Date:         Sat, 18 Dec 2004 18:06:34 -0500
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Don't do this at home
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

After some mid-morning work (putting a new drive shaft into my 6
cylinder Subaru SVX powered Westy), it was off to Lowe's to pick up my
special order of ceiling tiles. Oh, I also fixed a tail light on the
trailer I was hauling.

So I get to Lowe's. I'm figuring 100 boxes (my order) was going to come
on two pallets. Yes, it did. I figured one pallet would go on the
trailer, and I'd stick most of the rest of the 2nd pallet in to the
Westy. But, there was one little issue. I figured the weight of each
box would be somewhere around 20 pounds. It was really 32 pounds.

My trailer capacity is 1500 pounds. Single axle. And due to the fork
lift they have, we couldn't put the pallet directly on the trailer. We
had to put the individual pieces on. Not having brought straps, that
meant I could only neatly accomodate 47 boxes (1500 pounds, more or
less). 53 boxes went into the westy (folded the rear seat down, they
neatly slid right in. )

I've upgraded this Vanagon in many ways. Bigger wheels and tires.
Stiffer shocks. Stronger springs. Upgraded brakes. 6 cylinder engine.

So my stops were a little longer (I didn't want the stuff in the van
sliding forward). Otherwise I was able accelerate faster than a stock
waterboxer and an empty van. 3200 pounds of weight (inside and
trailered). No problem at all.

Man, I >LOVE< this Subaru engine.