Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2004 12:28:45 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Weight Capacity
In-Reply-To: <000301c4ca63$120e5a00$e9005f44@nonek29x6exon9>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
Hi Stan,
What we learn from that story is a lesson about the relationship between
road conditions and load capacity.If you're going to put a ton of cargo into
a vehicle, you should be careful about the route you choose, with careful
consideration paid to grade, surface and traffic. But if all else is in in
spec, a Vanagon should be good for a load of about 1800 lbs.
With a full load on you can't drive the same as you would empty. You need
more stopping distance, and it won't corner as well. But that's not to say
IT won't be safe if it's driven within its limits. If you're offended by the
thought of not cruising at 75MPH on the interstate with this load on, then
by all means get yourself down to U-haul and rent a cargo truck. But it
won't go 75 MPH either, they put governors on them to save on insurance
losses from the people who don't know better.
There are a LOT of drivers on the road who won't accept the performance of a
fully-loaded Vanagon. And there are a lot of Vanagons out there that are not
capable of carrying a full load of cargo due to rust, under-spec tires and
neglect. But that's not the Vanagon's fault. If the vehicle has been looked
after it should be able to manage.
A few years ago I carried a TON of cement paving stones in my dual-carbed
1.7L aircooled 1973 westy, (with some interior cabinets removed) and it
accellerated like a snail on valium. That's what the emergency flashers are
there for. The suspension did not bottom, and the brakes did not fail. It
did the job, and I'd do it again tomorrow if there was a need. YMMV.
Have you ever pulled up next to a loaded 18-wheeler at a stoplight? They
don't accelerate very fast. They don't stop on a dime, either. But the
people who drive them learn to operate safely within their limits. Not
everyone can drive an 18-wheeler safely, and the same applies to Vanagons,
Baywindows and any other vehicle on or off the road. The roadways are a
public resource, and we all pay for the right to use them according to our
needs.
Happy trails,
Greg Potts
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato** LY3H with 2L L-Jet FI
1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
http://www.busesofthecorn.com
On 11/14/04 11:00 AM, "Stan Wilder" <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
> I love the story about the fellow that found lots of nice clean bricks at
> the landfill and loaded up a bunch to build a patio.
>
> He was careful not to get too many and although he quit at about three
> layers thick in the rear floor space his van wouldnąt move from the spot in
> the soft soil he was parked.
>
> Seems his clutch would just slip and the van wouldnąt move out of its own
> depressions in the soil.
>
> He concluded that the failure of his clutch was a safety factor so you
> wouldnąt be killing yourself or anyone else when the overloaded van wouldnąt
> stop.
>
> Stan Wilder
> High Performance Ceramic Coatings
> www.engineceramics.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Robert Campbell
> Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2004 9:46 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Weight Capacity
>
>
>
> Volks,
>
> I just took some stuff the landfill yesterday.... I was weighed going in and
> out....
>
> Going in, I was 4400 lbs -- leaving, I was 3900 pounds. So, if you
> substract my wieght (200 lbs), the weight of my 1991 Carat (Automatic,
> non-camper), is: 3700 pounds.
>
> Your results may vary.....
>
> -Robert
>
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> Received: Sun, 14 Nov 2004 10:21:25 AM EST
> From: Robert Cardo <rrecardo@WEBTV.NET>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Weight Capacity
>
>
>
> Dennis,
> I'm curious,
> What is the actual GVWR of any Vanagon?
> The Syncro only has heavier rated springs.
> The hubs and axles are not any beefier.
> Same thing with a Westfalia.
> It isn't any different than a GL in weight carrying capacity.
> And now your talking about a worn out vehicle with the springs that came
> on it when it was built, and more than likely only 3/4th's of the
> original ride height.
> I'd like to see this Van carrying 1800 lbs.
> The rocker panels will be scraping the asphalt clean, or polishing the
> tops of the wheel wells.
>
> RC
>
> ---"Typically, the Westies have room for ~1,400 pounds and passenger
> vans ~ 1,800 pounds. Make sue the tires are rated at or above the axle
> ratings.
> Dennis"---
>
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