Date:         Mon, 23 Nov 1998 13:09:02 -0700
Reply-To:     John-Reed Maffeo <rlpa80@EMAIL.SPS.MOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
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From:         John-Reed Maffeo <rlpa80@EMAIL.SPS.MOT.COM>
Subject:      Syncro Off Roading Report
Comments: To: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>,
          SyncroSafari <SyncroSafari@vanagon.com>
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This weekend found me and my '86 Syncro - Glacie in the wilds of
Arizona questing adventure. I headed out to one of my favorite
hiking areas with a plan to try and follow a mining road that
I had seen on an earlier hike.

The road is rough and washed out in places. It was built for
temporary use by heavy equipment and trucks and varies in quality
from real nice to barely passable. It is about as bad a road as
I would want to travel on in a Jeep Wagoneer (my last adventuremobile).

The Syncro performed very well. It's ground clearance was adequate,
though I did manage to use the engine protection frame on one
occasion. Its traction in first gear was superb. The cab forward
design of the Vanagon helps navigate through the rough stuff.

The hike was wonderful. The weather was just cool enough. The
sycamores and cottonwoods had started to turn color and they looked
beautiful. There was a bit of water running in the stream and it
was a delightful place to sit and enjoy the day.

There are many old mine roads and trails in the area and I look
forward to more adventuring there.

John-Reed