Date:         Mon, 8 Mar 1999 22:05:33 -0800
Reply-To:     Austin <austins@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Austin <austins@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Re: Synchro Power?
Comments: To: Justin Gordon <justin@BAYAREA.NET>, vanagon@vanagon.com
In-Reply-To:  <000401be69e8$ac21d4a0$0264a8c0@hardwar>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 08:52 PM 3/8/99 -0800, you wrote:
>Thanks to the responses I've gotten from Syncro owners. I'm considering
>purchasing a Syncro to travel from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe.
>
>How is the power on the 1986 Syncro Westy engine. I've heard that the engine
>is too small to pull such a big car with the camper up the hill. I.e., would
>I be going in 2nd up I-80? or is the power just fine for the long trip?
>
>Justin Gordon
>
I have an '87 2wd with an AdventureWagen top + bed, but no other camping
equipment (i.e., lotsa wind resistance, but <much> less weight than a
Westy).   I've done the Bay Area / Truckee round trip ~ 40 times over the
years, all times of the year.  Only one time did I make it all the way in
4th gear.  There are 5 places where you'll need to get down to 3rd gear &
just hold it @ 50 until the crest of the hill...once you get to know the
road & can anticipate the steep spots, & with traffic allowing, you'll only
have to be in 3rd at 2 points.  I regularly get ol' Moby up to 80-85 when
approaching the steeps.

But, I've never had to go to 2nd (unless for traffic, of course) even with
the center seat in, all 7 seats taken, & a week's worth of ski gear, food,
pets, etc etc.

'Moderately' loaded milage is 17-18 up, 22-24 down (& once got 26!).

Austin