Date:         Tue, 8 Nov 1994 08:22:40 -0800 (PST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Wes Neuenschwander <wesn@eskimo.com>
Subject:      Re: Driving in high winds

On Mon, 7 Nov 1994, David Carment wrote:

> Last night driving down the freeway , I had a heck of a time staying in
> the lane and keeping up the speed of the Vanagon above 50mph. I was
> driving directly against winds betwen 80 and 90 kmh (50-55 mph). Is it
> "normal"  for Vanagon handling to be compromised by high winds? Will
> reinforced tires help the situation (I have C tires in the back only).
> Plus driving into the wind is like driving a barn door into a hurricane,
> speed becomes a mute issue except going downhill. DC  -- 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> David Carment
> School of International Affairs
> Carleton University
> Ottawa, Ontario
> K1S 5B6
> voice - (613) 788-2600-6662
> fax - (613) 788-2889
> Email address: dcarment@ccs.carleton.ca
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 

No answers here, only commiseration!  I've had very similar problems, 
even in less forceful winds, in my '91 Westy.  VERY nasty at times;  
indeed I think truly hazardous.  Have had to reduce speed to 40 MPH to 
accomodate the problem.  

Actually, this was the problem that prompted meto post the inquiry 
regarding tires a few weeks ago, but apparently (at least for me) the 
answer lies elsewhere (I'm running the, generally, highly regarded,  
reinforced Michelin MXL's @ 35/40 PSI).  The effect I experience is  
actually more like a ducking and bobbing, combined with lateral 
"feinting"  - sort of like a boxer - rather than pure lateral 
motion.  It's even a problem in nearly still wind conditions (though not 
so severe as to be hazardous - just annoying and tiring), when there's a 
lot of semi-trailer traffic ahead of me.  Sort of like the "clear air 
turbulence problem caused by large jet's at airports.  The dealer claims 
this is normal!  Curiously, my '82 camper (w/o pop-top) handled much 
better - really not a problem at all.  Different tires too (Continentals 
@ about 40/50 PSI).  One tire shop suggested that it could be a tread 
pattern factor, rather than sidewall stiffness.  Claimed that the 
Michelin MXL's were naturally "squirelly".  I'm also considering some 
suspension mod's, such as a sway bar, but don't expect that would do much 
for the ducking and bobbing effect.  Shocks, BTW, seem excellent (and of 
course this has been a problem since the vehicle was new).  I don't know 
what else to say, other than DRIVE CAREFULLY!


--------------------------------------------
Wes Neuenschwander
Seattle, WA

(wesn@eskimo.com)