Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (November 2000, week 2)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Tue, 14 Nov 2000 19:25:14 -0800
Reply-To:     Undetermined origin c/o LISTSERV administrator
              <owner-LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Comments:     RFC822 error: <W> Incorrect or incomplete address field found and
              ignored.
Comments:     RFC822 error: <W> Incorrect or incomplete address field found and
              ignored.
Comments:     RFC822 error: <E> Mail origin cannot be determined.
Comments:     RFC822 error: <E> Original tag data was -> mwsnow
From:         Undetermined origin c/o LISTSERV administrator
              <owner-LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Subject:      Re: The Spring is Sprug (Westy Springs)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

There is a very noticable difference between the passenger model and camper springs. My experience is a bit of apples vs. oranges, but not so much that it doesn't pertain. I have a 1983 ASI camper that is built on a passenger model van. The kitchen and cabinetwork are very similar in size and weight to a Westfalia. To its credit, the ASI has the propane tank mounted under the right side and interior cabinets on both sides of the van. The cabinets are "thinner", so the rear seat/bed is the same size as in a Westy.

The van seems to be better balanced than my 1982 Westfalia and does not lean, even with the weak springs. On the downside, the passenger springs are not up to the task of carrying a loaded camper. Even with new shocks, the suspension flexes way too deeply on small dips in the road. One company that makes coil springs for race cars says that the spring rate does not change over time, but the length gets shorter. My van rides nearly identically in height to a very clean 1982 passenger model van owned by my friend's sister, so my springs are not overly compressed for their age.

I would like very much to have a set of camper springs for this van. It would be a great improvement in handling and comfort. I have no experience with air springs, but they seem like an unnecessary complication to me (flame bait for sure).

Mike Snow

Rich Propsom wrote: > <<snip>> > > A check at a local salvage yard came up with regular vanagon springs for > about 35 bucks a pop. Their concern is they may be to light for the > Westy. My question to the group is will it be that noticeable? Granted > the Westy is the heavy weight because of the camping gear, but isn't that > somewhat offset by the smaller number of people it normally > carries. Considering that I normally never haul more than 4 people or 2 > people with gear, would the 7 passenger springs be that under sprung. What > about the 7 passenger springs with that air bag everyone seems to be trying > out? > <<snip>>


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.