Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 18:31:59 EST
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: sucks in snow!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 12/1/2005 3:18:57 PM Pacific Standard Time, mst@AK.NET
writes:
Mark in Ak since 1969
Mark,
I think you've nailed the solution in that dealing with snow requires a
mutifaceted mehtod. And I think the last thing to consider in that methodology is
tires.
Not to say tires are not important. But first as Mark advised anticipate
conditions, routes, and I'd even add consider if it's necessary to go out.
Obviously we have to go to work in most cases, but as I've gotten a little
older--not as old as the rest of you-- I find myself doing a possible cost/ benefit
analysis of whether a routine trip to the store could be fit in tomorrow the
daylight if today's driving conditions are extreme or even just bad. And I'm
mean within reason. Obviously there's no reason to stop your life.
I grew up and lived in the Northeast so have dealt with snow there and
really never had a problem with my bus. On one trip in a heavy nighttime snowfall
I had a moment of clarity an noticed all the other vehicles still on the road
in the driving snow were 4WD and my bus is a 2WD--most had fog lights. In
that particular case--it was an extreme blizzard--I decided discretion was the
better part of valour and pulled off the interstate till the snow let up. I
spent the time thinking of installing Projectzwo fog lights and replacing the
squeeking heater/defroster fan. Traffic was only moving at about 30MPH anyway,
so I wasn't making great time.
Cindy, I don't know your experience in driving in the snow, but if it is
limited than maybe it's time to restructure your methods as Mark suggested. Let
us know your approximate location as that will help in what the problem may
be, and if a more-aggressive tire is really warranted.
A couple of posts suggesting better tires are applicable. But I think only
if you're in a climate that warrants it. When I lived in the Northeast around
NY/NJ and had radial tires I never changed over to a more agressive snow tire
and never had a problem even on my 83 Vanagon with the old Michelin XVS or
whatever the 185RX14 used to be--not an agressive tread at all.
I never found need to weight the back of the bus, but I have a Camper which
may make a difference. If you do add weight, remember heavy objects in the
passenger compartment often become dangerous projectiles in the event of a
collison. And I'm no statistician, but I'm guess in the likelyhood of a collision
is dramatically increased in snowy conditions. If you add weight to any
passenger compartment on any vehicle always make sure it is safely secured.
Horror tales are told everywhere and on this list of people being seriously
injured by fast mving objects from the rear of the passenger compartment.
And in agreeing with Mark's assessment, antcipate and slow down--a lot.
Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA (You should see the number of collisions here in a simple rain.)
