Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 21:28:15 -0000
Reply-To: David Clark <DavidClark@HUMBERONIA.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Clark <DavidClark@HUMBERONIA.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject: Interstates / MXT / H4s
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
Hi all
This is my first posting to the Vanagon Listing from the UK, from subscribing last weekend I logged on this weekend to find over 300 unread E-Mails, so thought I would just add my 2 penneth or $ whatever.
The Interstate debate is interesting and I agree with Lance's comments that "Tram Lining' exists along most UK Motorways, but whilst I can see them they have never really bothered my in the VW. Once a year we drive to Italy, through France and Switzerland, and I have never noticed them on European Motorways to any great extent.
French Motorways are superb, and the Swiss like driving on silk. Italian Motorways are pot hole ridden and I have lost wheel covers several times. This annoys me as you have to pay road tolls on Italian Motor
Ways just like the French and Swiss.
I have experienced several dodgy moments because of tramlines in my 1960 Humber , because it still runs on 6.50" x 15" Crossply tyres http://Humberonia.freeserve.co.uk. . I also remember being blown across the road in a 1972 VW Devon Camper whilst on Crossplies, but I have never noticed tram lines to any degree on Radial tyres, on my 1985 VW Camper which leads me nicely into the tyre debate.
All this talk on Michelin MXT tyres, fine if you want good tyres and have money to waste. I have always found that tyres perish long before they wear out, and you never drive a VW Camper at the speed rating on the tyre so why buy expensive tyres ?. My present tyres are Stomils, what I hear you say? Polish tyres they are van tyres 185 x 14 with 8 ply side walls, and are brilliant £100 for five. I have had them on for 4 years they have done 5 trips to Italy {1000 miles door to door} 1 trip to Holland and numerous trips out locally, and the tread looks as good as new 35,000 miles {59,000km} later . Snow in the Alps was no problem, few wheel spins but no slides. Off road up Italian Mountains lots of dust but no grip problems all this on 2 wheel drive. They are always run at 50 psi, what I think is important is checking tyre pressures and that stones are regularly removed from the tread.
The Headlamp debate is interesting to me because I have always wanted a van with Square lights, mine has round, and I have wanted to fit the South African grille and driving light kit for sometime now. Has anybody an opinion on the South African Style set up? 100/80w bulbs are illegal in the UK too except for Off road use, aesthetically I think square lights look better though...........................wait for comments.
I love the Vanagon site and like to see Vanagon photos on the web, it's not a conversion we see much in the UK. I have my van featured on the Type Two Owners Club site http://www.soft.net.uk/vwt2oc in the members rides section if you're interested in a UK spec AutoSleepers VHT on a 1985 VW Caravelle conversion.
I look forward to reading your comments.
David Clark
1985 VW Caravelle 1.9L DG Manual
1960 Humber Super Snipe Estate 3.0L 3 Speed Manual
1988 Fiat Uno 1.1L Automatic {wife's car can't accelerate past a snail}
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