My 72 Westy was far superior to a Vanagon 2WD off road. I had Metzler
snow tires on it and it would go almost anywhere or so I thought. I did
manage to get it to fall over once on the left side sliding into a deep
rut downhill in bad mud but I passed stuck 4x4s more than once. I got
stuck crossing a creek with the engine submerged but it kept running and
my passengers pushed me out with the wheels throwing mud all over them.
They were quite a sight and none too happy with me. Then we had to turn
around and cross it again to get home. glub glub glub glub glub glub
glub

My 83.5 Vanagon got stuck so easily that I bought a Syncro for my Baja
trips. My wife got tired of helping to dig it out and I figured a Syncro
was way cheaper than a divorce.

Mark

John Reynolds wrote:
>
> ---SNIP---
> >I'd be really interested to know about any successes with tires as
> >relates to off-pavement traction improvements.  Being an old
> >breadloaf air-cooled ex-owner, I have to say I'm quite amazed with
> >just how poor the 2WD vanagon performance is compared to the old
> >id-70s buses we had when it comes to traction off pavement.  We have
> >82 diesel westy now, BTW.---SNIP
>
> I'd be interested in knowing others feeling on off-road(or off pavement)
> with a 2WD Vanagon, and comparisons to the older bay window vans)  I have
> a friend who has owned several 4-WD's, and done a fair amount of
> off-roading and he said his 81 Westy (now given to me) was the best
> vechicle he has driven in snow, and he was working a ski slope in
> Colorado at the time.
>
> Was your bay a non-camper and the westy equip. hurting the wght.
> distribution?  One could off-road with a minimum of fuel in the front,
> carrying jerry cans on the rear to make up for capacity and more
> improvement in weight distribution.
>
> 10 gal on the rear in jerry's is roughly a 200 lb improvement in
> distibution.  Off course you could carry a couple of agressive tires and
> mount them when venturing and put the street tires on the back of the van
> too.  What the h*ll, get a step bumper anfd put the whole family back
> there, the dogs too - my two way 185 lbs together!
>
> Let's see gas in cans 100Lbs
> tires on holder - 80Lbs?
> kids - 80 Lbs (there small)
> Dogs - 185 Lbs
> Wife - Yeah right, you want to see me in divorce court!
> Beef Stew - 5 Lbs
>
> Will have a greater effect on non-camper models - they are probably
> better for off-roading and no propane tank - that's what I would worry
> about!
>
> John Reynolds
> 81 Westy