Worried about HIlls in Europe

[mouseboycheese]

Hi guys,

We're doing a trip of Europe in our T25 1982 German Import diesel 1600cc orange transporter, and was a bit worried about the hill situation. Has anyone got any advise for a beginner Europe Van traveller? Are the mountain routes really bad? Will I be ok if i stay on the motorways and toll routes? Is there a good website to find out the best routes round Europe?? We're basically taking Dover to Calais, then coast of france, spain, portugal, italy and switzerland (though i'm considering looping around them due to mountains etc) germany luxemburg belgium........ Any advise would be greatly appreciated....

[citydreams]

not sure mate, but can I slipstream behind you? I'll give you a little nudge now and again if you start going backwards.

[v-lux]

Going right up over the pyrenees can be pretty taxing on the these lil engines, but if yours is in good shape i wouldn't worry about it. Andorra has some seriously steep climbing!

Some of my most memorable bits of driving are the twisty winding roads around the mountains. Certainly beats the monotony of the toll roads.

However, the toll roads are well worth it when you want to get some miles in, hardly any traffic, no roundabouts, and theyre not really expensive either.
Certainly well worth the money opposed to messing around on the other roads.

I would play it by ear, choose when you want to get some where in a hurry, and other times when you want some amazing scenery.

[peasant]

The 1600 cc 50HP diesel will tackle any hill. Just keep it on the "sweet spot", don't over-rev and don't labour it either.

Your main problem will be the speed at which you find that spot. On a very steep hill, that could very well be 1st gear. Even a steep motorway incline could see you dropping down to second, if neccesary ...and that's where it stops being funny.

If you're almost parked while everybody else is zooming past and coming up from behind at full whack ...that's scary.

My old 50hp diesel did this bit (Timmelsjoch) no problem ...just took some time

[img:600:453]http://www.sportiversum.de/foto/thumbs/600/249.jpg[/img]

[scrumpy jack]

don`t loop around switzerland we have plenty of 1600 buses here, there is also big tunnels that go under the big mountains if you don`t fancy driving over them. When you thinking of comming ? there are some good vw shows here. Who cares if your slow you´re on holiday

[ermie571]

Hi - is it a 1600 diesel...or are we talking 1600 Aircooled (1982 - did the diesels come in that early?)

Em
x

[Grun]

Errrmmm,
Em,

We're doing a trip of Europe in our T25 1982 German Import diesel 1600cc orange transporter

My 1600cc Aircooled Bay did all sorts of hills around Europe, Alps, Pyrenees, but that was in the days when petrol was 60 pence a gallon in UK and I was fit enough to cycle up the Simplon pass from Brig to the summit, just to have a lager at the top and admire the view.
Happy days.

Mike
x

[oorwullie]

don`t loop around switzerland we have plenty of 1600 buses here, there is also big tunnels that go under the big mountains if you don`t fancy driving over them. When you thinking of comming ? there are some good vw shows here. Who cares if your slow you´re on holiday

who are you sir? sounds like you have some good advice to give.

you coming over to linus's party this sunday?

[AngeloEvs]

Long slow hills in Northern Spain (Galicia) into Portugal even on motorways. We just went up them slow and steady,no problem. Don't know about the 1.6 VW diesel but our van had a thermostatically controlled cooling fan so I fitted a manual over ride switch and got the engine temperature down before reaching the long uphill sections.

[b1llyf1sh]

We're doing the same thing this year in a 2 litre Aircooled poptop. We're heading down the east coast, Belgium, Alsace, Switzerland, stopping around the Grenoble area and the Ardeche before coming back up the west coast and La Rochelle into Normandy and home. We did a similar route last year in the car and despite having only had the van since february, see no reason why we won't make it. It will be slow though but who cares when you're having so much fun. Go for it I say

[ginge]

theywere made to do it so just drive them on at there own speed

[scrumpy jack]

don`t loop around switzerland we have plenty of 1600 buses here, there is also big tunnels that go under the big mountains if you don`t fancy driving over them. When you thinking of comming ? there are some good vw shows here. Who cares if your slow you´re on holiday

who are you sir? sounds like you have some good advice to give.

you coming over to linus's party this sunday?

off to walensee this weekend, have to party another time have fun

[oorwullie]

i didn't go either. and it's another hot and sunny day here,

[oorwullie]

i'll be gong up some hlls out of here and into france tomorrow. thought i'd play safe and take one of my bays.

[Other-Power]

Hi guys,

We're doing a trip of Europe in our T25 1982 German Import diesel 1600cc orange transporter, and was a bit worried about the hill situation.

I have run a 1.6 n/a diesel westy and I would suggest running a separate switch from the radiator fan to the dash to override the thermostat to preempted a possible over heating situation!

Keep an eye on the heat of the engine when hitting big hills.

Make sure the engine oil is changed before you leave.

If you think the engine is likely to over heat, put the heaters on and if they go cold, stop.

Jon