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psych-illogical
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2004
Posts: 1181
Location: AZ
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 Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject: OK Syncro-nuts. What's TRULY been your best ORV? |
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I pulled this quote from another thread discussing lockers. Rather than threadjack that one, I thought I'd start a new one.
| Dogpilot wrote: |
| My best of road vehicle was hands down my 68 VW fecal brown Squareback. Didn't care if it got scratched, had plenty of small dents already installed. Never got stuck, Snow, mud rough trail. If it lost its way, four of use could reset the rear end by picking it up and placing it on the ridges. Always put the old Landcruisers to shame with it. It truly was the terror of the Southwest. It didn't have locking anything, including doors. It did have limited slip, but only on a downhill stretch of black ice, at least until the bottom. |
So, if it's been your Syncro, go ahead and post it here. If something else, let's hear about it.
I've never owned a Syncro and even though I lust after one, it's probably not in the cards.
My best ever, even in consideration of several 4WD trucks, SUVs and even a Subaru that I've owned, was my old '67 Baja bug. I was in my early 20s and pretty fearless (stupid?) and would take that thing to amazing places. Deep sand with the tires at low PSI. Rocky, steep trails. Mud. Snow. That thing was unstopable. I had steering brakes on it, one lever for each rear wheel and if I had a wheel caddywhampus in the air I could grab the brake for that wheel and transfer the drive to the other side and just keep on rollin.' Put chains on the rears in the deep snow and it was as much fun as a snowmobile. Wow, this makes me wanna go buy another baja bug. There was also my '66 Karmann Ghia that I once raced a guy in his brand new Power Wagon up a rough, rocky hill in, and beat him handily. Momentum was my friend in that one (coupled with the fact that he had a brand spankin' new truck that he cared about  ).
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83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold 
Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS |
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Steelhead
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007
Posts: 1791
Location: Kentfield, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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I've owned very few 4x4 vehicles (who needs them if you drive a vw bus?!). That said, I've had this '76 cherokee for about 7 years now, and it is quite a monster offroad. 6.6L 401 AMC engine (bored 30 over), lots of clearance, lots of modifications (44gal gas tank, new cam, edelbrock carb, etc, etc). It may not be the most nimble off-road vehicle, but it sure makes up for it with plenty of brute force. I've taken it on jeep roads in the Sierras that made my passengers whimper. With its chains on it, I would put up against any vehicle for the deep snow....more than once it has been one of the only trucks on the road during an 8ft Sierra storm. I now keep it in Idaho.
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'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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jsSyncro
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2007
Posts: 59
Location: mill valley, ca
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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My most capable ORV was and is my '95 Wrangler.
Most fun was my '73 Thing.
Most challenging was my 83 2WD westy. It got us to some amazing
places. You can do a lot with a Vanagon's ground clearance and a ton
of momentum!
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87 Syncro Westy Hoth Patrol Unit |
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ckissick
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Bay Area
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| jsSyncro wrote: |
Most fun was my '73 Thing.
Most challenging was my 83 2WD westy. It got us to some amazing
places. You can do a lot with a Vanagon's ground clearance and a ton
of momentum! |
Funny, I have an '83 2WD Westy, and my first car was a '73 Thing (yellow) The Thing was great off-road. So was my '63 Baja Bug. But my syncro Doka does very well, too. |
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winkshog
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2006
Posts: 294
Location: Mich-Wallhalla
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: |
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I have my share of 4x4 74 cj5 with 36 mudders was fun to drive but was that thing tippy the best i had was an 86 ranger with a 4 banger in it drove it every ware but that was one of those 200$ that you don't give a shit about. let that go for a 95 jimmy with all the bells that I rolled after 2 car payments.
sean
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85 Westy
85 7 pass w/AC 2.2_Subaru
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vwjedi
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2005
Posts: 1463
Location: G-ville, FL - hopefully on a trail.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:34 am Post subject: |
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First off Mr. Steelhead that is one BADASS '76 Cherokee,
I have a couple favs, my 89 Toyota 4runner with the removable hard top was alot of fun. First date with my lady was a canoe trip where I got stuck on the river bank and had to lock in the front hubs and crawl out in 4 low.
She almost melted out of the seat, now we are married.
The other was actually a Suzuki Samurai we rented on our honeymoon in Aruba. Light weight, tiny wheel base, straight axles, it was an unstoppable rock crawler! Check out www.zukiworld.com those guys are nutz.
BTW- I just bought a 86 Quantum Syncro Wagon that I am working on making into a little "trail dog", full time AWD and front/rear locking diffs came stock. 
She is a work in progress. 
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1987 Wolfsburg T25 still riding out. A bunch of other VW's passed on...
Last edited by vwjedi on Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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psych-illogical
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2004
Posts: 1181
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:42 am Post subject: |
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| jsSyncro wrote: |
| You can do a lot with a Vanagon's ground clearance and a ton of momentum! |
Now THAT is quote worthy 
_________________
83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold
Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS |
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psych-illogical
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2004
Posts: 1181
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:46 am Post subject: |
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Too cool. Canoes and motorcycles. These are a few of my favorite things.
6.6L AMC motor? I'll bet it's tougher finding parts for that than it is for an old Vanagon.
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83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold
Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS |
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Kuhlbox
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2007
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:20 am Post subject: |
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This is OT, but is that a moto jack rack? I have a little XL185 that I would like to carry on one of those. Good idea? Have you had good luck with yours?
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MootPoint
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006
Posts: 862
Location: ABQ, NM
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:01 am Post subject: |
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Best, most fun, most rugged, slowest, and most eye-catching:
My 1961 Land Rover, shown here in 1971 on the White Rim Road in Canyonlands NP. I sold it when, as a starving college grad with a lib'ral arts degree and no job, gas hit the astronomical price of 70ยข a gallon!!! I decided I couldn't afford to drive it so I sold it for a '67 splitty bus that almost drove me to the poorhouse with mechanical problems.
Gawd, I wish I still had that Land Rover
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1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
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Steelhead
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007
Posts: 1791
Location: Kentfield, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:07 am Post subject: |
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| psych-illogical wrote: |
Too cool. Canoes and motorcycles. These are a few of my favorite things.
6.6L AMC motor? I'll bet it's tougher finding parts for that than it is for an old Vanagon. |
thanks, I actually use motorcycle/canoe combo for a "self-shuttle" set-up when floating rivers (leave the jeep at the put-in and the bike at the take-out). Prevents us from having to take two cars across the state, or allows me to fish solo.
Your right about the parts for those motors, they are getting rare. It would be impossible without the Full-size jeep forum at www.ifsja.org. If you think the Samba crew is active, you should check out these guys (considerably more redneck, but a very generous group and some incredible mechanics).
| Quote: |
| This is OT, but is that a moto jack rack? I have a little XL185 that I would like to carry on one of those. Good idea? Have you had good luck with yours? |
Kuhlbox - Yup, thats jack rack. Its a pretty sweet system, though because my springs are so stiff I ended up welding on a bunch of chains/turnbuckles and whatnot to really make the bike completely immobile. Possibly over-engineered but its now very solid. (I didn't like the idea of the bike being held only by the footpegs). Send me a PM if you want detailed pics.
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'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10147
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:13 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
First date with my lady was a conoe trip where I got stuck on the river bank and had to lock in the front hubs and crawl out in 4 low.
She almost melted out of the seat, now we are married. |
Your women are too easy down there. I had to rewire her house and fix all the plumbing before my babe would marry me.
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Shop for unique and useful Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is death to doctrine. |
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vwjedi
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2005
Posts: 1463
Location: G-ville, FL - hopefully on a trail.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:41 am Post subject: |
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| tencentlife wrote: |
| Quote: |
First date with my lady was a conoe trip where I got stuck on the river bank and had to lock in the front hubs and crawl out in 4 low.
She almost melted out of the seat, now we are married. |
Your women are too easy down there. I had to rewire her house and fix all the plumbing before my babe would marry me. |
 I think the fact we met on a camping trip and our first date was a canoe trip with wine and sandwiches probly sealed the deal.
Although, now I have had to put wood flooring and new bathrooms in our house to keep her around.
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1987 Wolfsburg T25 still riding out. A bunch of other VW's passed on... |
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vwjedi
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2005
Posts: 1463
Location: G-ville, FL - hopefully on a trail.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:43 am Post subject: |
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[quote="MootPoint"]Best, most fun, most rugged, slowest, and most eye-catching:
 Wow, this pic is awsome. I love this thread.
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1987 Wolfsburg T25 still riding out. A bunch of other VW's passed on... |
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Kuhlbox
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2007
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: |
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[quote="vwjedi"]
| MootPoint wrote: |
Best, most fun, most rugged, slowest, and most eye-catching:
Wow, this pic is awsome. I love this thread. |
That should be a standard Photoshop-able backdrop! Just insert your vehicle *here*
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Former:
'85 Golf
'97 Cabrio
Current:
'97 EVC
"In a world full of people, only some want to fly. Isn't that crazy?" Seal |
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MootPoint
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006
Posts: 862
Location: ABQ, NM
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| That should be a standard Photoshop-able backdrop! Just insert your vehicle *here* |
By gum, you're right!
Good ol' Photoshop...
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1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
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psych-illogical
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2004
Posts: 1181
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="vwjedi"]
| MootPoint wrote: |
Best, most fun, most rugged, slowest, and most eye-catching:
Wow, this pic is awsome. I love this thread. |
Yup. That Canyonlands is an awesome, awesome place (hotter n hell in the summer though. Make sure the AC is working). Anytime any of you finds yourself within a coupla hundred miles of there you owe it to yourself to check it out. I've been planning a motorcycle trip around the White Rim trail for sometime now. One of these days...
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83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold
Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS |
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vwlovr
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006
Posts: 1122
Location: on the road
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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i think my syncro will probably be my fav when i'm done. i've lusted after one for about 15 years
as for others, i think my fav is my first 4x4. a 86 toyota efi turbo with 4" lift and 32's. i loved that little truck, nimble, abusable, and not half bad on the road. the turbo version kicked ass. my best friend always teased with that truck and called me Marty McFly, although Marty's was a xcab, it was close enough 
currently all my rides are 4x4s, but the syncro is still the best
too small...
too big...
just right...
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Lanval
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2007
Posts: 905
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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If I can dig it up, my old 89 Wrangler - it had the 4 banger, which sucked on the hwy, but was super-easy to drive in low because of the general lack of power. Drove it up an extremely steep street in Portland during a snowstorm ~ didn't even think about it. Glad I sold it though, cause it was a POS in general.
The most fun though (I don't have a pic, I think) was my 92 AWD Eagle Talon Turbo. That thing was more fun than, well, whatever. Fast, sporty, AWD. Nuff said. Wish I hadn't sold it.
Best,
Lanval |
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RevKevin
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2007
Posts: 246
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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I used to take my old Toyota SR5 4WD Wagon out on the Wayerhauser logging roads by Snoqualmie and North Bend all the time. I was coming back over the I-90 from Spokane after Thanksgiving weekend about 8 years back and got stuck in a nasty snowstorm on the pass. Trucks were jack-knifing all around me and every time traffic came to a stop it would slide about 9 inches to the right, but I made it over with just the 4WD, no chains or anything. Took 8 hours to get from Cle Elum to Snoqualmie and I couldn't pull over to pee because I would have gotten stuck, that Sobe bottle on the passenger seat started to look pretty good after a while. With all the stress and everything I needed some herbal relief so I also had to mcgyver a pipe from a gum wrapper because mine was in my bag in the trunk, but hey, it worked in a pinch.
My Audi 5000CS Turbo Quattro was awesome in that snow storm last year, it came with a spare set of studded snow tires on matching wheels and with chains I was unstoppable, I made bank that week delivering pizzas in Sammamish and rescued a bunch of my stuck friends. |
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