I think you are right concerning all the examples given with one
possible exception.  Certainly, tires, belts, hoses (though the
waterboxer is unconscionably complicated), fuel lines can all be
monitored and r&r done as needed, and as one would do with any vehicle.
The head "gaskets"?  I dunno.  Certainly, since I've owned my camper,
I've done everything to maintain (and to make up for possible previous
owner neglect) the cooling system.  But, the heads are now leaking.  Did
the previous owner use the wrong antifreeze?  Was the rebuild botched,
only 30K miles ago?  Or is this just an inherently bad design, and will
leak regardless?  Dunno.  Dunno if rubber vs. synthetic vs. typical
metal and composite gaskets make the difference either.

David Mc

On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 9:04 PM, Bob Stevens wrote:

> I don't agree with any of this rationale. I think
> irresponsible/poor/lazy
> maintenance practices is the culprit.
> Pilot error. Review each of the examples you listed and if they are
> each
> maintained at reasonable intervals,
> there are no failures, let alone catastrophic failures.
>
> bob
>
> On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 7:53 PM, Richard Koerner wrote:
>
>> Volks,
>>
>> I am the original poster on yesterday's thread..."Audible" Idiot
>> Lights.
>> Still plenty of room for discussions and solutions there.
>>
>> But, I've been thinking.  What is the main cause of Vanagon
>> catastrophic
>> failures?  Rubber.
>>
>> Your alternator/water pump belt is rubber...it snaps, you may be
>> toast.
>> Your coolant lines are mostly rubber...if they rupture...you're in
>> for it.
>> Your fuel injection hoses are all rubber...well, we know what that
>> means.
>> And tires....they blow out, yes they do!  All rubber.  Anyone want to
>> talk
>> about gaskets?...more rubber.  Vacuum hoses in the engine
>> compartment?:
>> rubber, and they can cause infinite frustration and poor performance
>> if
>> leaky, along with that rubber thing to the air filter.  Power
>> steering and
>> suspension and wiper blades and shock absorbers...more rubber things
>> to
>> fail.
>>
>> Now, rubber is an excellent engineering material...solves SO many
>> issues.
>> But, at a price...lifetime.  The stuff just doesn't last forever.
>>
>> The logical solution:  replace.  And replace sooner than you think
>> you
>> might need to.  Nothing like a roadside breakdown in the middle of
>> nowhere
>> to make you wish you had replaced "that" rubber component.  So easy
>> in the
>> garage with access to Van Cafe, Vanagain, BusDepot, GoWesty,
>> FLAPS...and so
>> on (not meaning to exclude anybody here).  So EXPENSIVE and
>> trip-ruining to
>> do it on the road.  Not to mention major damage to your engine, your
>> vehicle, or even your body!
>>
>> So...I've personally had:  leaking fuel injector hoses, broken belts,
>> rear
>> tire blowout...next on the list is rubber coolant hoses; still have
>> MOST of
>> the original there (mechanics have noticed some swollen coolant hoses
>> which
>> were immediately replaced).  And head gaskets....ugh...time for a new
>> peppy
>> engine when that one hits.
>>
>> I know I'm "preaching to the choir" on this one.....but still.
>> Rubber is
>> going to be the downfall of these marvelous Vanagon machines.
>>
>> Rich
>> 85 Vanagon Homemade Camper Conversion with 180,000 wonderful miles
>> San Diego
>>