Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (June 2013, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 7 Jun 2013 06:42:30 -0700
Reply-To:     Jeremy Stovin <jjstov@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeremy Stovin <jjstov@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Driving a Vanagon or any RV fast.
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY152-DS14284A97F13EF9840F55EA0990@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I totally hear you! I took my first real trip across the cascades to Eastern Washington.  I never wanted to take her over 60mph for fear that the old girl could not take it, especially when going through the pass with inclines that brought me down to an embarrassing 45mph.  But by the end of the Eastbound voyage I braved her up to 65mph and all was well. Going back, I took her to 70mph. She handled like a champ, better than my side view mirrors which, with all the wind, turn in.   On the other hand, now a days, Vanagon owners are for more than a level of concise practicality. There is a slow down mentality. Take your time. Mostly when I drive her, I am up high with the large windows, I (and the family) just want to take it all in.   But it is nice to know my '87 Vanagon can speed up if she needs to.   Jeremy From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Sent: Friday, June 7, 2013 5:56 AM Subject: Driving a Vanagon or any RV fast. Many of us work not only full time but often very demanding jobs. Then some of us even have family and side line obligations. While I enjoy traveling, especially the driving and sightseeing part there are times I/we simply have to get there. Just last week I went to Busses By Natural Bridge. This was a 470 mile trip each way. I has a challenge getting the Friday off. Once past NY traffic I needed to "make tracks' to get down there and enjoy the weekend. Generally I stay right and middle lanes and keep up with traffic. Most of the trip was done at 65-75 mph. With my need for frequent stops and a shopping diversion it was still almost 10 hours. There were a few hills that slowed my down to 60 or so and I still felt that I was in someone's way.  I find this stressful. I grew up with Busses and Bugs. I learned to drive and took my road test in a 67 splittie. I had a few bays. When we got our first Vanagon, an 84 with the 1.9L, it was like oh my gosh, I can go as fast as I need in comfort! I can even stop and steer (not aim) it.  I never looked back. Back in those days we had the 55 mph speed limit and the early Vanagons especially the Diesels were designed around that limit. For some those vehicles are fine but the lack of power is probably the main reason these never really sold. For many reasons I really like the Vanagon. For a van type vehicle there is nothing that offers some level of modern performance that is so serviceable. Yes, serviceable. What other van type vehicle can have the complete drive line removed in your front yard without a hoist or exotic equipment? Know how to use a multi meter and a pressure gauge and you can fix anything that happens. How about that almost bullet proof suspension? Just look at the number of people that get into these things having no repair experience later becoming fully self-sufficient. Sure they have some quirks and some parts are expensive but overall how many other vehicles 25 years and older with hundreds of thousands of miles get pushed into service for cross country trips and living space? However after all that is said if they couldn't travel at normal speeds I probably wouldn't own them. Dennis


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.