Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:21:17 -0600
Reply-To: Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Silly idea?
In-Reply-To: <CAAj276z4-8KG=aMY6xS0AWw9tgWnNt=JUZA+Yg0v1kuLPpAHDA@mail.gmail.com>
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I'll try to post results from both calculators here soon, my daughter
kicked me off her laptop!
Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
On Feb 10, 2014 3:56 PM, "Ralph Meyermann" <ralphmeyermann@gmail.com> wrote:
> I use the buddy system, my buddy does all the work while I stay in the
> driver's seat. The other thing is ya always need a buddy to confirm your
> fish stories!!
>
> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
> On Feb 10, 2014 3:52 PM, "Robert Keezer" <warmerwagen@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Ralph,
>> I'd like to add a word of caution based on an experience I had launching
>> a boat with my Westfalia .
>> The danger is that after you set the handbrake, and go back to launch or
>> trailer your boat, that the rear wheels being submerged in water, might
>> cause the the parking brakes to slip, and your Vanagon will roll backwards
>> , flooding the engine and transmission.
>> It happened to me, at the La Conner public boat launch years ago, which
>> is very steep. I had just enough time to get in and stomp the brakes down,
>> or it would have slid into the channel. Water came in the cargo area just
>> past the rear z-bed.Ruined the transmission and engine.
>> I had a cell phone, a policeman came and waited, but I had to keep my
>> feet pressed down hard on the brake pedal waiting an hour for a tow truck,
>> all the time the relays in the engine compartment were buzzing, and the van
>> shaking from the flow of the channel, late at night.
>> And salt water!Man was that freaky!
>>
>> You need a very long trailer tongue, and the rear tires should not be
>> deep enough to submerge the brakes.
>> I later observed a local company used a 4WD truck to launch boats there,
>> using a front hitch.
>>
>> I earlier had been at a boat launch that wasn't steep, but I still had to
>> submerge the rear wheels to launch the small boat.
>> You have noticed that most boaters use a pickup to launch boats.
>> I never used a Vanagon to launch a boat since.
>> The taller tires will help.
>> If you absolutely have to use your Vanagon to launch a boat, don't rely
>> on the e-brake , which brakes the rear wheels only, but have someone use
>> the footbrake, which brakes all four wheels, while you or they launch or
>> trailer the boat.
>>
>> Happy boating!
>> Robert
>> 1982 Westfalia
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>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
>> *To:* vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> *Sent:* Monday, February 10, 2014 10:17 AM
>> *Subject:* Silly idea?
>>
>> Hi Volks, I may have another silly idea. I am planning on having my diesel
>> ratio transaxle rebuilt with a 1st and second ratio change to a 4.13 and
>> 2.25 if my memory is correct to aide pulling my small fishing boat out of
>> the water. My silly idea is that with 215/75/15 bfg all terrains matched
>> to
>> my diesel ratio transaxle is about the same as my dk transaxle with my
>> 195/75/14. I was thinking that when I'm bringing the boat camping I will
>> run the 14" wheel package to take some load off the engine/transaxle and
>> when I am not bringing the boat Ill use the big wheel package to gain some
>> hwy speed? It's so crazy, it just might work??
>> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
>>
>>
>>
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