Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2021 11:12:29 -0700
Reply-To: Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Spare tire location
In-Reply-To: <604788032.2003710.1617472659366@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
From Wikipedia - From VW documents.
These vans were made with a "forward deformation zone" consisting of four
"side members" below and in front of the passenger compartment making a
four-pronged forked frame with a "deformation element" which is mounted in
front of this making it extremely effective at absorbing impact. The front
cab has extensive protection by means of four vertical struts that connect
an impact-absorbing box section cross-member. Additionally, there is
another box framed horizontal strut on the inside of the vehicle that
attaches to the door frames. And another yet goes through the sides of the
doors to help protect passengers from lateral impact. The steering wheel
has two energy-absorbing buckle points, with a detachable steering column
that prevents the steering wheel from being pushed into the cabin. And the
spare tire, which is mounted on the underside in the front of the vehicle,
is also used to absorb shock.
On Sat, Apr 3, 2021 at 10:57 AM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
> As a Mechanical Design Engineer, I can tell you most assuredly that there
> were no computers or simulations strong enough to calculate the importance
> of the spare tire location chosen. Back in the 1980's. Or even today. It
> would be easier to put a man on the Moon.
>
> The design engineers put the spare tire where it is for convenience. Any
> extra crash protection was a bonus. I mean, there are only so many places
> to put a spare tire. But our common sense tells us that having that buffer
> underneath to strengthen things is a good thing. Not a requirement
> though. A million different variables, impossible to calculate or design
> around.
>
> For crash protection, the Vanagon designers made a pretty stout front
> end. You have all seen the crash videos; even Vanagon versus Volvo.
> So, IMHO a spare on the rear is OK. Just expensive; some negative nominal
> weight distribution. Looks rugged though, and there is appeal in that.
> Yeah, just way too expensive. Definitely would be a hassle in my single
> wide garage, trying to load cargo in the back the night before a trip.
>
> On Saturday, April 3, 2021, 10:36:59 AM PDT, David McNeely <
> davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Has anyone looked at VW engineering recods for notes on this?
>
> On Sat, Apr 3, 2021 at 9:57 AM Richard Smith (Smirby) <smirby@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > This has been debated at great length in TheSamba. It goes back and
> forth.
> >
> > The strongest evidence for the tire being incidental to crash worthiness
> > is that some Vanagon’s (e.g., synchro) did not - apparently - come with a
> > spare tire there.
> >
> > I think the lack of ANY reference to the tire being in place and that
> > being part of the safety design of the van is also indirect evidence that
> > suggests VW was not relying on this for the safety of the occupants. By
> the
> > 1990s, I would think such notifications would be prominent in the owners
> > manual.
> >
> > Nevertheless, if people feel safer knowing that there is a spare tire
> > there, then I think we should leave them be. Live and let live, I say. If
> > someone decided to cut the seatbelts out of their van, I might want to
> make
> > a comment, but removing the spare tire? None of my business, I say.
> >
> > …r
> >
> > > On Apr 3, 2021, at 9:49 AM, Gene P <olgreywoof@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > >
> > > Again,, is there anything to this? Not an engineer, but if I run
> > head-on into something, there’s a quarter acre of glass two feet in front
> > of my face and a spare tire somewhere down underneath my feet. How does
> > that tire protect me from anything? The seat belt keeps my butt in the
> > seat instead of being launched out into traffic.
> > >
> > > Also, were the spare tires in the bottom of trunks or underneath truck
> > beds there to protect us from backing into something? I think the spare
> in
> > our vans is where it is because the space was available.
> > >
> > > My worn penny,
> > > gp
> > >
> > > From: Stacy Schneider
> > > Sent: Saturday, April 3, 2021 8:43 AM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Re: Spare tire location
> > >
> > > Do we need to remind people that part of the crash worthiness of
> > > these vehicles is the spare tire?
> > > If you’re going to take the spare out you may as well not wear a
> > > seat belt either.
> > > Both of these item are an engineered safety item of the van.
> > >
> > > My .02
> > > Stacy
> >
>
>
--
1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
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