Date:         Thu, 16 Dec 2004 13:20:17 -0500
Reply-To:     Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject:      Re: HELP My wife thiks the van is unsafe
Comments: To: Dave Chameides <docproteus@EARTHLINK.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <BDE6E7AA.754B%docproteus@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed

Hi Dave,

Are you running on the correct rated tires?  If the PO had installed 
Car Tires, the sidewalls will flex too much and the effect of 
crosswinds and over-steer will be quite noticeable. Upgrading to 
proper-spec tires with dual-ply sidewalls will improve handling 
dramatically and improve perceptions of safety as well.

Others on this list will advise swapping thw 14" rims for something 
larger and running low-profile tires... the important thing is to get 
the wallow out of the sidewalls.


Vanagon.com has a page that shows the results of a Vanagon hitting a 
Volvo head-on... that might impress your wife:
http://www.vanagon.com/info/safety/volvo-crash/

My kids have grown up in our Baywindow westy, and that's a lot less 
advanced than the Vanagon. We love it anyway.

Happy trails,

Greg Potts
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato**  LY3H
1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
http://www.busesofthecorn.com


On 16-Dec-04, at 10:20 AM, Dave Chameides wrote:

> Hey All,
> So now that I’ve got the van all fixed up and have put time and money 
> into
> it, my wife is telling me that she is concerned that the van is unsafe 

> for
> our kids to ride in it.  Now before I go on I should note that it’s 

> and 83
> diesel 1.6 and I have personally checked all seatbelts and seat 
> tracks, etc.
> to assure her (and me) that it’s safe.  She’s mainly worried about 

> tipping
> over.  Any thoughts on any studies on this so I can allay her fears?
>
> Dave
>
>