Date:         Sun, 26 May 2002 10:10:22 -0500
Reply-To:     "Terry K." <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Terry K." <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET>
Subject:      Re: Best van ever designed (was: Why do we love that damn van so
              much...)
Comments: To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>'s message of Sun, 26 May 2002
              09:40:31 -0500
Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII

Whoa--Stantowski---

Air Stream Suspension?

Wrong answer---

Air Bag Suspension----way ahead of their time--

Borrowed from semi tractors---not air stream trailer's----

If the front end is GREASED, and maintained , just as in the
Vanatoilet's---it was a durable set up---

And if half of the yo-yo's kept the proper air pressure in the heavy
front ended unit's, the tire's would last one hell of a lot longer than
10,000 turns--

There are many of these GMC's around here----not just parked--running
example's

Where do you come up with this stuff?


Besides the GMC motorhome, I'm also kinda fond of the Prevost line of
land yacht's--

Detroit, Cat, Cummins Powered, with an Allison transmission, air ride
all the way around, 11x22.5's on polished aluminum Budd wheels---yea
baby, this is the way to fly-:>)

A freind of mine has one---art deco interior---black marble
john---trick---neat--marvelous----awe inspiring----and fast----

Later,

Terry



E-mail message

Most of these vans are not on the road! I see them all the time in junk
yards.
If you're seeing more than two a year on the road I'd be surprised. You
might be seeing them parked under a shed or beside a house or barn but
on the road; I doubt it.
Those things were lead sleds with Air Stream Rear Suspension and bunches
of stolen Air Stream features that GMC managed to tipple the weight on.
That 10,000 mile set of front drive tires was a major killer of
maintenance.
NO! I've never had one. That is one mistake I never made.
Stan Wilder
On Sun, 26 May 2002 07:26:34 -0700 "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
writes:
"> The best... has to be the cabover current-model
(1989-present) Toyota
Hiace."
Sounds like a great vehicle, But round here a "cabover" is called a
"Class C" and is not considered a Van.
If we are going to compare apples and oranges Ill take a 79' GMC 26'
Motorcoach, front wheel drive 455cid Olds and a top speed of 80mph
AND...great handling.
check out the GMC history page:
http://www.gmcmotorhomes.com/catalog/page00.html
Most of these motorhomes are still on the road becouse they were
designed to be tough as nails by an air craft engineer that worked for
GMC.
Phil
--- Andrew Grebneff
<andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> wrote:
ITS THE BEST VAN EVER DESIGNED.....EVER
No way. Not looked at objectively. The body is great, the suspension
is great (and therefore the handling). But it is seriously let down
by unreliable mechanicals, poor electrics and crap-quality plastics
and switchgear; unergonomic controls. The cargo bay is compromised by
the engine hump; this could probably have been deleted by having no
ancillaries atop the engine and a slightly higher floor.
The best... has to be the cabover current-model (1989-present) Toyota
Hiace. Solid, safe, reliable, big, ergonomic everything, decent
handling, available with a huge variety of engines, body types, 3
different van wheelbases and levels of trim from bare bones to
ultraluxurious. And a flat cargo bay floor. All it lacks is an IRS
option, though upmarket versions get torsionbar rear, and
walkthrough. 4WD optional, including full-time and part-time
versions. And with good looks to top it off, and Toyota's top-quality
ergonomics, plastics, switchgear, fit and finish. Available with
full camper conversions, including poptops.
Toyota Hiace
Engines
2.0 gas
2.4 gas
2.0 diesel
2.4 diesel (turbo oprtion)
2.8 diesel
3.0 EFI turbodiesel
Auto or 5-speed manual; floorshift or column cartspring or torsionbar
rear
SWB, MWB (=VW length) or LWB
RWD, part-time 4WD, full-time 4WD
normal or high roof
top-hinged normal tailgate or (rare) dual vertical-hinged doors
single or dual sliders
optional small rear wheels with no wheelarches intruding into floor
electric locking, windows, morrors, dual aircon etc
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
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