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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6932 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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rsbadura wrote: |
richparker wrote: |
I’m running my spring plates at 25.5* unweighted with zero issues...the boots will fail before the CVs do. |
how many 10.000 miles did you drive already with this?
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40,390 miles _________________ __________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build |
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mkriglet Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2011 Posts: 294 Location: wv
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
Go with Bilsteins, once you've had a vehicle with them, you won't have a vehicle without them. They eliminate "Porpoising" on rough roads and get rid of front end dive while braking thus shortening stopping distance & really tame the effects of crosswinds. The Bilsteins will cause more "road feel" by transmitting more of the smaller road imperfections into the chassis (pot holes, rocks, & the like) but will soak up larger things that would cause the vehicle to pitch & roll (bridge expansion joints, train track crossings).
You can get the Bilsteins for around $300 for all four special ordered through AutoZone. Let me know if you need info on how & what to order if you decide to go this route. |
I would like to replace my shocks with Bilsteins. Do you still have the information on them? Thanks. |
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J K Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2014 Posts: 17 Location: Rogers, AR
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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I've been through a fair amount of this and some other threads. Was wondering if some could comment more on the impact to performance. I have a 71 Bay with stock wheels (and suspension) and am wanting to fill in the wheel wells with a more aggressive tire. this is mostly cosmetic as i won't be taking it off road in any extreme fashion. Having read through this thread and seeing all the photos, i'd like something leaning towards the mud terrains or more aggressive tread in a 205/75 or 215/75. i have a 1600 and am trying to get a sense for how much these tires impact performance/drivability. Just overall reactions. I see a bunch of people running this configuration with nothing said and then i see others that say theirs is woefully underpowered. I'm guessing it's noticeable, but still tolerable?
I've become accustomed to adjusting to the power in these vehicles. Are the muds just another drag, but tolerable or are they just too mach for the 1600? |
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roland Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2006 Posts: 353
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:34 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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Depends on what you can tolerate
What I can’t tolerate is the noise these mud terrains make on pavement. That’s why I’d go BF all terrains or général grabbers AT... _________________ Also, vanagons! |
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J K Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2014 Posts: 17 Location: Rogers, AR
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:46 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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yeh, i realize a very subjective question ... guess i'll never know for sure until i do it. appreciate the thoughts on road noise... those MT's can get loud. |
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mkriglet Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2011 Posts: 294 Location: wv
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Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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I just installed new 27x8.5 Maxxis Buckshots and Bilsteins on the front. It raised the bus about 2 inches. I haven't driven it on out of first gear yet so I cant really speak to its handling, but I love the way it looks. |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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airkooledchris Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 2700
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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How do those light bar brackets attach? Are they clamping over the drip rail, or drilling into the westfalia fiberglass top? Would it work on a tin top? |
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KrisBalfe Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2004 Posts: 831 Location: SLC
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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The window blockout is awesome. |
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KrisBalfe Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2004 Posts: 831 Location: SLC
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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If you can find a pathfinder at your local pick n pull with some modifications you can have yourself a brush guard and swing away rear tire carrier for $60ish and some elbow grease. |
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cdennisg Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20230 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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^^^ I was wondering what you've been up to... _________________ nothing |
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KrisBalfe Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2004 Posts: 831 Location: SLC
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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cdennisg wrote: |
^^^ I was wondering what you've been up to... |
Not very good at updates, working on interior now. |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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airkooledchris wrote: |
How do those light bar brackets attach? Are they clamping over the drip rail, or drilling into the westfalia fiberglass top? Would it work on a tin top? |
Clamps to the drip rail.
http://www.vanagonlife.com/theshop/vanagonlife-lightbar-brackets |
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RalphWiggam Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2018 Posts: 906 Location: SouthEast
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 6:15 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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mkriglet wrote: |
I just installed new 27x8.5 Maxxis Buckshots and Bilsteins on the front. It raised the bus about 2 inches. I haven't driven it on out of first gear yet so I cant really speak to its handling, but I love the way it looks. |
Where did you get the Bilsteins? I want some for my 72, but I can never figure out the exact model #'s I need front and rear. Do you have the model #'s? |
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mkriglet Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2011 Posts: 294 Location: wv
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RalphWiggam Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2018 Posts: 906 Location: SouthEast
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 11:36 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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Yeah, I've been able to find the fronts, but what about the rears? Where you able to find those? |
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mkriglet Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2011 Posts: 294 Location: wv
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 12:49 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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I couldn't find the rear shocks either. Ended up getting KYBs |
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Brian Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012 Posts: 8340 Location: Oceanside
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zwartePiets Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2009 Posts: 58 Location: Austin Texas
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 8:50 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus FAQ |
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Anyone running 27x8.5-14 Kumho Road Venture MT KL71, on a stock height bus? |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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