In a message dated 1/19/04 12:27:36 AM, tromper@COMCAST.NET writes:

<< If you just ran a Syncro with a 2wd driveline et al, for whatever reason,

would it handle more in snow like an older loaf van due to the location

of the gas tank adding weight to the rear and removing it from the forward

section?? >>

Who know's?  I do know that I was more than a little disappointed the first
time I ran my first Vanagon, a 2WD Sunroof, in the snow.  My only previous
experience with VW vans had been 20 years before in my brother-in-law's loaf which
seemed to be able to go damn near anywhere.  Adding weight over the rear axle
and mounting Hakkapeliitta's to that 2WD did help, but it never was in the
same class as the old loaf.

I'm now on my third Syncro and while it is a blast to just point it and go
through the white stuff, I still think the ideal Vanagon would be a 2WD Sunroof
with a locking Syncro transaxle.  I feel that hookup would get around as well
as, if not better than, a Syncro without the locking diff.  It would perform
well in bad conditions without the added complication and great expense of all
that additional hardware which is called into service so seldom.

George