"All in the weight, weight distribution, and tires."    "1 - To much
weight up front."

I thought so too, but as he said traction is very poor   "more so than
most other 2wd cars and trucks I bring up my drive."

Forget the comparison to older busses - they have a severe weight
differential to the rear, along with other factors  make these good
traction vehicles.

Compared to almost all other 2WD vehicles, the Vanagon does not have too
much weight up front.  The question is why is the Vanagon with nearly 50%
of the weight over the rear axle worse that other 2WD vehicles with a far
less favorable weight differential?  I had a 2WD rear wheel Toyota Corona
that seemed far superior to the Vanagon.  Forget the reportedly more
compliant suspension of the older busses - even on flat level wet grass,
I have gotten my Vanagon stuck more than once.

I have to think it is 14" tires at 48 psi.  Any 15" owners out there want
to comment?

Would a 2WD Vanagon with 15" off road tread tires offer respectable
traction on dirt roads, gravel inclines, etc?

I have a syncro trans with locking rear diff. that hopefully gets
installed at the end of 2007 camping season. Perhaps this with 15" tires
will give respectable performance.  Wish I had taken the Syncro gas tank
out to follow my initial plan of increasing rear weight bias.

John R
86 Westfalia Weekender
54 Ford 640 Tractor with far less favorable weight differential.