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Dirt roads - how bad?
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Milehigh
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 1:34 pm    Post subject: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

Doing a preliminary research for a used MV 2000-ish for around 10 K.

So these vans are pretty quirky but one of the things I have heard is that they are pretty harsh on the dirt roads due to their firm European style suspension. We are here in Colorado and sometimes go camping off the beaten track which requires some moderate dirt road usage, nothing too extreme but obviously some ruts and bumps for half an hour or so. Apart from the obvious ground clearance issue, wonder how bad the vans ride without the raised suspension and brand new struts. I know Subarus, we have an old H6, are exceptional on dirt roads, but wondering if a euro van would be livable for our use case. It’s like the old Top Gear episodes where the little shitty car is following the lads around and in my case it’s a 2008 Highlander hybrid.

Riding around in this for a week tickled my interest in your Euro vans, sadly it’s forbidden fruit - a TDI T5. Of course all the good stuff is missing like the ability to move all seats back and forwards etc. etc.

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IdeaNerd
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 7:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

We take ours on dirt Forest Service roads all the time without problem, and enjoy ourselves thoroughly. I don't have much to compare it to, particularly "at speed," but we nearly pretend ours is a 4WD even though it's not (i.e. as far as what roads we take), and it's never left us stranded nor been unbearably rough-riding. We do take our time though -- i.e. no rally racing. Wink

We got a 1" lift and added BFG All-Terrain tires fairly recently, just to have fewer things to worry about. Both have been positive changes, but here's a picture from before either, FWIW:

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Here's hoping you join the club! Smile
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Abscate Premium Member
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 3:38 am    Post subject: Re: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

A T5/6 with a TDI is indeed Transporter porn...
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rbpower
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

IdeaNerd wrote:


We got a 1" lift and added BFG All-Terrain tires fairly recently


Awesome pic and info. Which 1" left did you get? Just bought a 2003 today and I am looking into affordable 1" lifts for the fire roads here in CA. Thanks in advance.
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IdeaNerd
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 5:31 pm    Post subject: Re: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

@rbpower I got the 1" ones from CaveVan. Mechanic did the install, but it was very straightforward. Very happy with the result.
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Broseph Stalin
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:30 am    Post subject: Re: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

rbpower wrote:
IdeaNerd wrote:


We got a 1" lift and added BFG All-Terrain tires fairly recently


Awesome pic and info. Which 1" left did you get? Just bought a 2003 today and I am looking into affordable 1" lifts for the fire roads here in CA. Thanks in advance.

If you're familiar with lifting vehicles the Eurovan rear lift is a spacer lift. A puck is placed above the rear coils to get more ground clearance. Cavevan has info about it.

For front lift, the Eurovan front torsion bars are fairly easily adjusted up to get more ground clearance in front. DIY you need a deepdish 27mm socket https://www.gowesty.com/product/tools/23304/gowesty-socket-for-front-torsion-bar-
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amyshannon
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:10 am    Post subject: Re: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

Is a front end alignment needed after the lift?
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IdeaNerd
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

Yes re: front end alignment; at least it was in our case.
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Broseph Stalin
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 12:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Dirt roads - how bad? Reply with quote

amyshannon wrote:
Is a front end alignment needed after the lift?

Yes. Had mine done three times at Brakes Plus for $70, no complaints.

Fairly easy and cheap to lift Eurovans or I wouldn't have bought them, IMO for offroading they HAVE to be lifted. Stock, the front bumper is too low, and if you have the EVC the propane tank is way, way too low.
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