> Another trick is to add some weight.  Build (or have built) a box and=20
> carry a load of sand in it just in  front of the rear seat.

When my '81 was my daily driver (for 20 years) I put 4 (that is FOUR)
concrete splash blocks on top of the engine compartment.  (Those gizmos
to put under your gutter downspouts.)  Then I still had to use a lot
of finesse to get around.  And chains sometimes.  I used M+S tires,
studded tires and finally Michelin Agilis.  The Agilis were probably the
worst--or least good.  Anyway, after a '61, a '67 and a '76, the Vanagon
was a BIG disappointment in the snow.  So I bought a Syncro.  ;-)
Then I bought a Jeep Cherokee to go skiing....  No finesse, I just
go!

Yeah, a 2wd Vanagon sucks in snow.  And we've only talked about
"going"--wait until we talk about steering!  And stopping!  Well,
stopping isn't such a problem, since you can hardly go....

                                Richard A Jones
                                Boulder, Colorado