Prerunner vans

buildyourown · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject: Prerunner vans

For those of us who can't afford or don't want the maintenance of a Syncro, (or just don't have one) lets see you 2WD vans built for off-highway driving.
IMO, a 2WD with the right parts is pretty compentent just on ground clearance alone.

mwsnow · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject:

1982 Westy with Van Cafe lift springs, Bilstein shocks, and 215/75-15 tires. It has the ride height of a Syncro, but not the firm ride.

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

kirsplat · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject:

My 87 GL.

215/75/15 BFG AT KO's on Rheins

stock suspension

it does ok off road, mainly logging roads out kayaking in the Cascades.

Hi Tyler.

Chris
VW Logo

_________________
86 Syncro|EJ253|Carat

Dingchowping · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject:

Love My Westy · Samba Member Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1886

I don't have a photo but my '86 Westy Weekender is great off road. I run 27 x 8.50 14 BFGs. It still has the stock springs, but something that really makes it great is the manual steering. I has a much tighter turn radius than PS which has really come in handy turning around in tight places. Another thing is it's much lighter weight than the full campers. What is really missing, compared to a Syncro, is the lower gear.

tomnglo · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:18 am Post subject:

It's an older pic but works.

rfoubi · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:56 am Post subject:

I agree, high clearance, aggressive tires, and some driving finesse and you can get a lot of places. The only real limiting factor is the open diff.

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

Here's my '85 with Van-Cafe lift springs and 16" Yokohama Geolandars. Excellent ride, and no worries about traction with the moderate trails we occasionally travel.

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'85 Westy

j_dirge · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:43 am Post subject:

"pre-runner"

as in pre-running an offroad race course to learn the route and check conditions?

No. I'd not opt to make my only VW Westy into a pre-runner... All that cabintery slamming around? no thanks.

I could see doing it to a base hardtop van.. strip the interior, remove some glass... cut the wheel wells.. go to airbags (the real ones) or the tall coil overs.

But I DO have a similar rig to 1621.

VC springs, 16 wheel/tire combo, big brakes going in.
Spare clamshell removed, air dam removed... stock plastic bumpers.

And an LSD will be going in when the transaxle gets rehabbed for the SVX.
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

buildyourown · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:52 am Post subject:

j_dirge · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:12 pm Post subject:

syncrodoka · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

Pre-runner- What the big boys use to pre-run the course for Baja 1000 for example.

Link

bunker108 · Samba Member Joined: May 08, 2006 Posts: 333

Not sure if it's a pre-runner...but it is pretty capable off road!

might be for sale soon too...
_________________
1985 Westfalia GL

the caveman · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:16 pm Post subject:

Honestly i shouldn't have put this in until i have the locker finally hooked up. Even having the limited slip last winter was a HUGE improvement from the year before when it still had the "extra" slip differential. It sits high,but i believe it's basically the same springs as a westy, however without all the pressboard cabinets and plumbing to weight it down it sits pretty high.

buildyourown · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject:

syncrodoka · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:42 pm Post subject:

Nice vans guys.
I was in a grass parking lot on a hill at Laguna Seca with my 2wd last year. The clutch was released and the engine was revving but we weren't going anywhere. Stuck my head out of the window and saw the rear tires were moving then asked the GF are we going backwards? We were sliding sideways for a while before we got traction and started moving forward- scared the crap outta both of us. I would have loved to have real tires not street tires on the van that day.

syncrodoka · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject:

Rumor has it that not all Toy prerunners have a rear locker. So if you don't get the TRD package you have to buy a option package that has it.

JunkYarDog · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject:

I haven't a locker or limited slip but this old van has suprised a lot of people with its agility off road. The tires are 215/75R15 Pirelli Scorpian ATR's. I had originally planned on BFG TA/KO's but thought I'd try something different. So far I will tell you these are good on dirt, soft ground but the BFG's were better in the snow.

_________________
I have never owned a VW I didn't like, but there have been a few Fords and Chevy's.
85' GL Sunroof
68' Beetle sedan
72' Chevy C10 (LWB Step)
(67' Volvo 122S pending)

blakeck2 · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:13 am Post subject:

Junkyardog I love those eyes, howd you do that?


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