Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2014 20:34:39 -1000
Reply-To: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: I rather drive the Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <BAY406-EAS808F0B0C8BE0F9E2A4091A0290@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
look up the weight distribution for a 2WD vanagon ..
oddly, amazingly ..their is more weight on the front axle than on the
rear ( drive ) axle !!
which why they are traction-challenged.
On 6/8/2014 3:18 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> While the Hakka's are very good tire quality wise and that tire has some winter capability you simply will not get much traction on a 185/80 tire inflated to 50 psi or more. If you want to make any improvements you need to begin where the rubber meets the road.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Don Hanson
> Sent: Saturday, June 7, 2014 11:36 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: I rather drive the Vanagon
>
> You haven't tried enough.
>
> Well, nice discussion but it doesn't alter the way 2wd Vanagons normally
> behave. They just are not as good, traction-wise, as many other
> vehicles.. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would rate mine about a 3..maybe a two.
> I had a long bed 2wd ford pickup that was awful in snow...I'd give that a
> 3 maybe 4..... Oh, I've made lots of improvements trying to make mine go better but it still gets stuck without much effort, if you are not really careful about how you ask it to move.... If I park on any kind of slick or soft surface that has any slope...I better park headed downhill, or I am
> stuck. If I stop in sand...stuck. If I have the front wheels turned in
> sand and try to move...stuck. If it snows while I am away from my
> house....I am stuck at the bottom of my driveway...
>
> This is with brand new Nokian Hakkapellita mud and snows on the rear, the suspension reworked and the van corner balanced and many years of snow and sand driving experience...They just plain don't work that well..You *can* drive around this crummy traction, most of the time, but I think it is one of the few things my Vanagon does badly....
>
> Yes, a limited slip diff would be a huge improvement...Or better yet, a full locker for when you need it...
>
> I think it is partly due to the rear suspension not being particularly supple or having very much travel...It doesn't take much to get a wheel completely off the ground at the rear...there is little "droop" in the Vanagon...Droop being the amount a suspension will hang down when the vehicle is lifted....
>
> When it begins to snow and sleet around here I have to load at least a few hundred lbs onto the rear deck lid to keep driving my vanagon without being constantly stuck...that's not very convenient nor safe and it is a real pain when you need to access the engine..
>
| 
