Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2014 11:38:11 -0800
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Spare won't fit
In-Reply-To: <7DB34D50-9ECC-4524-8DFD-474A52E6B120@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
I'm sure you are right, but after looking at that video that was set up to show the spare tire being crushed I'd prefer to have one there. The manufacturers were doing their own thing in those days, and VW sales people said nothing more than the Vanagon has a "structural" front, as I recall.
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Alistair Bell [mailto:albell@shaw.ca]
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2014 10:20 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Spare won't fit
Stuart,
I'm doubtful about the necessity of having a tire up front in the spare carrier as part of the crash worthiness of the van. It's not that I doubt it might have some effect being there, it's just that I think it's a bad and unlikely decision on vw's part to design it into the crash worthiness and not mention this in the owners manual.
ie stating that a fully inflated spare tire must be carried in the front spare carrier tray at all times.
Think about the liability issues resulting from requiring a fully inflated spare to be installed up front at all times . What if you have a flat and have to store the flat in the carrier after changing wheels? What if your spare has a leak?
It just seems to unlikely that vw designed the vans structure to require an inflated spare be in place.
Vw also made a rear spare tire carrier and I haven't found any documentation stating that using the rear carrier reduces the crash protection up front.
Alistair
> On Nov 1, 2014, at 5:28 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Makes sense Eric. And yes, the spare tire (not the clamshell) is part
> of the front energy absorbing design. Go to minute 1:21 here:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO_AfCFQR2M There really should be an
> inflated spare in the carrier at all times. It's an early "air bag"
> of sorts, but only for the van itself.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Eric Caron
> Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2014 11:53 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Spare won't fit
>
> Hi Stewart,
>
> I had this problem last year. the 205 tire just won't fit with
> the existing clamshell. apparently there is a clamshell that is meant
> for the
> 205 and came with the vans that came stock with that tire size.
> I purchased the larger carrier from Van cafe. I'm not very
> happy with it over all. it has no adjustments and is better suited to
> a 215 not the 205 tire. As a result the 205 is loos and you have to
> come up with a solution like big plastic zip ties. the Van cafe holder
> works without the big wires.
>
> I've heard that some folks have modified the existing clam
> shell but I've never seen it to see the results.
>
> My local garage finally fabricated new wires to go with the Van
> Cafe holder. it holds my spare snugly but the fabrication cost they
> charged me was crazy. Sadly they did the work without asking me first.
>
> the thing I don't like about my existing set up is that the tire and
> wheel are exposed. i liked the way the clamshell protected the tire
> and the hoses and such above the tire. I also think the clamshell is
> part of the safety planning for the crumple zone. I don't think the
> Van cafe holder would do the same function.
>
> The Van Cafe holder does seem to be nicely constructed.
> If I was to do it all over again I would either use the 185 as the
> spare or find out how to modify the existing clamshell.
>
>
> Eric Caron
> 85 GL Auto
>
>> On Nov 1, 2014, at 1:55 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>
>> Son’s ’86 Westy came with steel wheels with 185 tires, and we picked
>> up a set of 5 Carat wheels with 205 tires and the spare is too wide
>> to fit. Is there some modification I need to make? The door tire
>> pressure sticker shows both 185 and 205 tires, but it looks like the
>> rods that hold the
> spare
>> are too low.
>>
>>
>>
>> Any ideas other than using the steel wheel spare or do I need to
>> lower the clamshell or get Van Café’s bigger bracket?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>>
>>
>> Stuart
