICA.COM>
Organization: Casa Gofastica Motorcycle Service
Subject:      Re: How does a Westy Camper Handle in the Snow?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

My 86 Gl with Les Schwab all terrain 27*8.5*14 tires did ok last winter in
Northern Idaho.
We had about 2 feet of snow that did not go away for several months. My
drive way was
the only place I ever got stuck. We did not plow it soon enough and it had a
slope to one
side, and a ditch. Had to get pulled out a few times, even with chains. If I
had to be there this
year I would have gotten a winch. I still might.
Once you get stuck, good luck trying to get unstuck under your own power.
I had about 250 pounds of sand bags over the rear wheels for most of the
year. Considering
I had to drive over 40 miles a day, often times in blizzard conditions, and
up 6 miles of winding
6% grade, and then down a 1 mile dirt road, and up a steep unplowed
driveway, it did well.
Took its toll on the van though. clutch wore out, had oil pressure trouble
when the weather
got hot. When it was -4 for a few days the big plastic cooling thing
exploded, windsheild has more
cracks than I car to count, all the rock chips on the front started to rust,
wheels bearings (both front)
went out, a cv joint gave up, the muffler started to come loose, and my head
lights and driving lights
all have holes in them. But considering that it was like driving 40 miles a
day in extreme off road
conditions, the van did well.