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&=
nbsp;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}