Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2007 12:41:13 -0400
Reply-To: Jason Willenbrock <pooncerelli@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jason Willenbrock <pooncerelli@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Weight is not great..
In-Reply-To: <000801c77606$0454dbe0$3496fea9@dhanson>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
i prolly tote atleast 300 extra pounds when I travel. Not only do i have a
second batt, full water tank, full fridge(beer). But I always travel with
my two big dogs,their food, cooking equip, camping gear, spare tools, spare
parts, two spare tires (its a syncro and i do some deep back country), jerry
can full of gas,and a winch. I hear what you are saying, it adds up quick.
Not sure what I would shave off, all my spare parts, tools, ect... have
certainly came in handy in the past and I would hate to fry an altenator 100
miles from no where with out a spare. But thats just me. I guess I could
be smarter on not so deep trips and shave some gear here and there. losing
an extra hundred pounds would be sweet
thanks for bringing this up as we typically don't think about the weight
factor (except when backpacking and your back becomes the van...)
jason
87 syncro westy
so many roads to ease my soul...
>From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
>Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Weight is not great..
>Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2007 08:37:39 -0700
>
>Ok, something that is well known but widely ignored is that the rolling
>weight of your vehicle is a big contributor to it's speed and it's economy.
> I read of people on the list who just seem to 'pile on' the extra stuff
>into/onto their vanagons. Every 10 lbs makes a difference, and it is easy
>to forget that it all adds up quickly, bit by bit. As I build my own
>current ride, I've been trying to keep in mind how many new lbs. each
>addition will make. I've already lost few mpg. with the addition of a
>partial Westy interior, a full water tank, extra battery and the propane.
> It's real easy to forget, though, and it's tempting to think.."Hey, it'd
>be nice to have a _____ along. Maybe I should find one on the Samba and
>stick that in here, too" It's easy to let things 'build-up" inside, too.
>A few days back I was under my fold down seat/bed and found some extra tire
>chains (about 20#} and some carpentry tools (another 50#) I had my bikes
>in there and 50# of dog food, plus a full water tank and other 'stuff'.
>Every start, stop, change of direction, I was 'moving' that un-needed
>weight around, wasting energy and using up fuel and time..
> After racing a Porsche for a few years ( ran out of $) I learned that
>even 10lbs extra has a quantifiable effect on how well the vehicle
>works..Just something to keep in mind as you pack up for spring vacation or
>do your 'renovation' to your vans...Surprisingly, adding horsepower is much
>less effective at helping performance than subtracting weight. So maybe
>next time you get passed on the interstate, don't mutter about the
>underpowered engine, think about what kinda load you may have aboard..
> Don Hanson
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