>I'm not sure exactly how rollover protection is built into the Vanagon, but
>I have an acquaintance (sp?) here in OKC who was involved in a rollover last
>year at highway speeds in his '87 Westy. I believe it went all the way over
>twice, and came to rest on the driver's side. The guy was buckled in, and
>received nothing worse than a cut ear from some flying glass. When righted
>again, the van started with little effort and could actually be driven. I
>believe all the fiberglass stayed bolted to the top, as well. This may have
>been a freak deal, but I would assume that as long as you're buckled in,
>there's enough free space above to account for quite a bit of compression in
>the roof area...

That is one area I'd always been concerned with regarding vans with
large cutaways in the roof. If it flipped twice, that is an
impressive performance (the integrity, I mean).

>I think it would be a lot more likely to fall on its side and stay there.

Depends. If moving at decent speed, a vehicle can easily go right
over. Also a vehicle sliding on its side can be flipped further if
the leading edge catches on an item like a curb, a dip in a grassy
area or even a rock embedded in a dirt road surface.
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut