Date:         Fri, 9 Dec 2011 17:08:08 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon weights was [WetWesties] RV coverage for BCAA, AAA etc
In-Reply-To:  <CACHTzaduAzu2Qaw=W7jVQ39m4AmSanBedxAcYVoNyYBK+1xPnw@mail.gmail.com>
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  On my last extended trip south I weighed my 2wd inline powered low top
with westie kitchen.  It came in, full of gas and water, tools and camp
gear for 2 months on the road at 5600lbs.

  I always check the air in my tires before any highway trip, even a jaunt
(150 miles) on I-84 to Portland.   It's especially important to keep the
air pressure correct when you load up and go on an extended trip.

 Tires are pretty simple and basic devices that work well when used
properly and fail, sometimes catastrophically, when you neglect to have
them right.
 Nothing spoils a trip quicker than trying to find an open tire store at
11:30 pm on Friday night to replace a ruined tire so you can get on to your
weekend outing...  Nothing seems dumber than saying...."I knew I should
have checked the air in my tires, but........" and then having a flat
because you 'let it slide'

  I've had some really poor tire combos on my van due to being short of
spendables...but right now I have the proper tires, almost new...The van
works amazingly well with the proper rubber...Nokians rear and RA-O8s on
the front..Good rubber is a real pleasure....I still check the pressures..
  Don Hanson

On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 4:43 PM, Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@gmail.com> wrote:

> Good point, Chris,
>
> On every trip, I always get out after about 70 miles (that's my first gas
> station going south), walk around and feel every tire for excess heat. If
> any one of them feels overly warm and/or appears low, I use the gauge and
> add air as necessary. I used to be one of those guys who aired the tires up
> to the maximum pressure stated on the tire, trying to squeeze the maximum
> fuel efficiency, but after listening to Scott, and having a chance to drive
> other Vanagons with properly inflated tires that actually handled well, now
> I proportion them front to rear.
>
> Gary
>