Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 09:00:26 -0500
Reply-To: JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: I rather drive the Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <CANp2e0g9rNZQ_M_41HmYX3b3y-0hUfsJhX4WX5gjpCpPHYeLvA@mail.gmail.com>
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I bought my first Vanagon - an 85 GL - in summer, 1990, in Soldotna,
Alaska. Loved it from the start. Have owned a Vanagon ever since.
Didn't know the first bloody thing about Vanagons back then. but I did
put a new set of Goodyear rubber on it - and with that - began my
education about the beast. Had no clue about proper tires for it.
Happily - and ignorantly - I drove that first van all summer. Went
everywhere. Had fun camping and fishing all over. Then came fall time.
Then came winter.
Late October, around Halloween - the it began to snow. I had to drive to
Anchorage 150 miles away through the mountains and with 20 years of show
driving in Alaska under my belt - I took off. Besides - weatherman
called for only light snow.
The road to Anchorage is the Sterling Highway. From Soldotna on the
Sterling is a 30 mile stretch of relatively straight flat road that
crosses the Kenai National Moose Range and leads into the foothills as
one enters the mountain range. One can make good speed across there -
but expect to slow down at the foothills.
There was the thinnest bit of ice on the road, mostly worn off by
earlier traffic, and the light snow falling on it. I speedily approached
the first sharp grade into the foothills. Making good time, I started up
the grade. Halfway up, the van lost traction at the rear wheels, and I
spun out right in the middle of the highway.
I was shocked! Never had that happen before - not ever in my driving
career. I was fortunate that there was no other traffic on the road. It
could have been bad.
I turned around and went straight back to Goodyear in Soldotna, bought a
set of studded tires and went on my way - never to have slippage like
that again in winter.
I drove for many winters in Alaska - from the wet winter snow slops in
Southeast Alaska at 32 degrees F to the deep freeze of Fairbanks at 40
below Zero. And that episode with the Vanagon was the only time I ever
felt the need for studded tires. Every winter thereafter with the van,
the studded tires got put on. But for general driving - I now know
enough of the peculiarities of the van, to know to take certain
precautions so as not to get stuck on grass, or flat pavement, or spin
out in the highway.
As a side note - studded tires are no loner permitted in Alaska. You
can use chains when needed - but nobody runs those things on a
continuous basis.
John
On 6/7/2014 11:03 PM, Gnarlodious wrote:
> Probly should qualify that by explaining that the 5-speed shifts the engine
> to the back by some inches and alters the weight over the rear wheels. So
> better traction than the typical 4-speed diesel, plus the advantage of the
> granny gear.
>
> OTOH, I don't do a lot of acrobatics in the snow/mud/sand so getting stuck
> is not something I strive for like you adrenaline guys.
>
> -- Gnarlie
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 7, 2014 at 6:09 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>> You haven't tried enough.
>>
>> I had a diesel, I got stuck. Weigh distribution pretty well the same as in
>> the wbx, centre of gravity, well give me the dat showing diesel has lower
>> one.
>>
>> Alistair
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Jun 7, 2014, at 2:54 PM, Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>
>>> I think you'll find the diesel has a much better torque/weight ratio, as
>>> well as a lower center of gravity. I have never gotten stuck.
>>>
>>> -- Gnarlie
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jun 7, 2014 at 11:06 AM, Zeitgeist <gruengeist@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I totally concede the poor traction with the 50/50 weight distribution
>> of a
>>>> tintop T3. It's been a constant source of frustration for me. I'm
>>>> presently readying to pull the trans in preps for a TDI install, and
>> it's
>>>> definitely getting a TBD, along with the new highway gears. Should
>> make it
>>>> a much more pleasant driving experience all around.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, Jun 7, 2014 at 9:18 AM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> RE: Vanagon Stuck On the Grass
>>>>> BTDT, stuck twice in 50 feet , on the flat, on wet grass. Changed
>> tires
>>>>> from Michelin Agilis to Nokian Hakas, problem went away. And now have
>>>>> Peloquin differential, even better. Light sand and loose dirt not even
>>>>> noticeable.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Casey
>>>>
>>
>
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