by oldmansurfer » Tue Dec 10, 2024 8:38 pm
The VW van is particularly suited for driving on what we called jeep trails which were usually one lane dirt roads with deep ruts and varying amounts of mud. The van had good traction because the engine was over the top of the drive wheels and the bottom surface was flat and sealed making it mud proof with decent clearance. And as I mentioned you are sitting right on top of the front wheel so if you lean a little to the left you are looking at exactly where the front wheel will go. I once passed a 4 wheel drive US Army jeep stuck in the mud with all 4 wheels spinning, due to deep ruts it was stuck on the ridge between them. I offered to pull them out with my van and they laughed and said "this is 4 wheel drive we don't need help from a VW". So we kept going and a couple hours later on our way back they were still stuck and I pulled them out. Funny thing happens when you get a 4 wheel drive, one is you assume it won't get stuck and two you assume that it can get unstuck if it does get stuck (which results in them getting worse stuck) and three the only way to get unstuck is to get a bigger vehicle to pull it out. Over here 4 wheel drive trucks are the thing and almost invariably as soon as someone buys one they immediately go out and get it stuck so bad they feel they need to have someone pull them out. I grew up with a family that frequently did beach trips on the weekends or holidays and we would go to remote areas with no cell phones or any amenities and when we got stuck we needed to get unstuck ourselves with 2 wheel drive cars. It helped me learn how to drive a 2 wheel drive car in places that were sketchy and how to get unstuck if it was stuck.. In 15 to 20 minutes I could have gotten that jeep unstuck without pulling it out. I was very fortunate to grow up there. Great place to be a kid or to just be. It's a small island but still lots of places to investigate if you are adventurous although access to those areas is becoming more limited.
So what is worse.... dying or regretting it for the rest of my life? Obviously I chose not regretting it.