I only had two really bad grades to climb - first one was a stuggle up the highway into Turnagain Pass - a steep climb nearly straight up - no hairpins to lessen the grade - that one encountered after rounding the head of Turnagain Arm - a large body of water nearly cutting off the Kenai Peninsula - geologically - from the rest of Alaska. After that was a long slope of a grade up from the Hope cut-off at Canyon Creek. A fork in the road that led to the old gold rush town of Hope, Alaska. Those were the worst - the downhill sides were not bad - a series of drops that were spread out. But you are right - a moose crossing the road suddenly would have been problematic - heck - disastrous! But I was more wooley back in those days - and - I was a total newby to the Vanagon and had no idea as to how to pet it. But I got 205,000 miles out of it before selling it - and the only thing that ever failed on it was the water pump. That little 1.9L WBX was still going strong when it went down the road without me. In looking back over the years of Vanagon ownership, I think that the 85 GL with the 1.9L engine was one of the best VW ever built. John On 7/21/2013 11:31 PM, Scott Ohana wrote: > good thing you didn't have to stop in a hurry going downhill too, like > to look at a bear, say. > They always seem to be off the road, and not 'in' the road like deer > often are. > What's the highest temp recorded in AK ..? > not over a hundred I don't think. > > On 7/21/2013 9:23 PM, JRodgers wrote: >> That is why I drive a Tin-top - the utility. >> >> Envision a pallet laying there with 15 one hundred pound bags of plaster >> on it. BTDT - From Anchorage, Alaska through the Chugach Mountains to >> Soldotna - a 150 mile trip. I took my time. There were several stretchs >> of first gear creep in my '85 GL. Glad the weather was cool in those >> mountains. >> >> John >> >> On 7/21/2013 2:24 PM, Zeitgeist wrote: >>> Truckasaurus! *http://tinyurl.com/lhdqp9y >>> * >>> or the following if you're not into the whole brevity thing: >>> >>> https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CLwsISi33qg/TZIG5LKbl6I/AAAAAAAAAaE/x2547iuZYgs/s640/van%2520rocks_1.JPG >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Jul 21, 2013 at 11:51 AM, Stephen Engel <sengel543@yahoo.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> You're not alone! Although I do go camping. >>>> >>>> I decided on a tin top to maximize utility. I love the stares when I >>>> pull >>>> up to a loading area next to all the pimped-out, pumped-up F-250s, >>>> Rams, >>>> etc. >>>> >>>> Steve >>>> 87 Syncro GL >>>> >>>> PS Someone give that sexy red T3 a good home! >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Jul 21, 2013, at 1:59 PM, Zeitgeist <gruengeist@GMAIL.COM> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Sometimes it feels like I'm the only non-camping T3 lover out there. >>>> I've >>>>> owned four of them (including two campers), and ultimately their >>>>> utility >>>>> value as a truck is what keeps me coming back for more. I don't drive >>>>> offroad (have a Quattro for that), so it's really just a nice handling >>>>> covered cargo area truck that can move people and goods around in >>>>> unique >>>>> style...which means I look at a tintop as a plus, rather than a >>>>> deficiency. >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Jul 21, 2013 at 10:07 AM, Jason <uberhare@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Ditto. It's just a bit too far from me. 1000 miles to home. I >>>>>> could >>>> use >>>>>> a decent passenger van. Pinball machines and lumber don't fit so >>>>>> nice >>>> in >>>>>> the Westy. If someone was local to check it out and get some more >>>>>> pics >>>> I'd >>>>>> consider the drive. I seem to be a sucker for long drives in unknown >>>>>> vehicles. >>>>>> >>>>>> Jason >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sun, Jul 21, 2013 at 9:31 AM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> If Sally were for sale nearby I'd be tempted. The Mopar >>>>>>> dog-and-lumber >>>>>>> minivan needs a lot of attention and replacement has been discussed. >>>>>> We're >>>>>>> not camping this year (move) and does not look like we might (new >>>>>>> old >>>>>> house >>>>>>> mods and family obligations) so the Westy is doing some >>>>>>> commuting, and >>>> a >>>>>>> nice automatic (getting-old people ankles, knees and hips) in an >>>>>> attractive >>>>>>> package like this could easily end up in the new driveway. I'd be >>>>>>> seriously tempted, but not for twice the money. I hope this van >>>>>>> finds >>>> a >>>>>>> nice home. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Stephen >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Casey >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Casey >>> . >>> >> > |
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.