Off road modifications for your bus FAQ

[Dr. Larmdank]

Here is the only time I've used the front attachment for a light snatch out of a mud hole. Maybe if i had bash plates and carried more speed I might have gotten through it. But probably not. Even 4x4s were getting stuck in this one

Second video when getting snatched I ended up with a tree sump going under the car and getting stuck on that.


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[tjet]

I was watching this youtube link below, and I noticed the odd BFG tire size: 32x10.00R15.

Interesting...

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[Dr. Larmdank]

[Dr. Larmdank]

While I'm here might upload some random adventure photos. This thing has gone everywhere I've wanted to go so far. One trip was 2 and a half months of daily off road/Sand island driving. Does better than a lot of 4x4s.

This thread is dead! There must be some other off road buses on here. Post some pics!
Or build your own Baja bus 😁 I can tell you what mistakes not to make 😆

[Earl Bay]

Just realized I've seen 1 or 2 vids of you going through some gnarly stuff.
Can't imagine that's possible without lockers.
So watcha got if you don't mind me asking?

[Dr. Larmdank]

Yes Earl Bay you are correct. It has a ratcheting style locker in a 1600 3 rib box with low ratios. Can't remember ratios exactly.
Have off roaded without the locker and it makes a huge difference in stuff where you pick up a wheel. Which is quite a lot more than you'd think.
Can still go well without, just more momentum needed. For most sand driving it makes no difference if youre deflated (less than 10psi!!)
The Yellow bus has less power and no locker but did better than me at a very difficult beach exit. Bigger tyres though.

[Earl Bay]

By 3-rib you are referring to the 002 from the early bays that had lower gearing I guess.
I'll admit I have no real clue how the different lockers really work in detail.
Whats that ratcheting style locker? Is that the ZF LSD?
The ZF LSD is hard to come buy, doesn't last forever and is big $$$ if you find one.
It appears a Peloquin/Quaife is the only real option.
Even if it doesn't help much the moment your not moving anymore.
Could that problem on the torsion based diffs be solved with a split handbrake?

Just thinking out loud, have a 002 box that I wanted to modify some time in the not so far future.

[Dr. Larmdank]

Yep a late 002.
I think the brand of my locker is Weddle and it's a mechanical ratcheting style. Works amazing off road but is horrible to drive with on the street. As soon as I apply any throttle the rear wheels are locked solid.
I thought about having a split handbrake and it would be useful occasionally. However when you're actually offroading I doubt it's possible to use one effectively.
A vw bus offroad is a handful and I pretty much always need both hands on the steering wheel in any situation where a wheel is lifting. There is no way I'd be able to grab a handbrake lever when bouncing up a trail!

[Dr. Larmdank]

Well I have the OG beam all cleaned up and reinstalled along with the lift spindles.
For some reason at ride height my arms are now angled down so much that they're pretty much on the bump stops!
There are no adjusters on this beam. It's the one OG to the car.

On my fabbed beam I just removed, the arms were sitting much closer to horizontal and more at a mid point between the bumpstops at ride height.

Any ideas why? It will come down with some weight in it but really seems like in this OG configuration the car is sprung up! Maybe on my other beam the adjusters were not in the same location as the original holding screw.
Can see both sides here..

Can anyone spot the other issue? One I was expecting to need to fix.

The spindles alone give me so much more ground clearance. As it sits now I've gone from 310mm to 430mm from ground to beam tube. That's 120mm! Or 5 inches extra ground clearance now! I love it.

[notchboy]

Money well spent if you want to lift your bus

Welcome to the lifted life brother.
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[Earl Bay]

What a bad ass rig. I just live on the wrong continent. Which also leads me to say that our euro definition of offroad is probably your definition of overlanding at best.
If it's not tarmac it's offroad, the literal definition if you want. I guess some gnarly stuff can be found but it's not much and usually not allowed, At least not in central Europe. Spain and Scandinavia maybe. But then again a damp and slimy forest service road is all you might need to get in trouble without a locker.

Back to your Weddle locker: Didn't know they made any. Can't find it on their website but found a PDF on a mini locker for type 2's


https://weddleindustries.com/sites/weddleindustries.com/files/downloads/5255-INST.pdf

As per your description 'horrible on tarmac' it could be that, they say 'not made for highway use'
So not what I'd want in a daily that spends 97% of it's time on tarmac either.
It really sounds like a torsion diff with 40% is the only option that makes sense. For me.

Unless somebody knows if there is a possibility of getting a syncro like locker to work. Pneumatic on off only when you need it I mean.
I've heard rumors about one in a 181 but it might just be that, rumors. Or some sort of modification I guess.

[Dr. Larmdank]

There is a French crew of dubbers who like to do trails and things in vws. I think their page on facebook is called 'off road trippers'.
Bloke with a green lowlight takes it to some fun looking trails. Maybe you can tag along?

But yes that is the type of locker I have. Very clunky and tyres wear quickly but ilI still do a lot of road trips in it sometimes 700km away.

You can fit a syncro locker to an earlier T2 gearbox with pneumatic engagement. My gearbox guy has done it and its a possible but a lot of work. It was an expensive addition to an already expensive gearbox rebuild so I passed on it this time. Would be so much better though!

[Alan Brase]

VW always had limited slip of some sort as an option in a bay window. ZF in the early ones. I've seen a few for sale over the years, but they are very rare.
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Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

[Earl Bay]

Thanks for confirming the syncro locker, will have to dig into that then.

And jup, aware of those guys, I've met the owner of the green one and been on a trip with others. They eat more than they drive though

[Convoy]

Debating on upgrading to a larger tire size. I initially considered the General Grabber 27/8.5/14 measured at 26.9" total height. Keep it Simple Stupid, right.

Then since I was switching out might as well consider all the other options, the good and bad...

To go even larger I considered going to Passat or Mercedes 15" wheels to achieve a 27.4"+ tire with 205/75/15 or 215/75/15, then things start getting complicated. Weights, clearances, rubbing, ET's, Offsets, wheel widths, steel/alloy, lug nuts, etc.

The reality is I just want to squeeze a larger tire for looks and personnel preference. I like how sxuxrxf's bus has the radial swampers (28"-29") but required 2.5" spindle to fit.

Now lets say I don't go to that large of swamper but closer to a 27.5" on stock no lifted bus?

Anyone know is the Super Swamper 27x9.50R14LT Tire, SSR Radial - SSR-02R would work on a stock height bus. Specs below. The 9.5 maybe too wide or maybe minor rubbing?

Tire Size: 27x9.50R14LT
Black Side Wall
Load Range: C
Max Load: 1585
Tread Depth = 21/32
Overall Diameter: 27.5"


FYI I have a regeared 002 from benco powered by subaru 2.2l.

Edit: Fixed Link
https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/super-swamper-tsl-ssr-radial-tires/1102
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1974 Westfalia
2.2 Subie
Benco 002

[richparker]

I feel like a Super Swamper would look cool, but offer a poor ride on the road/highway. Personally I think the Grabbers fill out the wheel well nicely and offer a nice ride, both on and off road.

How does your bus sit? Have you adjusted the rear torsion to lift it?
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[Convoy]

Rich,
No clicks, no sag, no adjustments. Ya the swampers would be different. I have them in a 33/12.5/15 size on a bronco previously and they road nice but drowned down the highway at speed. Thought maybe the 27” wouldn’t be as bad but should ride marginally better at a smaller size… well maybe lol
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1974 Westfalia
2.2 Subie
Benco 002

[Convoy]

For reference to stock wheel well (stock height) vs tire size, here are my 195R14 Hankooks mounted on my bus. This configuration does fill the void somewhat, but IMO not enough. Plus a little larger tire size will ever so slightly lower the RPMs for a subaru conversion.

Anyone have similar images to the general grabber 27/8.5/14 mounted in a similar profile to verify if the general grabbers will be much larger in appearance?

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1974 Westfalia
2.2 Subie
Benco 002

[Shonandb]

Not a pic of mounted General Grabbers but here are my 215/65/16 XL tires on ET33 rims on my stock height Bus. They are 27" in dia and slightly larger than my spare which is a General Grabber 27x8.5x14

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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image

[Dr. Larmdank]

Looks good but they would rub for sure right?