Club 80-90 Forums

Ok, we all know the syncro's are king of the hill in the T25 world when it comes to going off road with having lockable diffs, but you do see T25 2wd's with syncro style off road/mud tyres and lift kits, so how limited are you off road when you do this to a 2wd? are you just able to clear some muddy paths or can you do some mild/medium/serious off roading/overlanding with careful planning and some recovery equipment like waffle boards, winches, tow ropes etc?
I realise your not going to be doing rock crawling, but just wondered how limited you are in actuality, as i have seen some "overland" type 25's that looked like it was a syncro then seen the 2wd sticker, is it just for looks or can you go off road without really worrying about getting stuck?

Off road tyres work wonders off road, 4wd with off road tyres is better.

Bottom line is once you have lost grip on one of your driven 2wd tyres that's it, you are not going anywhere.
So yes you can do lots with good clearance and tyres in a 2WD but its risky because step over the line and you are stuck.

Can you get a lockable rear diff on a 2wd?

Not all Syncros have diff locks (but they do have 4WD).
A good set of AT tyres and a little lift on a 2WD and it'd be a lot of fun off road.

Plenty seem to be doing this just lately so hopefully some will be along to offer firs thand experience.

Bigger tyres and a bit of lift will help you quite a bit, but you'll probably need to some kind of diff lock to your gearbox to go the next stage - either a limited slip differential, a pelonquin, or a Syncro diff-lock.

Dont forget the ZF lsd, as fitted to factory AAR transaxles (there are other codes, check out the data on vwt3.com)
Very sure footed on greasy wet tarmac, it has 40% torque balance so reasonably forgiving and tail-out antics are a rarity.

I personally have a bit of a downer on FWD for ordinary road use based largely on the KISS principle as for most practical purposes it does little to assist a sensible driver in the bulk of our UK driving conditions and simply adds diffs and complication to an already complicated and expensive engineering solution to convey often one and rarely more than four persons on flat Tarmac. Many FWD drivers know little about FWD other than it is supposed to be better, more safe and in any case is more fashionable. The same goes with so called Crossovers. Of course if you like driving off road in challenging conditions and can appreciate the multifarious and innovative engineering solutions to keeping all four wheels in simultaneous slip free traction under all conditions then that is a different matter. Syncro's and many of their more conventional brothers meet this requirement perfectly.
There have been situations however when accessing interesting and remote difficult to reach European destinations in my various camper vans, often towing a boat, where FWD would have eased my shattered nerves. I my latest van - a 2.1DJ WBX - has only one driven axle and notwithstanding the odd "adventure" I am happy with that. I have been tempted however to to carry a 12V winch, cable and hefty stake to enable a more confident approach to that tempting ideal spot for a pitch or perhaps a bit more security on steep slipways. Although...
CS

Hi Guys,

My first post on here although a long-time member from Western Australia, I now own and enjoy a raised, De-coupler and solid shaft modified syncro and its absolutely unstoppable on the beach, still have to deflate tires though.

My previous van was a 1980 A/C 2WD which I had lots of fun with and was surprisingly accomplished on the beach in most conditions except very soft sand and never got into a situation I couldn't self recover (no winch) but believe as a very good alternative, deflating tires, sand ladders and winch the 2WD T3 is a very capable vehicle.

I also have a friend with a 2ltr Bay with LSD and that bus gets everywhere, again with the right recovery gear.

I guess its down to driving skills and technique but if a syncro is financially not an option then get some deflators and compressor, sand ladders and winch and have a great time!!!!!

I have a 2wd doka with 15" merc steels, 215/75/15 BFG tyres and a locking diff fitted by Aidan, it's pretty damned good to be honest. Fair enough it won't do what a full blown syncro will but i've done quite a few green lanes and general mucking about in it and it's coped admirably. It's amazing the ground clearance 25s have even without lift springs and with mine not being a full fat camper I never felt the need. In short i'd highly recommend a locking diff in a 2wd, it transforms it.

The 2wd tonk toy look is very "fashionable" in the VW scene at the moment - especially with a few kits now available.

It used to be fashionable to go as low as you could - now it's gone other way around.

I can see the appeal of both - if only i had enough money for both (I struggle with one at times), and an LT40 tonka toy 4wd is my lottery win van - the one I see at Busfest in the Avon hall displays each year is my ultimate van porn.

Wouldn't fancy it now but we used to go water skiing holidays to bream Sands near Weston Super Mare where the beach is very flat resulting in a long way to the water. Fearful of getting stranded recovering the boat I would use a 100 metre line from the trailer with a loop which would be slipped onto the tow ball as the van - a bedford CF - would be thrashed along the beach using the momentum to snatch the boat and trailer out of the soft sand.

Not a job for a crouded beach but very effective for 2WD vehicles.
CS