TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:02 am

As I probably mentioned earlier...see one in person. I think they look really modern and useful. Minivan? Chrysler, Ford, Toyoda, etc minivans look absolutely nothing like a T5, even VW's own minivans (Routan, Sharan, Touran) do not look like a T5.

The decade-old Microbus' concept design is as fugly as it gets. Hopefully the redesign will be a clean sheet start and actually carry over some of the true Microbus design.

Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:07 pm

well, if we are going to get away from Vanagon/Bus thinking, then how about some of the good design ideas from the Pinzgauer?

it had a central frame that was supposed to be great for off-road (tho I don't understand why)...

Sat Dec 04, 2010 2:10 pm

I think the Vanagon Westy Syncro is probably one of the few vehicles which really is very well proportioned in every way.

It's small enough to drive around daily, yet it's big enough inside to take abroad and live in for a month.

It's not fantastic offroad but it can make Landrovers look very silly without too many problems.

I'd love to see a more modern version of the Vanagon but with the amount of stuff which would have to go into it, it would cost a fortune to build and therefore a fortune to sell and we (ok 'I') wouldn't have a chance in hell of affording one.

I've got lots of plans for my offroad project, some of which have been mentioned here with gearing and offroad ability but you have to bare in mind that the more you modify towards offroading ability, the less 'everyday' you make your van.

I love the way the vanagon syncro drives and I remember driving my Tristar Syncro around the countryside on a hot summers day (not thinking about how much it was drinking in fuel!) and having a hoot with sticky 225 tyres, a slightly stiff VC. The grip from a well setup light syncro is amazing on the road and I'm still tempted to look for a syncro to drive daily which I'll never take greenlaning but then, the Tristar Syncro was one of 19 and I still went offroading in that so I'd probably find it very hard not to...

I think one of things which makes the Vanagon Syncro attractive is that it's still based around things everyone can work on. The only time you'll find diagnostics etc involved are when someone has fitted a later engine to it. Otherwise it's simple stuff which you and I can fix without having to read a repair manual and pull out the laptop.

Cost is the other reason for me. Ok the prices have started to climb now. When I first got into these vans, I bought a 2WD panel van for £150 which needed 2 pushrods re-seating into the lifters, a pair of wiper blades and a bulb for the MOT. A 2WD Crewcab for £90 which needed an engine, another 2WD panelvan for £90 which needed an engine (hmmm recurrent theme here!) and a Syncro panel van for £350 in Germany.

The prices have jumped and you can almost add a zero to the going rate over in the UK now but they're still within reach for most people who want a reliable VW Van which can be looked after by themselves.

MG

Sun Dec 05, 2010 8:17 pm

Looks like Seikel has already designed and built a portal axle system for a T5

This would be great if there is enough similarity between the T3 and T5 to put these portal hubs on my syncro :twisted: Plus no hassling with VoA and imports etc etc

Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:30 am

same-o, same-o, but better--v6 made in USA

Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:54 am

GTRV makes that top for toyota siennas all the way up to Dodge sprinters including the GMC safari. http://www.gtrv.com/chassis
Ursa minor makes a top for a Toyota element. http://www.ursaminorvehicles.com/camper.htm
Just gotta pick the van body you want and add a top but none of them are a VW. Who knows, VW themselves may not have the magic recipe anymore. We will have to wait and see.

Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:13 am

These are the Seikel front portal hubs they put on the T5. I'm thinking that after I get all moved out to Albuquerque I will see about putting these on the T3. Thoughts impressions? I know the T5 looks like an astro van, and we all own Vanagons, so our mutual thoughts on the athetics and character of astros vs. our vans.

So 1.5:1 reduction at the hub = mo torque at the wheel, and the L range on the syncro would be wall climbing! Of course highway driving would be less than ideal, but I'm not going to be doing 80+mph cross country road trips in this thing. My syncro is content puttering around on the back roads and up to the ski resorts.

Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:26 am

T5 suspension layout for comparison, similar trailing arms at rear. Thoughts on the front?

Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:33 pm

I've been looking at fitting these epicyclic hubs from a JCB 3CX as they're around a 4-6:1 reduction. This would obviously be for an offroader only as your top speed would be 6 x slower than stock :lol:

The amount of torque and control which could be transmitted would be excellent for offroading.

The Seikel kit runs 3 gears inside the housing in order to keep the same direction of drive. Not cheap but nice.

MG

Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:54 am

the T5 looks nothing like a US market minivan.
You really do have to see these vehicles in person
to appreciate them.

Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:19 pm

for the latest update on the rockton, check my site under syncro future, scroll down and read about the rockton terock

mike plompen
www.busman.be