Bus/Vanagon offroad capabilities?

Rocknrod · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 4:28 pm Post subject: Bus/Vanagon offroad capabilities?

Hey guys...

Any of yall done a Baja type bus/vanagon, or just had one off the beaten path?

I'm thinking about buying one but am trying to get a beach buggie and mexican road (or lack there of...) cruiser. Maybe reaching up into the Canada/Alaska less than paved roads.

Where have you guys taken them? How did they do?

Thanks...

suntour · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:20 pm Post subject:

I have taken a “fat chick” Westfalia wheeling in some rough areas of the Ran Rafael in Utah. (Around the Head of Sinbad on I-70) It did pretty good except I kept nailing the nose and bumper upon exiting deep washes and it was easy to high center. I should mention that it was completely stock.

Someone posted this recently on STF. Shows what can be done to a Bus.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=84318

Rocknrod · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:51 pm Post subject:

Cool!

I'd really like to know how they do on sand... because NC has nice soft stuff, thats real tempting to go fishing from!

JamesT · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:46 pm Post subject:

That truck makes me mad. If I had an old early 50's truck, I'd restore it to stock.
I've done some very minor trail driving in a 70 double cab with the back lifted 2 inches. It was fine on the trails, but the front seemed too low.
I've never been on sand in it, but with the tires I had on it, it was terrible on snow.
_________________
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1968 Kombi
1995 Eurovan Camper
2006 Garbage Jetta TDI

suntour · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 2:34 am Post subject:

These Bus’s (is that how you spell that?) Seem to be doing just fine in the sand.

This one isn’t on the sand but I thought it was cool.

These people have a website for off-road Bus stuff. Check it out.

http://www.baja.com/kombi/

[email protected] · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 6:46 am Post subject:

Rocknrod · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:27 am Post subject:

Cool!

I take it the sand buses are not stock engined!

Any of you guys know what size tires they will take? Those look to be pretty large (Foot print...) But who knows what texture of sand that is! Laughing

baja5 · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:37 am Post subject:

I knew i should have started with a bus. Full coilovers with long arms all the way around.Anyone want to buy a baja?

psych-illogical · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject:

The pre-vanagon busses are pretty easy to do a baja thing to. Same basic suspension as the bugs. Same techniques to lift. I've never done one but I've seen a few done up this way. Gotta cut the fenders though for tire clearance. Right now I've got a vanagon Westfalia that's been great so far. I don't know how much trouble it's going to be to lift it since it's got an a-arm front suspension. I'm looking into it since I really like getting off the beaten path. The other thing I'd like besides the additional ground clearance would be a little lower gearing so I can crawl a bit slower over the rough stuff. The ultimate solution is the 4 wheel drive Vanagon Syncro if you can afford one. I can't. So, if anyone else has experience with makeing a 2WD Vanagon a little more off-road worthy, please chime in.

bljones · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:24 pm Post subject:

re-indexing the rar suspension on a vanagon will increase rear-end clearnace just like olderbusses, and i believe synchro front coils are longer than 2wd, so raising the front end is a simple bolt on. increase wheel size to 15" and add taller tires, upgrade the shocks and you can gain a few more inches.
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Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%

Rocknrod · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:14 pm Post subject:

Next part of this question...

How often do you get truly stuck in a baja? My limited offroading has been in 4x4 trucks... and even those get stuck! Is the lightweight nature of the VW enough of a strong point to keep a baja from getting stuck?

I guess I'm going to just have to try it and see! Laughing

DurocShark · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:

suntour · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:18 pm Post subject:

If you build a samurai right they can do amazing stuff. There are cheap, easy to work on, simple and there are a million of them in junkyards everywhere. (doesn’t this sound familiar?)

And to think I used to make fun of them when they first came out, I thought my FJ40 was king of the hill. 16 years latter the have a cult following like our beloved VW’s.

Zarana-X · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 12:58 am Post subject:

I posted some pics of a Bus with a tube body to the off-road gallery. The rear was raised, and the beam was cut & turned. I used to know this guy, but the pics are at least 3 years old. I would've posted them here, but I don't know how.
_________________
"In order to create, you have to destroy."

suntour · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:25 am Post subject:

Do you mean this Bus?

Rocknrod · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:58 am Post subject:

That probably does pretty good!

That being said... the weight reduction in glass vs the tubing probably isnt more than a person or two's difference in weight! Laughing

psych-illogical · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:29 am Post subject:

One thing about getting a baja buried in the mud. They're light enough that it's easy to get 'em out with a come-along. Provided you've got something to anchor to.

Thanks for the lift info on the vanagon, bljones.

Rocknrod · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:16 pm Post subject:

Anybody know if the Buses use a 4 or 5 lug hub?

Or do I need to use adapter plates to get into some good cheap aluminum wheels? (Save some weight while I'm at it...)

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:25 pm Post subject:

up to 71? they used wide 5 vw. 5 x 205mm
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1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

bajaherbie · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:39 pm Post subject:

Zarana-X, you've got a great set of tits! ( . )( . ) Shocked

heck, i even looked at your ads. who said sex doesn't sell.
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