Always slightly controversial: *GET YOUR VANAGON UNSTUCK*

[DanHoug]

just used my AAA account i bought for my cross country trip in the Westy to extract my 3/4 ton pickup i high centered in snow while plowing my driveway. i tried shoveling out, nada. my strapping son offered to shovel further but i said i'll just call a wrecker. i'll be durned if their winch didn't strain a bit pulling me back. it was good call to call them in as i'd still be trying to dig it out.

sometimes it's good to know when to fold.....
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[IdahoDoug]

I hear you. Snow is tricky as you'll often settle a warm frame down onto the snow as the tires dig holes, then settle further until the frame is mashing down hard. Once that happens, digging snow from behind the tires often means you move the vehicle a foot but then the tires settle further down and let the frame press down harder on the snow. The warm frame melts a perfect super-grippy pattern of the bottom of your car into the snow, it cools into ice and you call the wrecker.

BTW this is why Max Trax excel. When you get onto them, they're ramping the tires up and lifting the frame off the sand or snow. Highly recommended but there are some less pricey versions available now that test well for the casual user.

Doug
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[stormforge]

Great advice here! Lots of patience and a calm, thoughtful approach are also really useful when you're stuck. Most often there's no big hurry to move so I try not to make a bad situation worse and I consider a tow as a somewhat-risky, last-resort option. I've gotten stuck quite a few times and I've almost always been able to drive out with some digging, some strategically placed rocks, logs, etc... A good shovel and a small hatchet are great to have on hand in addition to your tow gear.

-Bill
'89 Syncro

[bobbyblack]

1 wheel drive, always cracks me up. WHO THOUGHT OF THAT? Them r smart!

Still gotta get myself a real diff to convert mine to a 2 wheel drive. I could get stuck on flat turf with a little dew as it is right now.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[shagginwagon83]

[dobryan]

[bobbyblack]

[syncrodoka]

[T3 Pilot]

Two strong attachment points here, plus some cribbing under front bumper to protect cable/strap.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708045
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1988 Vanagon

The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel......

[bobbyblack]

I used a log chain on my 83.5. It had sunk down to its axles in the yard where it had been sitting for 18 odd years. I yanked it a few times with my Highlander before thinking up the part where you check if it was in gear first or not... Well, after that, I pulled it hard again repeatedly and it came up, and out. The stock tow loop was not damaged in any way. I was amazed that it had not torn off and flown through my rear hatch. I was actually expecting it to. I had taken several precautions for that possibility. I did mess up the yard quit a bit, but that didn't seem to bother the owner of the property. Getting it gone was their only wish.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[danfromsyr]

since we're on the topic,
here's a great stuck to unstuck thread from IdahoDoug..
I'd quote it in here, but it's alot of writing/reading.. let Doug do that if he cares to share.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=705943
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[wx0m]

FWIW, the front tow loop is available from ECS Tuning, Mfg Part# 251807401, ECS Part# ES#327414

So far, I've seen posts reporting that the single front tow loop is strong enough for extractions, and others that report having broken loops. I'm hoping that splitting the load between two of these loops will suffice.

[clift_d]

Also from Brickwerks in the UK here.

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1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker syncro

[dhaavers]

[dobryan]

[rfoubi]

If anyone needs another reminder to not use the tow ball for recoveries


Link


Apologies in advance if you start getting hooked on Ronny's content and spend hours watching turbo diesel v8 landcruisers driving around Australia!

[dhaavers]

After reading this thread, just put together a full CamperVan-type kit on Amazon for about $75...$$$ well spent.

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[westydriver]

[Mikesarge]

[dhaavers]

^^^ FWIW, Jed's full kit is listed right there on his product page...looks like good stuff!

https://campervanculture.com/shop/full-vehicle-recovery-kit/