Good advice. I have the alloy 14-inchers from VW and do wonder how tough they are… that said, I've hammered them quite a lot and they're still straight.

I believe that the larger the wheel is, the more one can punish them without failure, and I suspect this is true of the alloys as well. Not sure which way I'll go when upping to 16"...

 Eric
 Eric Wunrow Pictures
 85 S Union Blvd, #Q123
 Lakewood, CO 80228
  
 303. 988. 8717
 VW@EricWunrow.com

On Nov 16, 2014, at 8:15 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>   Another consideration when working on your off road suitability....Alloy
> wheels are more prone to damage than steel ones.   Alloys will fracture or
> fail when you hit the rim into a pothole or smoosh a huge boulder with a
> low air tire....Steelies, if they do get damaged off road, they can be bent
> back often times....or at least enough to get the bead to seat for the
> tire, enabling you to keep moving.  I have twice bent steel rims in Baja
> and broken an alloy aftermarket one.   One of the steelies I bent, we were
> almost 60 miles from pavement and there was nothing around.   We
> straightened the rim with a rock and aired it up using our bicycle pump,
> with gasoline and a match to seat the bead....In Baja you may sit for days
> on end until another vehicle comes along...often finding an appropriate rim
> may involve long distances to help....I keep my rims in steel now.
> 
> On Sun, Nov 16, 2014 at 7:43 AM, Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Yes I do deflate the tires when I do off road - usually I take out 10psi
>> and 15psi on sand - in any case I leave a minimum 20psi. As Dennis
>> mentioned there's a risk of damage to tires specially on the side wall if
>> the road has a lot sharp rocks such as the one from Ubehe Crater to the
>> Race Track in Death Valley. I always carry a 12V air pump, off road or not.
>> 
>> On Sun, Nov 16, 2014 at 7:26 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Off roaders will air down the tires to improve traction and reduce
>> sinking
>>> on soft dirt, mud, and sand. As the pressure is lowered the contact patch
>>> increases. They will often air down low enough that the sidewalls can
>> also
>>> provide a floatation effect, 12-16psi is common. The down side of this is
>>> an increased chance of rolling the bead off the rim and having a tire
>>> completely air out and hitting any type of sharp object can damage a tire
>>> internally. Note this approach is for low speed operation.
>>> 
>>> You didn't say what tire you are using, size or type, If using a regular
>>> passenger tire you reach full capacity at ~35 psi. Above that you are
>> going
>>> for handling or reduced rolling resistance.
>>> 
>>> Dennis
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>>> Of Stan Shapiro
>>> Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2014 10:14 AM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: Suspension for Off Roading
>>> 
>>> Another question on suspension.   I have a 90 Westy, 16 in wheels,
>>> Michelin tires, and Bilstein shocks from GoWesty.    It is terrible on
>>> washboard roads.     I notice the 4 wheelers let air out of their tires
>>> before going off road.    Does anyone have any experience in letting a
>>> small amount of air out for a washboard road??    If so, how much do you
>>> let out?   Do you carry a 12 volt compressor to refill?
>>> 
>>> Thanks
>>> Stan
>>> Idaho
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>>> Of Chris S.
>>> Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2014 2:58 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: Suspension for Off Roading
>>> 
>>> See Burley Motorsports' custom upper control arms that eliminate the
>>> finicky bushings. Also, for a good off road ride you may consider
>>> progressive long travel springs. I have Schwenk springs on my Syncro and
>>> they are wonderful.
>>> 
>>> Chris.
>>> 
>>> Wysłane z iPhone'a
>>> 
>>> Dnia Nov 15, 2014 o godz. 14:47 Eric Wunrow <VW@ERICWUNROW.COM>
>>> napisał(a):
>>> 
>>>> Hello:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I thought about posting this on the Samba but you all seem a bit more
>>> civil… and helpful.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> We are traveling full-time in a 1984 Westy we bought just months before
>>> leaving, and are about to end Month 16. Challenging, yes… and perhaps
>> equal
>>> parts commendable and committable. But we are in for the long haul.
>>>> 
>>>> I have had four alignments done in 12K miles. At first I thought the
>>> mechanics weren't torquing the right upper control arm enough, as it
>> keeps
>>> coming loose and knocking toe way out… last time it was over AN INCH out,
>>> and now a few hundred miles later, it's out again and baking our new BFG
>>> ATs. Ugh.
>>>> 
>>>> The easiest solution seems to be replacing the control arm bolts, as I
>>> do not think Loctite will solve it in the proper way. But, if the arms
>> need
>>> to come off anyway, and possibly new bushings are needed as well, what
>> are
>>> my options for upgrading the suspension for constant dirt travel? I saw a
>>> gray panel Synchro at Buses by the Bridge in January with Fox shocks and
>> it
>>> looked like a great solution. I am willing to trade highway comfort for
>> off
>>> road softness before parts start flying off at will.
>>>> 
>>>> We hope to keep our Bus forever, and though we are short of funds I do
>>> not necessarily want a quick fix. We have to rely on this Thing (Ahem,
>>> sorry, Bus) for a long time and may take it around the globe. So
>> anything I
>>> can do for the long-term good is of prime interest, and getting to remote
>>> places is partly why we live in it.
>>>> 
>>>> Also, if you know of anyone in So. Cal. or near Yuma capable of this
>>> work (where we're wintering), I'm all ears. I found a cooperative tire
>>> store owner in Pahrump who owns a few Vanagons, but have yet to ask if
>> such
>>> an upgrade is within his realm.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks in Advance,
>>>> 
>>>> Eric
>>>> Eric Wunrow Pictures
>>>> 85 S Union Blvd, #Q123
>>>> Lakewood, CO 80228
>>>> 
>>>> 303. 988. 8717
>>>> VW@EricWunrow.com
>>> 
>> 
>