Date:         Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:18:29 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Kens trip & can Westys climb mountains?
Comments: To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1350433208.45115.YahooMailClassic@web110604.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

you've not lived until you've driven a 1.6 NA diesel westy, loaded to the gills for a 3 week holiday in mainland BC.

:)

Did that in '93, in '94 I popped in a 1.8 digifant I4 gas engine, a bit better on steep hills especially with the diesel transmission.

alistair


On 2012-10-16, at 5:20 PM, Stephen Grisanti wrote:

> Our '87 Westy with stock 2.1 does okay on these Eastern interstate grades, but I've hit a few hills that required second and even first for a mile or two, on gravel during our Gaspe trip and climbing to High Knob SP in Virginia.  Reddish Knob near Dayton VA is a longish straight climb into the National Forest, so that might be worth the effort.
> 
> More power really would be nice for the ones that are just marginal now, the ones where you crest at 45 in third, but as long as this one runs I'd rather spend the money on the trips and wish I had time for an unhurried drive out west.
> 
> Stephen
> 
> --- On Tue, 10/16/12, Spencer Allen <spencervw@AOL.COM> wrote:
> 
> From: Spencer Allen <spencervw@AOL.COM>
> Subject: Kens trip & can Westys climb mountains?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 11:35 AM
> 
> After reading Ken Wilfords great trip report of his travels across the U S of A I started thinking about the trip to some of the same areas my family took in our then new 1985 GL. There were 4 adults and 3 kids with the van packed for 2 wekks of travel. We flew across the flat lands but when we hit the mountains of Colorado we were almost rolling backwards by the time we crested some of the steeper mountain roads. We were in the truck lanes and even they were honking at us to get out of the way. This was a manual trans so I was constantly stirring the stick to find the right gear. I want to go back to Colorado next year in my 85 auto trans Westy but am worried about a climbing those mountains in a 1.9 auto trans. Can you guys share your westys in the mountain driving experience. Thanks.
> Spencer