Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 05:48:55 +0200
Reply-To: Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Subject: Re: Get ready to cast your stones....Important reading for Syncro
owners
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
"David..M" wrote:
> Michael Sullivan wrote:
> >
> > NOTE: you are right: the Eurovan is not designed for off-road use --
> >
> Neither is the Vanagon - according to VW (read your instruction booklet)
To prove you wring, the section below is translated from the Norwegian
owners manual for the 1988 model year, it is the part about off road
driving:
>>>>>>>>>
Off road driving
Before you make your first trip into heavy terrain, we recommend you to get
to know the car on road and in light terrain. For safe driving off road, it
is important to know this:
* Always use the safety belts - also during off road driving
* The right choice of gear saves the engine, and helps you not getting stuck
* Do not ride the clutch! Excessive wear can be avoided by down shifting in
time
* The more uneven terrain, the less speed is necessary. Remember the ground
clearance!
* Do not encounter slopes or uneven terrain with too high speed, that would
make the car jump. It is easy to lose control. (It isn't fun to jump in a
Vanagon. Btdt!)
* Use the same gear down steep slopes as you would up the same slope
* Slopes etc. must be encountered straight up or down, otherwise there is
the danger of tipping over!
* If it is impossible to encounter a slope straight, and you feel close to
tipping, steer towards the fall of the slope.
* When crossing a stream, driving on a beach etc., you must always check the
water level. DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM WATER DEPTH!
* After driving in water or mud, do as follows:
- disengage the diff locks
- clean the engine and the undercarriage
- clean the wheels and tires for dirt and bigger particles. Also inspect
the tires for any damage
- clean dirty lights
- heat the brake system over a short period by pressing the pedal lightly
with your left foot before entering traffic
- after crossing deep water, check your oil level for any water pearls in
the oil, and if so change oil immediately
* If the vehicle has been in heavy terrain, and in contact in any kind, one
must check the undercarriage, engine, tranny and brakes for any damage.
Note: To protect the undercarriage from damage, skid plates has been mounted
under both the front differential, as well as under the engine/gearbox. The
drive shaft is protected by parallel rails
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you bothered to read all this, you would see that there is NOTHING that
says you cannot take your Van off road, in fact the manual instead gives you
tips to make the off road driving as fun as possible.
One other thing, M. Sullivan wrote:
>NOTE: you are right: the Eurovan is not designed for off-road use
You have probably never seen what a Eurovan can do in terrain. When I was in
the Army, a friend of mine took the Armys 2WD Eurovan 2,4D places I wouldn't
take the Land Rover! This was the swb Eurovan, but still..... I was truly
amazed! BTW, this guy even managed to put the tail end wide on dry asphalt
in a lwb Eurovan 2,4D, without employing the hand brake! Crazy soldiers.....
PerL
88 Syncro
Arendal, Norway
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