Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 10:27:32 -0400
Reply-To: Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Some ride height and suspension observations..
On Mon, 3 Sep 2007 21:23:29 -0700, Jake de Villiers
<crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>Don, you might find it very educational to weigh your van on the nearest
>highway scale, front first, then the total.
>
>There is a surprisingly high front weight bias on the Vanagon which
accounts
>for the pathetic traction in slippery conditions. If you have any ideas on
>how to rectify that be sure to post them.
>
Last March I had occasion to weigh my '90 Westfalia Syncro. All cargo was
removed, the water tank was empty, the propane tank was full, and the driver
(190#) was in the vehicle. Assuming that the weight of the driver is
carried almost entirely by the front axel (seems likely), and subtracting
that weight from the weight recorded for the front axel, the results were
as follows: Front 2230#(1014kg), Rear 2160#(982kg). That's 50.8% front,
49.2% rear, and remember, this is a syncro with the additional weight of
the differential up front. In this example, to achieve equal loading of
the axels only requires moving 35#(16kg) from the front axel to the rear
axel. I should think a two-wheel drive Westy is slightly weight biased in
the rear, but not by much.
When loaded with water and gear for camping, the front/rear weight bias
shifts to the rear, but as yet I have not stopped at the scales on the way
out of town when on the way camping.
I have had occasion to drive off the main roads when the prop shaft was
removed, and have found the syncro quite capable in this two-wheel drive
mode (no specifically off-road tire--14" Michelin LTX). Due to the
availability of the granny gear, and the differential lock when needed,
steeper hills having a moderate amount of loose gravel and rock were no
problem. However, being used to a syncro, I didn't push my luck exploring
this two-wheel drive mode. I have not had the prop shaft removed for
winter driving in snow, but previous experience in two-wheel drive Vanagons
has informed me that the Vanagon is better than most rear-wheel drive
vehicles in snow, due mostly, I believe, to the lack of power and torque;
this lack of power and torque, which is often considered a failing in the
Vanagon, is your friend in snow.
Bill
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