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allsierra123
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2006
Posts: 1462
Location: Tecate, Baja California MX
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 Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 7:23 pm Post subject: Pre Runner Vanagon |
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Just curious if anyone has a 2wd setup for serious off-road usage. we live in a town that has two ORV parks both are sand. The surrounding area in all sage brush and scrub brush very dry and desert like. And within an hour we have the cascade mountain range.I have yet to take it out on the sand, without the sand being frozen. So What Im wondering is what would it take to set the van up for some desert style off road running.
What I have done so far:
GW lift springs and spacers.
Bilstein HD shocks.
Ball joint spacers.
And had the front suspension parts all replaced.
Right now Im running some skinny Mud tires.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold |
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r.e.wing_fc3s
Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2010
Posts: 591
Location: Vanagon Capitol USA: Bellingham, WA
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| Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| +1 for the pre-runner. im trying to do the same with my 86 gl. I want to fit the 85 westfalia springs up front but no one has been able to tell me how to i.d them if there not on the car, i.e. spring color , height etc. and syncro rear springs. my main concern is drive axle angles. im also looking for a rear diff locker. PLEASE DO NOT START RESPONSES ABOUT TBD'S LSD'S PELICAN ETC BEING MORE SUITABLE THEN A REAR LOCKER. the conditions and uses for a locking diff are totally different. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: Pre Runner Vanagon |
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| allsierra123 wrote: |
Just curious if anyone has a 2wd setup for serious off-road usage. we live in a town that has two ORV parks both are sand. The surrounding area in all sage brush and scrub brush very dry and desert like. And within an hour we have the cascade mountain range.I have yet to take it out on the sand, without the sand being frozen. So What Im wondering is what would it take to set the van up for some desert style off road running.
What I have done so far:
GW lift springs and spacers.
Bilstein HD shocks.
Ball joint spacers.
And had the front suspension parts all replaced.
Right now Im running some skinny Mud tires. |
I am set up for this with an LSD AND a locker but alas I've not put them to the test. I'm planning on some long Alaska trips so I've gone ahead with the building process now. No direct help for your question but I am curious as to the responses.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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The Salt
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2010
Posts: 221
Location: Salt Lake
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| Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Lets see it!
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88 Wolfsburg Edition Weekender |
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Williamtaylor33
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 1545
Location: Arkansas
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allsierra123
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2006
Posts: 1462
Location: Tecate, Baja California MX
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| Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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Cool pics. Nice looking rigs. I wanna see them on the dunes though lol. I am still afraid to take mine out there due to the weight. It may be fine though.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold |
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tripod808
Samba Member
Joined: March 06, 2010
Posts: 65
Location: Hilo
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 1:45 am Post subject: |
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I suggest progressive bump stops.. Instead of hitting full compression and bottoming out suddenly and harshly, the progressive bumpstop starts working before the suspension is fully compressed and progressivly compresses as the suspension reaches full compression and makes landings alot softer keeping your vehicle in better control upon landing.
The stock wheel studs may shear with the force of landing and it's common for the prerunner guys to run thicker studs.
Id imagine gusseting and reinforcing the platform would make the vehicle more rigid overall. You may also want to distribute more weight out back since the vanagon is slghtly nose heavy.
Don't forget a roll cage that is tied into your van in several solid places, it's fun flying through the air, but landing and rolling in a ball of fire is bad, ask evil kinevil. |
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r.e.wing_fc3s
Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2010
Posts: 591
Location: Vanagon Capitol USA: Bellingham, WA
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 7:40 am Post subject: |
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| mmmm lsd and locker FTW! to run thicker wheel bolts do you mod the wheels? |
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