Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2021 11:32:23 -0700
Reply-To: Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Spare tire location
In-Reply-To: <604788032.2003710.1617472659366@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
To some it may seem more convenient to remove a spare from a rear carrier
than unbolt it from the front clam when it is required. Of course that is
offset by swinging away the tire carrier every time you want to open or
close the hatch. This is my preference not to mention I do not have a tire
that fits any longer.
I’ve modified a Paulchen bike rack which I use for my slightly oversized
15” spare tire. But like some, I only carry a spare for travels and not
for City driving. Looking to move up to 16” at some point to install the
GW big brake kit - 15” steels are not large enough to fit - and I also want
to go back to an all terrain tire on my Syncro. The brakes are more of a
safety concern for me than the protection the spare may or may not provide
me. The standard brakes can work pretty darn hard on steep switch back
slopes.
Bruce
On Saturday, April 3, 2021, 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
> >
>
>
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