Re: AW: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Driving in Sand and Trakka Brochure

1
Dear Christoph,
I've now down loaded to the club photos 150dpi versions of this brochure under the Trakka brochures album. I think you will find them more satisfactory to download. I've also posted to the file section a complete list of the T3 (and 1 T2) brochures that I hold. I haven't posted them all to photos as I shouldn't hog all the space (plus its very tedius to do at 150 dpi as I found Yahoo will only work with 1  being posted at a time).
Les if you are reading this you may want to clean out the lower resolution
duplicated Trakka pictures although they do download much quicker. You may also have a view on whether anything else should be posted from my list although when Christoph did previously do this from some of his own collection, VW were apparently not pleased for some strange reason.
Cheers
Roger
PS I reckon Phil must know more about T3's than VW does.I hadn't heard about an audible warning.
 
Christoph Boltze <C.Boltze@gmx.de> wrote:
Hi Roger,

thanks for adding the "Gold Pack" brochure. I have only a 1990 Trakka Volkswagen Carat and Multivan program where the Gold Pack is mentioned with one picture. Can you send me the two Gold Pack pages in a better resolution for my archive?

Thanks ☺

Regards

Christoph Boltze

1985 Caravelle GL syncro

http://www.vwpix.org - http://www.syncro-t3.de





________________________________________
Von: Roger Bell [mailto:bellrmit@yahoo.com.au]
Gesendet: Sonntag, 6. Mai 2007 13:51
An: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Betreff: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Driving in Sand and Trakka Brochure

Dear Andrew,
Didn't your Dad warn you what adversely affects your eyesight!
Have added in the Trakka Bronco brochure plus rear page of the 1990 and the last page of the comparison test all scanned at 100dpi rather than the original 75 that my scanner reckoned was best for internet postings.I'm wary of going too high as they take forever to download. I feel Mark is right suggesting PDF files but at present lack the means/knowledge/scanner of/to converting them to this format. I think scanning at 100dpi takes the size up enough on the larger picture setting even for someone like myself (who ignored his Dad's warnings) to read.
Just in case I will retype part of the conclusion even if its what we all already know (comparison test was between a Tarago ,Mitsubishi and Caravelle t3 all 4WD's)
"The VW Caravelle Syncro is the best all-round 4WD people mover. Its not the most stylish,the quietest or the quickest, but it does everything an on/off-road people mover should. Those venturing into diff lock country with the VW will embarrass many a square rigged 4WD............"
It was also interesting to read that the VW G ratio was almost as low as the Misubishi's low range 1st gear. or as the article said "Interestingly,there is no off-road compromise we can find in the VW's lack of a low range transfer case."
Cheers
Roger

syncrosity4now wrote:
Any chance of up-sizing the photos/articles as reading the write up is
impossible even for someone as young as me....

Cheers
Andrew

--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, Roger Bell
wrote:
>
> Hi everyone.
> Finally got round to responding as below to Kevin and June's
request for magazine road tests that mention T3 Syncro off road
capabilities.I'm sure there is better knowledge/experience around than
mine which people might like to contribute. You can view the article
on our photos page -perhaps someone can date it - I'm guessing 1990.
> I have also added the 2 page 1990 brochure to the Trakka brochure
album that was previously empty. Interestingly the front page
conversion includes a front spoiler and the back page an "aero hi-top"
fixed roof conversion neither of which I have ever seen in Australia.
I will add all 4 pages of the earlier gold pack brochure shortly
unless Les prefers to beat me to it. (He has already posted page 1
under misc.)
> Must also add my appreciation to those responsible for the photos
already posted on the 2007 syncro tour plus the fine VWA magazine
article.Perhaps our best kept secret is getting out! Had someone leave
a note under my windscreen a couple of days ago offering admiration
and asking if I was interested in selling.
> Cheers
> Roger
> PS the above VWA magazine includes an article on driving what
looks like a large tyred T2 2WD Kombi on Fraser Island.
>
> Dear Kevin & June,
> Sorry it has taken me more than a month to reply - time flies when
you own a Syncro. I've placed on the photos a copy of a "4 Wheeler"
comparison road test between a T3 Syncro Caravelle, Tarago and
Mitsubishi Star Wagon all 4WD versions.Its the only one I have that
really talks about off road performance and even then is somewhat
limited. Comment has been made before that by the time VW realised
what a capable vehicle the T3 syncro was, they were well committed to
the T4 replacement and were loathe to provide T3 test vehicles to the
press. The article does not state it but judging by the aftermarket
spotlights I would guess it was privately provided.I can't tell you
any more about the magazine -the pages were in a sheath of notes that
came with my van from the original owner (Perth based!) I'm guessing
from the pricing it was in the very early 90's but perhaps someone on
this site can provide more information.
> You may have noticed that I placed some beach shots on my"Roger's
WA tour" album. I was stupid enough to be well away from civilisation
on a remote beach east of Esperance and was having some difficulty
getting back over the dunes on the 36/40lbs highway pressures I was
running. Stupid because I didn't have any sort of pump/compressor with
me and therefore I didn't want to let down the tyres. When I did -only
to 25lbs I easily got out first attempt whereas I was digging in and
bogging down before when climbing up the dunes. I think I could safely
go to 16lbs before risking the tyres coming off the rims but with a
few hundred kilometres to go on gravel before being sure of pumping
them up I didn't want to push my luck.From what I've read if you are
really serious on sand you have a decoupler and a fixed (no VC) prop
shaft and probably wider sand oriented tyres. Watch out for tide
changes of course, act responsibly and enjoy the superb experiences
that are possible with a
> good syncro in this great country of ours.
> I'm sure some others can add their experiences.
> Cheers
> Roger
>
>
>
> Send instant messages to your online friends
http://au.messenger.yahoo.com
>

Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com


Switch to Yahoo!7 Mail: Transfer all your contacts and emails from Hotmail and other providers to Yahoo!7 Mail. Switch now

2
Roger,
 
Yeah...the audible warning...it's in the owners handbook....  
I must have read it at some time but obviously forgot about it completely !!
 
Your brochure list is a good piece of history and this will prompt me to go through what I have filed away.  I had intended to do it years ago but soon found that Phill probably had more than the rest of us put together.  But, this is part of the history of the Syncro in Australia and I will now catalogue what I have.  I was interested to see that you have a City Subaru price list.  I have one also and will compare it with yours.  There was one outstanding point in mine: they listed the diff ratios as 4.86 (from memory), which was the same as the 2WD T3.  To my knowledge, we never got that in Australia; they were all 5.43 (from memory).
 
I will get into the pics over the weekend and cull the duplicated.
 
The attitude of VAG to consumer loyalty is utterly incomprehensible.  Protecting their interests in current production models is understandable but jumping on people who are supporting models that have been out of production for decades defies all reason.  They have a logic by-pass in this matter, one which is diametrically opposed to consumer loyalty.
 
Les
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Bell
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: AW: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Driving in Sand and Trakka Brochure

Dear Christoph,
I've now down loaded to the club photos 150dpi versions of this brochure under the Trakka brochures album. I think you will find them more satisfactory to download. I've also posted to the file section a complete list of the T3 (and 1 T2) brochures that I hold. I haven't posted them all to photos as I shouldn't hog all the space (plus its very tedius to do at 150 dpi as I found Yahoo will only work with 1  being posted at a time).
Les if you are reading this you may want to clean out the lower resolution
duplicated Trakka pictures although they do download much quicker. You may also have a view on whether anything else should be posted from my list although when Christoph did previously do this from some of his own collection, VW were apparently not pleased for some strange reason.
Cheers
Roger
PS I reckon Phil must know more about T3's than VW does.I hadn't heard about an audible warning.
 
Christoph Boltze <C.Boltze@gmx. de> wrote:
Hi Roger,

thanks for adding the "Gold Pack" brochure. I have only a 1990 Trakka Volkswagen Carat and Multivan program where the Gold Pack is mentioned with one picture. Can you send me the two Gold Pack pages in a better resolution for my archive?

Thanks ☺

Regards

Christoph Boltze

1985 Caravelle GL syncro

http://www.vwpix. org - http://www.syncro- t3.de





____________ _________ _________ _________ _
Von: Roger Bell [mailto:bellrmit@ yahoo.com. au]
Gesendet: Sonntag, 6. Mai 2007 13:51
An: Syncro_T3_Australia @yahoogroups. com
Betreff: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] Re: Driving in Sand and Trakka Brochure

Dear Andrew,
Didn't your Dad warn you what adversely affects your eyesight!
Have added in the Trakka Bronco brochure plus rear page of the 1990 and the last page of the comparison test all scanned at 100dpi rather than the original 75 that my scanner reckoned was best for internet postings.I'm wary of going too high as they take forever to download. I feel Mark is right suggesting PDF files but at present lack the means/knowledge/ scanner of/to converting them to this format. I think scanning at 100dpi takes the size up enough on the larger picture setting even for someone like myself (who ignored his Dad's warnings) to read.
Just in case I will retype part of the conclusion even if its what we all already know (comparison test was between a Tarago ,Mitsubishi and Caravelle t3 all 4WD's)
"The VW Caravelle Syncro is the best all-round 4WD people mover. Its not the most stylish,the quietest or the quickest, but it does everything an on/off-road people mover should. Those venturing into diff lock country with the VW will embarrass many a square rigged 4WD......... ..."
It was also interesting to read that the VW G ratio was almost as low as the Misubishi's low range 1st gear. or as the article said "Interestingly, there is no off-road compromise we can find in the VW's lack of a low range transfer case."
Cheers
Roger

syncrosity4now wrote:
Any chance of up-sizing the photos/articles as reading the write up is
impossible even for someone as young as me....

Cheers
Andrew

--- In Syncro_T3_Australia @yahoogroups. com, Roger Bell
wrote:
>
> Hi everyone.
> Finally got round to responding as below to Kevin and June's
request for magazine road tests that mention T3 Syncro off road
capabilities. I'm sure there is better knowledge/experienc e around than
mine which people might like to contribute. You can view the article
on our photos page -perhaps someone can date it - I'm guessing 1990.
> I have also added the 2 page 1990 brochure to the Trakka brochure
album that was previously empty. Interestingly the front page
conversion includes a front spoiler and the back page an "aero hi-top"
fixed roof conversion neither of which I have ever seen in Australia.
I will add all 4 pages of the earlier gold pack brochure shortly
unless Les prefers to beat me to it. (He has already posted page 1
under misc.)
> Must also add my appreciation to those responsible for the photos
already posted on the 2007 syncro tour plus the fine VWA magazine
article.Perhaps our best kept secret is getting out! Had someone leave
a note under my windscreen a couple of days ago offering admiration
and asking if I was interested in selling.
> Cheers
> Roger
> PS the above VWA magazine includes an article on driving what
looks like a large tyred T2 2WD Kombi on Fraser Island.
>
> Dear Kevin & June,
> Sorry it has taken me more than a month to reply - time flies when
you own a Syncro. I've placed on the photos a copy of a "4 Wheeler"
comparison road test between a T3 Syncro Caravelle, Tarago and
Mitsubishi Star Wagon all 4WD versions.Its the only one I have that
really talks about off road performance and even then is somewhat
limited. Comment has been made before that by the time VW realised
what a capable vehicle the T3 syncro was, they were well committed to
the T4 replacement and were loathe to provide T3 test vehicles to the
press. The article does not state it but judging by the aftermarket
spotlights I would guess it was privately provided.I can't tell you
any more about the magazine -the pages were in a sheath of notes that
came with my van from the original owner (Perth based!) I'm guessing
from the pricing it was in the very early 90's but perhaps someone on
this site can provide more information.
> You may have noticed that I placed some beach shots on my"Roger's
WA tour" album. I was stupid enough to be well away from civilisation
on a remote beach east of Esperance and was having some difficulty
getting back over the dunes on the 36/40lbs highway pressures I was
running. Stupid because I didn't have any sort of pump/compressor with
me and therefore I didn't want to let down the tyres. When I did -only
to 25lbs I easily got out first attempt whereas I was digging in and
bogging down before when climbing up the dunes. I think I could safely
go to 16lbs before risking the tyres coming off the rims but with a
few hundred kilometres to go on gravel before being sure of pumping
them up I didn't want to push my luck.From what I've read if you are
really serious on sand you have a decoupler and a fixed (no VC) prop
shaft and probably wider sand oriented tyres. Watch out for tide
changes of course, act responsibly and enjoy the superb experiences
that are possible with a
> good syncro in this great country of ours.
> I'm sure some others can add their experiences.
> Cheers
> Roger
>
>
>
> Send instant messages to your online friends
http://au.messenger .yahoo.com
>

Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger .yahoo.com


Switch to Yahoo!7 Mail: Transfer all your contacts and emails from Hotmail and other providers to Yahoo!7 Mail. Switch now

3

Hi Folks,

 

This is a reply I made to some-one who saw my van for sale,  but bought something else, and wanted to know about my hot water system. I thought it may be of general interest, so I’ve copied it here.

 

 

Hi Greg,

 

I’d be interested to hear what you got, and what you paid, for comparison.  Was it a Syncro? If so, you should sign up to the Syncro site.

 

My hot water system is a home made job. You used to be able to get a similar system from Trakka, but the cost was $1000 and they said you really needed to use it with their cold water system, at another $1000.  It started with the hand-washing station that Telstra had installed, although in the end, really all this provided was the T joints in the heater hoses, which could easily be fitted. Just remember, they have to take the full heat and pressure of the vehicle cooling system, and if they fail you could lose an engine. These provided the connection to the heat exchange loop I fabricated as below.

 

I made my own tank from 2 lengths of 6” brass pipe I got from a building wrecker (In retrospect, one may have been enough). Cut them to a suitable size to fit under the van (about 1 metre. Remember to allow sufficient room for your connections). This gives a capacity of about 40 litres (2 x 20 litres). You need pipe rather than a flat fabricated tank, as the water has the potential to boil, and create more pressure than a flat tank could handle.  I then had my local plumber fabricate and weld in end pieces for each tank. One end was blank, the other had a loop of 12mm copper running the length of the tank (with a support at the blank end to stop vibrations and fracture) with the ends protruding about 10cm and with a flare to make sure the heater hoses were secure. Connect these to the hoses from the T pieces in the heater circuit. They should be the right size for the heater hose inside diameter.  I’ve found that no tap was required. There seems to be sufficient circulation to run both the standard heater, and the heat exchanger circuit.  As well as this you need an inlet and outlet pipe (12mm copper) in each tank and I also included a pressure relief valve, but I doubt its effectiveness. In the end, if you have an over pressure situation, it will probably blow off one of your hot water hoses, which is not a catastrophe, as it is isolated from the vehicle coolant circuit. Just make sure all connections and hoses in the coolant circuit are secure.

 

I then inserted a T piece in my cold water supply line (after the pressure pump. I used a good quality Shure pump with pressure switch), and an air reservoir (made from 40mm plastic pipe and fittings) before the 1st  tap to maintain pressure in the system. Plumb this to the hot tank inlet (I used garden hose, but there may be some thing better, as I find I have to retighten the hose clamps periodically). Plumb up your hot taps from the tank outlet, keeping the cold taps as before, and which ever tap you turn on will give the appropriate water. Opening the hot tap releases pressure in the hot tank, allowing cold water to flow in and force the hot water out. Of course, if you are using 2 tanks as I did, you need to connect both the heat exchanger and the hot water circuits in series.

 

That system is 10 years old now, and has given no major problems. It is very effective, heats the water quickly (about 10 -20 minutes), but it gets scalding hot after a long trip.

 

Hope this helps,

 

 

BRIAN REED

FAIRFIELD NATURAL THERAPIES

185 Wingrove St

Fairfield, Vic. 3078

03 9481 5673   0407 319 521