Welcome to Vanagon land Don -

Similar to your story - I had no experience with Vanagon traction when I
First bought mine in 99.  A month after purchase - I got caught in a
"lake effect" squall on the New York state Thruway and found out that
"this ain't Air cooled Kansas"

Many listees have said that with the proper snow tires - 2wd Vanagons
Are OK in slippery road conditions but I am not sure if that helps
Your dirt road problem.

25mpg in a TIICO conversion? I thought TIICO's got 19mpg...?

[ the 5 speed makes the difference?]

That's great! Sorta takes half the case away for trying to do
a $$$$ TDI conversion?..[ 27mpg?]

Tom
90 Westy
91 Syncro
Rochester NY

> From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
> Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
> Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 07:10:41 -0800
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Subject: Newbie, hello all and a question(long)
>
>   Just found the list and I've been lurking for just a few days.  Wanted to
> say hello and make a few observations on my Vanagon.
> I have an 84 with a 92 inline 4, 5sp transaxle.  Can't believe I went so long
> between vans.  I had, back in my early days, a 57 36hp with African fold-up
> windshield.  That one took me from Canada to Mexico, from California to S.
> Dakota and all around for many years.  My "home" for my first winter away from
> mommy and daddy, ski-bumming in Aspen.
>   I' found my current one on the Samba list,  in GL/passenger mode.  As Van
> owners are wont to do, I've been 'personalizing' it to suit my requirements.
> I've added a partial interior from a westy...The fold down bed/seat, the water
> system and the refer/sink/stove cab unit as well as a couple of lights in the
> rear and an aux. battery under the driver seat.  Tinted the rear windows very
> dark for privacy.  We travel a lot, do a lot of car camping and I race
> bicycles, so the Vanagon is perfect for that as it's now configured.  Bikes go
> inside for daily use, or on longer trips  I mount a rack onto the rear hatch,
> with room for three bikes and 9 wheels, leaving the inside free to accommodate
> people, change clothes, keep the dogs in..
>   We took our maiden voyage this fall, from Oregon to S. Utah for bicycle
> stage race and a week long road trip.  Averaged about 25mpg at 70mph across
> eastern Oregon, Nevada and Utah.  Two big dogs, 3 race bikes, two large
> humans.  The van was perfect, exactly enough room and stuff..the fridge stayed
> lit, the water tank never went dry and wheeling the van around in tight places
> certainly beat trying to work my F-250 truck with the Alaskan camper that we
> have been using..
>    Now my question.  Is it normal that Vanagons have poor traction?  I live on
> a hill, have a gravel road into my house and some slick areas in my
> yard/parking area.  I notice the vanagon seems to lose traction quite
> easily..more so than most other 2wd cars and trucks I bring up my drive.  The
> other day I even had to chain up to back up on some of my wet muddy grass.
> Everything seems in good shape in the driveline and the suspension looks
> normal.  The tires are a bit worn, but not bald.  I recall my old AC split
> window had superb traction, and my old beetle (I have a 72, FS. btw) also has
> pretty good drive..Wassup with the Vanagon?  Normal?  Any input on available
> limited slip diffs?
>   anyhow, sorry for the length of this and hello all..
>
>   Don Hanson