From: clare@snyder.on.ca   
      
   On Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:02:49 -0700, Bob La Londe    
   wrote:   
      
   >On 11/11/2024 8:51 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:   
   >> "Clare Snyder"  wrote in message   
   >> news:d5j5jjh9l75v95jofkrde2b2r8o7lr2bfr@4ax.com...   
   >>   
   >> toobad that willys is so far away!!   
   >>>   
   >>> --   
   >>> Bob La Londe   
   >>> CNC Molds N Stuff   
   >> --------------------------------------   
   >> The M151 Jeeps we had in Germany were not good on the roads there. They   
   >> couldn't keep up on the Autobahn and the winding back roads that BMWs   
   >> were built for tempted drivers to exceed their cornering limits. My VW   
   >> could easily handle the unpaved forest fire trails where we set up field   
   >> exercise sites.   
   >>   
   >   
   >When my dad first got that old Willys ready to go for a first off road   
   >adventure we headed off across the sand dunes.  I thought it was going   
   >just fine, but he said he didn't feel like it was performing properly.   
   >When we got back to the store and pulled around to the back to the shop   
   >he hopped out to take a look.  Then he realized he hadn't engaged the   
   >hubs.  LOL.   
   >   
   >Probably, its biggest real world use for us was tracking people lost in   
   >the desert.  Now I can track (to a limited extent) looking at the window   
   >of my truck, but I've always been better able to track on the ground.   
   >Back then I hadn't really learned to track.  Not well anyway.  We'd put   
   >that old GPV in first gear and hop out.  As long as the terrain wasn't   
   >extremely off camber or a crazy grade it would easily keep going in the   
   >direction it was last pointed.  We could spread out, cut sign, walk back   
   >to the Jeep for lunch or a drink of water, or to change course as   
   >needed.  Seems like a little thing but it made a several hour to all day   
   >rescue tolerable.   
   >   
   >The short wheel base and front and rear end clearance was fantastic for   
   >crossing all but the worst washouts, and it would climb some pretty   
   >incredible grades just idling along with somebody at the wheel.  Sand   
   >was not even an issue.   
   >   
   >High speed cornering?  Um-no.  Lots of high clearance vehicles struggle   
   >with that.  Even some you might not think.  Flat out on the Autobahn?   
   >You are kidding right?  How much do you expect out of a flat head four?   
   >Were you guys raiding the clinic and feeding it nitrous?  Even then...   
   >Um-no.  LOL   
   >   
   >FYI:  That old '42 had a top speed in the high 50s.  Maybe low 60s (but   
   >I doubt it), but its got a torque ratio at idle that's insane.  Its a   
   >utility vehicle.  By today's standards just a basic 4x4 side by side   
   >with a bed to haul some stuff.   
   >   
   >P.S.  I should say I can track in the desert.  Not so much in the woods.   
   >  It depends.   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >--   
   >Bob La Londe   
   >CNC Molds N Stuff   
    I used to run an ex-military Dodge PowerWagon (1946?) as a tow truck.   
   About 48MPH wide open downhill with a tailwind - slightly faster if   
   you dropped it over a cliff   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)