Vanagon EuroVan
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Date:         Sun, 18 Apr 1999 14:02:45 -0700
Reply-To:     Brent Christensen <bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Brent Christensen <bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: Get ready to cast your stones....Important reading for Syncro
              owners

I would suggest that the difference in VW's "official" advice is due to lawsuits here in the US, and not that our terrain is any more difficult. :-)

Brent Christensen '89 GL Syncro Westy '91 Taurus SHO (For Sale) '95 Cherokee Sport

----- Original Message ----- From: Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Saturday, April 17, 1999 8:48 PM Subject: Re: Get ready to cast your stones....Important reading for Syncro owners

> "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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