There are some ocean beaches in Washington and Oregon that allow driving (I
try to avoid them), and 90% of the vehicles there are four or all-wheel
drive, and for good reason.  Getting off and on the hard-packed beach though
the soft sand crossing can be challenging.

I guess that's off-road, but in Oregon the beaches are part of the state
highway system, a historical artifact from the days when coastal
transportation was by horse & buggy on the beach.  That's actually a good
thing, because it resulted in the creation of a lot of state parks on the
beaches!

Highway 101 and all its bridges weren't completed until the 1930's.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Rowan Tipton
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 10:43 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Was: Tires and Wheels - The best laid plans of Mice and
Men.....Off Road Poseurs..

That is true in so far as it goes.  But I think you are missing out on the
most important part.  People driving on the streets are NOT driving off-road
vehicles.  They are driving cars that are somewhat off-road capable.  Like
the Syncro I drive.  Mostly it's used on the pavement.  Sometimes it is used
on camping trips are partially off-pavement.  Very rarely I actually drive
it off-road.  But I have that capacity if I need/want it.  Sometimes I
winter camp in places that require some sort of non-stardard vehicle to
reach because of the snow and ice.

I don't think that the average SUV/4X4 driver "actually use use them
> to anywhere approaching their full capabilities very often, if ever"
more that the average driver uses the capabilities of their car on-road.
Have you ever actually driven your daily driver anywhere near it's on road
capacity.  There are any number of ordinary new cars that will go 140 and up
but they are rarely driven half that.  Most cars are used to putt around
town!

Rowan

On Mar 21, 2014, at 12:23 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>  Boy Howdy!  You guy's nailed it...
> I agree that most people are driving these vehicles to make a
> Statement, not because they really need them or actually use use them
> to anywhere approaching their full capabilities very often, if ever.