Just lie on the ground beside the front wheel parallel with the van and peek
under from the front.

You'll see a geezly big metal rod angling back towards where the ball
joints, brakes and wheel are attached together - that's him.  ;)

Jake

On Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 5:37 PM, Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" <
camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:

> Well, de Villiers, I thank you kindly for the helpful information.
>
> Followup questions? What's an "A arm"? Would I know a "track rod" if I saw
> one?
>
> Can someone point me to an illustration in Bentley that might help me
> identify these bits that Jake is describing?
>
> (Some may recall that I don't spend much time under the van. Under a car is
> the only time I ever feel claustrophobia. I've been in caves, an MRI
> machine, tiny tents, and other close spaces with no trouble. It's weird.
> Undervanaphobia.)
>
>
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
> Jake de Villiers wrote:
>
>> I do understand Mike.
>> Many, many years ago I got the company delivery vehicle stuck in three
>> different rural ditches on a very dark cold snowy night and it has left its
>> mark.
>>
>> I guess if you see the tow truck kid hooking on to the bendy bits you
>> might say something.  The box sections in behind the bumper mounting points
>> are pretty sturdy (but not the lower holes, as Scott points out) but the
>> track rods might be an easier grab, especially for a hook.  Those are the
>> big fat steel bars with threads and rubber mounts that locate your lower
>> A-arms, one each side.
>>
>> That's all I've got Elliott.
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 3:58 PM, Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" <
>> camping.elliott@gmail.com <mailto:camping.elliott@gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>    Jake de Villiers wrote:
>>     > There's plenty of large, solidly mounted suspension pieces down
>>    there,
>>     > but why wouldn't you let the guy with lots of experience pulling
>>     > vehicles make that decision?
>>
>>    Fair question. I think I have decent answers.
>>
>>    1. Three years ago my 1971 bus broke down. I needed it towed eight
>>    blocks to home. The "professional" wrapped his chains around the
>>    steering bits, bending them.
>>
>>    2. Last weekend I got stuck on the shoulder beside the highway when
>>    we pulled over to wait for and cheer on the climbers in the Cascade
>>    Cycling Classic race for the King of the Mountatain points. Two feet
>>    off the road, the soft shoulder got incredibly soft -- a loose
>>    cindery duff. (I didn't want to mention that here because I should
>>    have learned my lesson a few weeks ago when I got stuck in mud and
>>    had to have my son extricate me, I know you understand.) Anyway, the
>>    tow truck driver hopped out, ran a cable to the loop under the front
>>    bumper -- he went right to it, knew exactly where it was -- and yes,
>>    this is the loop everyone says not to use, and he pulled me free.
>>
>>    Okay, so knowing what I know, exactly how eager should I be to just
>>    stand back and let the professionals do their job?
>>
>>    Your move, de Villiers.
>>    --     Rocky J Squirrel
>>    84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>    74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
>>    Bend, OR
>>    KG6RCR
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jake
>>
>> 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
>> 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'
>>
>> Crescent Beach, BC
>>
>> www.thebassspa.com <http://www.thebassspa.com>
>> www.crescentbeachguitar.com <http://www.crescentbeachguitar.com>
>>
>> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>>
>>

--
Jake

1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'

Crescent Beach, BC

www.thebassspa.com
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27