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Gonzo1970
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2013
Posts: 178
Location: Belleville, IL
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 Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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My intention was to run the Grabbers on my 70 camper.. but a set of 4 Hankooks were on Ebay for $286 Shipped.
That changed my mind pretty quick.
-Gonz
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Sometimes the lights all shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
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KentABQ 
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016
Posts: 2406
Location: Albuquerque NM
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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| Gonzo1970 wrote: |
| My intention was to run the Grabbers on my 70 camper.. but a set of 4 Hankooks were on Ebay for $286 Shipped. |
Dayum.... that was a good find, Gonzo. I paid more than twice that for mine.
I've read other postings here about the eBay tires, and they are not bad. And not old ones either.
I shoulda checked eBay. 
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
         ---williamM |
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22456
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 4:57 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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| KentPS wrote: |
| Gonzo1970 wrote: |
| My intention was to run the Grabbers on my 70 camper.. but a set of 4 Hankooks were on Ebay for $286 Shipped. |
Dayum.... that was a good find, Gonzo. I paid more than twice that for mine.
I've read other postings here about the eBay tires, and they are not bad. And not old ones either.
I shoulda checked eBay. |
For 15's or 14's?
_________________
| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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KentABQ
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016
Posts: 2406
Location: Albuquerque NM
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:01 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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The ones I bought are 14's, just like the ones in Gonzo's pic.
It just clicked in my head... I bought 5 tires, not 4. Still got ripped, though...
On the plus side, they do ride and handle great!
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12850
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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| KentPS wrote: |
The ones I bought are 14's, just like the ones in Gonzo's pic.
It just clicked in my head... I bought 5 tires, not 4. Still got ripped, though...
On the plus side, they do ride and handle great! |
Depends, was your price for five mounted & balanced? Tire shops are easily charging $20-25 each for that.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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KentABQ
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016
Posts: 2406
Location: Albuquerque NM
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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Yes, they were mounted and balanced. Total came to just over $700 though. (I'm embarrassed to admit that.). But I checked all the larger tire retailers in the area, and most were trying to sell me car tires. Americas Tires finally found these for me.
Oh well. At least they'll last a few years the way I drive.
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20271
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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| KentPS wrote: |
| Total came to just over $700 though. (I'm embarrassed to admit that.). |
Wow! I just had a nice set of 265/75R16 truck tires mounted and balanced for $620.
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nothing |
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vwwestyman
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5688
Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:09 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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Thoughts?
I'm thinking I'd like to run a set of General Grabbers on my '78.
At the moment I've got 3 Bus rims sitting outside my garage. They all are pretty ugly and would need fixed up before use, plus I'd need to find a 4th.
I've also found a set of brand new VW 5x112 15 inch Passat steel that are take-offs for about $80. They'd need to have the hub openings opened up, but otherwise would look nice right away.
So neither set of rims is an immediate-use thing.
Which way would YOU go?
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Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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kooper271
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2016
Posts: 337
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:44 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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| I would probably go with the passat wheels. Way bigger tire selection |
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captincanuck
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2014
Posts: 730
Location: The Great White North
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tristessa
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2004
Posts: 3992
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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| vwwestyman wrote: |
I've also found a set of brand new VW 5x112 15 inch Passat steel that are take-offs for about $80. They'd need to have the hub openings opened up, but otherwise would look nice right away.
So neither set of rims is an immediate-use thing.
Which way would YOU go? |
IMHO if you'll be getting new tires anyway, go with the Passat steelies for more/better tire options. I've got a set of those ready to go -- a 2-3/4" holesaw centers over lip of the the hub bore nicely to enlarge the opening, plus that size does have some center caps available to cover things if you want.
You'll need to get some 14MM "small ball" lug nuts to go with them, and then make sure you've got a 17MM lug wrench with you. Get them from Chris at T3Technique -- he's got teh best pricing on them that I've found, plus he's a VW guy who does a lot for the Vanagon community. |
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vwwestyman
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5688
Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:24 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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| tristessa wrote: |
| vwwestyman wrote: |
I've also found a set of brand new VW 5x112 15 inch Passat steel that are take-offs for about $80. They'd need to have the hub openings opened up, but otherwise would look nice right away.
So neither set of rims is an immediate-use thing.
Which way would YOU go? |
IMHO if you'll be getting new tires anyway, go with the Passat steelies for more/better tire options. I've got a set of those ready to go -- a 2-3/4" holesaw centers over lip of the the hub bore nicely to enlarge the opening, plus that size does have some center caps available to cover things if you want.
You'll need to get some 14MM "small ball" lug nuts to go with them, and then make sure you've got a 17MM lug wrench with you. Get them from Chris at T3Technique -- he's got teh best pricing on them that I've found, plus he's a VW guy who does a lot for the Vanagon community. |
Since I'm currently running 17 inch New Beetle rims, I do have the lug nuts taken care of. And I got them from Chris!
There is some appeal of using the factory rims again, such as hub cap options. I have a couple of those white-spoked caps that came with the Bus, and it would be kind of cool to be able to use them again. (Along with another pair, eventually.)
But I have noticed that there seem to be less and less options for 14 inch tires over time.
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Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22456
Location: Escondido CA
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KrisBalfe
Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2004
Posts: 832
Location: SLC
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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I think this thread title could be changed to which tires should I run on my bus.
I'd run the 14" with the 27x8.5 14 grabbers, great tire and good price on it. All of your suspension travel available and not a big change to the engine/trans effort. If you want to look bigger there are tons of options but without modifications the 14" grabber should accomplish everything a bigger tire will.
215/75 15's on my friends bay were pretty great too but we managed to rub here and there, not a big problem though. Just decide what you are after and enjoy.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.j...iameter=17 Two good tires here. |
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vwwestyman
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5688
Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 4:08 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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Well, tires are certainly probably the biggest-difference off-road modification one could make!
If I get the newer rims, I'll probably go 205/75/R15 on the tires to get as narrow as I can.
I texted the seller last night and didn't yet get a response, I'll try calling today.
Honestly, I may just go with whatever way I can get a full set first!
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Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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Jamo7
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2014
Posts: 124
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 11:29 am Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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Props to Roland. This photo is haunting me- in a good way.
I can't get it out of my mind. The stance, the angle, the location... you know how to make these busses look good!
Thanks!
James
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'84 Westy 2.1 wbx |
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airkooledchris
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005
Posts: 2710
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| Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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| Jamo7 wrote: |
Props to Roland. This photo is haunting me- in a good way.
I can't get it out of my mind. The stance, the angle, the location... you know how to make these busses look good!
Thanks!
James |
X2 - i keep eyeballing a spare set of powdercoated steelies in my garage and remembering this image. damn that looks nice. |
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Ives676
Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2013
Posts: 274
Location: Rogers, AR
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Spike0180
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2015
Posts: 2269
Location: Detroit, Michigan
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| Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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I don't have instagram, but just looked through that. Some pretty sweet pictures.
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Brutis Patches Izabich: 1970 VW Transporter - 1776cc DP
Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp
Sambastic: adj; the quality of being nit picky, elitist, expecting everyone to do things the way they believe is best with no regard to situation, "sambastic" |
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inhabor
Samba Member
Joined: September 09, 2012
Posts: 194
Location: florida
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 6:01 pm Post subject: Re: Off road modifications for your bus |
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215/75R15 BF GOODRICH amazingly quiet
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Or Ill have Stew come kick you in the nutz.
