I don’t believe you because you offer no documentation supporting your claim. 

It’s just that simple. 

Alistair 

> On Apr 3, 2021, at 10:31 AM, Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>          If you don't believe it then that's up to you. Just make sure that
> you have not changed the breakaway bolts in your steering column either.
> 
>                                                           Stacy
> 
>> On Sat, Apr 3, 2021 at 10:07 AM David Boan <dboan@outlook.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Just my $.02, but doing the crash test with the stock spare tire is not
>> evidence that the spare is part of the integrity of the van.  You would
>> need tests with and without the spare to see if there is a difference, and
>> I am not aware of any such evidence.  Still, lack of proof that the spare
>> matters is not proof that it does not matter.
>> 
>> Dave B
>> Boise
>> ________________________________
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> on behalf of
>> Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
>> Sent: Saturday, April 3, 2021 1:04 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Subject: Re: Spare tire location
>> 
>> Richard,
>> 
>> I agree , but add that in my mind the strongest evidence that the spare is
>> not part of frontal crash protection is the lack of any mention of it in
>> the Vw documentation outlining the various structures up front that do
>> provide protection. And even the lack of any spare in the cut away vans
>> illustrating that .
>> 
>> Alistair
>> 
>>> On Apr 3, 2021, at 9:57 AM, Richard Smith (Smirby) <smirby@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> This has been debated at great length in TheSamba. It goes back and
>> forth.
>>> 
>>> The strongest evidence for the tire being incidental to crash worthiness
>> is that some Vanagon’s (e.g., synchro) did not - apparently - come with a
>> spare tire there.
>>> 
>>> I think the lack of ANY reference to the tire being in place and that
>> being part of the safety design of the van is also indirect evidence that
>> suggests VW was not relying on this for the safety of the occupants. By the
>> 1990s, I would think such notifications would be prominent in the owners
>> manual.
>>> 
>>> Nevertheless, if people feel safer knowing that there is a spare tire
>> there, then I think we should leave them be. Live and let live, I say. If
>> someone decided to cut the seatbelts out of their van, I might want to make
>> a comment, but removing the spare tire? None of my business, I say.
>>> 
>>> …r
>>> 
>>>> On Apr 3, 2021, at 9:49 AM, Gene P <olgreywoof@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Again,, is there anything to this?  Not an engineer, but if I run
>> head-on into something, there’s a quarter acre of glass two feet in front
>> of my face and a spare tire somewhere down underneath my feet.  How does
>> that tire protect me from anything?  The seat belt keeps my butt in the
>> seat instead of being launched out into traffic.
>>>> 
>>>> Also, were the spare tires in the bottom of trunks or underneath truck
>> beds there to protect us from backing into something?  I think the spare in
>> our vans is where it is because the space was available.
>>>> 
>>>> My worn penny,
>>>> gp
>>>> 
>>>> From: Stacy Schneider
>>>> Sent: Saturday, April 3, 2021 8:43 AM
>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>> Subject: Re: Spare tire location
>>>> 
>>>>      Do we need to remind people that part of the crash worthiness of
>>>> these vehicles is the spare tire?
>>>>      If you’re going to take the spare out you may as well not wear a
>>>> seat belt either.
>>>>     Both of these item are an engineered  safety item of the van.
>>>> 
>>>>                               My .02
>>>>                                        Stacy
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
>   1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>    Oldest son is an Eagle scout.