Date:         Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:31:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon speed
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <6bc66ccf0911282247i4dd9f4afvecad7cfbafbcd67@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

It's been expensive but I've eliminated almost all of that effect with the
wheel/tire,
suspension upgrades. The final "touch" was adding the Bilstein coil over
fronts.
Also having stiff sidewalls on properly rated and inflated tires is a big
difference
in dealing with traffic winds, cross winds and road changes in our "boxes".
My van travels noticeably better when fully loaded. Drives like a "loaded
truck"
vs an empty one.
bob

On Sat, Nov 28, 2009 at 11:47 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:

>    Not just for speed but for every aspect of driving a Vanagon,  strong
> and gusty winds suck!  I hate driving mine in gusty cross-wind conditions
> or
> with a side wind and passing traffic on a two lane.  Every time a truck
> rushes past, even going the other direction is seems like we just got
> 'sacked' by some huge linebacker.  Sometimes I've had both mirrors blown
> back against the windows.  The dogs wake up, the co-pilot goes "Huh, what
> was that, we hit something?"...
>  It takes all the enjoyment out of a journey for me when I have to be
> constantly alert to try to anticipate what the wind will do to my high
> profile vehicle...I don't believe you who say  "Oh, My Vanagon is not
> affected by winds at all"...
>  Try a trip through the Columbia River Gorge or perhaps down 395 in the
> high desert of California in spring or fall...You don't just sit there with
> one hand on the wheel and a cup of coffee in the other, cruising along all
> relaxed...No, in my van, you set a correction for the 'lee helm' that the
> cross winds are creating and then every time you pass through a wind
> shadow,
> the van wants to jump over into the vacuum...Tedious and tiring...but
> bearable, just.
>  Don Hanson
>
>
>