Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:37:22 -0700
Reply-To: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\"" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\"" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tow Loops [back to thread subject]
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimFa=qRXjjNFUQ6=JPnvF0poyR8hdAbSyp7z1Zr@mail.gmail.com>
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Well, de Villiers, I thank you kindly for the helpful information.
Followup questions? What's an "A arm"? Would I know a "track rod" if I
saw one?
Can someone point me to an illustration in Bentley that might help me
identify these bits that Jake is describing?
(Some may recall that I don't spend much time under the van. Under a car
is the only time I ever feel claustrophobia. I've been in caves, an MRI
machine, tiny tents, and other close spaces with no trouble. It's weird.
Undervanaphobia.)
--
Rocky J Squirrel
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Bend, OR
KG6RCR
Jake de Villiers wrote:
> I do understand Mike.
>
> Many, many years ago I got the company delivery vehicle stuck in three
> different rural ditches on a very dark cold snowy night and it has left
> its mark.
>
> I guess if you see the tow truck kid hooking on to the bendy bits you
> might say something. The box sections in behind the bumper mounting
> points are pretty sturdy (but not the lower holes, as Scott points out)
> but the track rods might be an easier grab, especially for a hook.
> Those are the big fat steel bars with threads and rubber mounts that
> locate your lower A-arms, one each side.
>
> That's all I've got Elliott.
>
> On Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 3:58 PM, Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
> <camping.elliott@gmail.com <mailto:camping.elliott@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>
> Jake de Villiers wrote:
> > There's plenty of large, solidly mounted suspension pieces down
> there,
> > but why wouldn't you let the guy with lots of experience pulling
> > vehicles make that decision?
>
> Fair question. I think I have decent answers.
>
> 1. Three years ago my 1971 bus broke down. I needed it towed eight
> blocks to home. The "professional" wrapped his chains around the
> steering bits, bending them.
>
> 2. Last weekend I got stuck on the shoulder beside the highway when
> we pulled over to wait for and cheer on the climbers in the Cascade
> Cycling Classic race for the King of the Mountatain points. Two feet
> off the road, the soft shoulder got incredibly soft -- a loose
> cindery duff. (I didn't want to mention that here because I should
> have learned my lesson a few weeks ago when I got stuck in mud and
> had to have my son extricate me, I know you understand.) Anyway, the
> tow truck driver hopped out, ran a cable to the loop under the front
> bumper -- he went right to it, knew exactly where it was -- and yes,
> this is the loop everyone says not to use, and he pulled me free.
>
> Okay, so knowing what I know, exactly how eager should I be to just
> stand back and let the professionals do their job?
>
> Your move, de Villiers.
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
>
> 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
> 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'
>
> Crescent Beach, BC
>
> www.thebassspa.com <http://www.thebassspa.com>
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com <http://www.crescentbeachguitar.com>
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>
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