I don't know about the later loafs, but the manual from my 71 westy says:
empty - 3228 lbs
Max GVW - 4828 lbs
GAW 2226front 2602rear
With me and some stuff as below about 3550 lbs
Ground clearance - 7.3"
turning circle - 40'
1st gear x final drive = 20.425:1
multiply this by 60 horsepower = 1225 at the tires in 1st
divide by 3550 to get .345 abitrary traction units/pound at the tires in 1st.

And my 83 Vanagon Westy doorjamb sticker says
empty - ? lbs
Max GVW - 5160 lbs
GAW 2425front  2866rear
With me, some odds and ends, and a partial tank of gas the Vanagon weighed
4000lbs on the scales at the dump.
Ground clearance - 7.4"
turning circle - 35'
1st gear x final drive = 18.3708:1
multiply this by 82 horsepower = 1506 at the tires in 1st
divide by 4000 to get .377 abitrary traction units/pound at the tires in 1st.

So that should help to clarify things (you like my twisted math ?;-)).

The Vanagon is heavier, has about the same weight distribution, and has
slightly *more* ground clearance, has a wider track by 8", and turns tighter.
The body is 6" longer, 3" taller and 3" wider.
The wheelbase is 2.3" longer and about 8" wider.

Horsepower and torque are up about 30% from the 1600dp, but the difference is
much smaller when compared as power to weight ratios.
59 lbs/hp in 71 versus 49 lbs/hp in 83

My college mechanics teacher would slap me silly if he saw this...

Miguel

Jim A wrote:
>
> I beg to differ...  My experience tells me that the Vanagon is lighter, not
> heavier.  That would be in keeping with engineering advances made over the
> years.  I suspect that if one put a couple of sacks of sand in the back they
> just might get through some of the rough stuff.
>
> Jim Arnott
> WetWesties
> Union, OR