Simon.
Good pic, really shows the spoiler does work!

The front end does look lower on the westy.

Could the extra battery and seat swivels make that much difference?

The center bench seat in the 7 passenger is no lightweight either.

Doug

 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Simon Reinhardt 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 4:23 PM
  Subject: Re: [Syncro] Re: Why are campers higher at the rear?

  Sure, the winch may be a factor (don't get me started on the way the
  P.O. mounted that!), but what about the other campers I've seen with a
  similar inclination?
  I'm sure the extra weight of the cabinets will compress everything, but
  I would expect a more even keel, especially since the fronts can't be
  substantially weaker/more compressible than the rears, given that the
  Vanagon's main cargo area is the middle. I've loaded that camper down
  heavily before- all in the middle- and the rear settled more than the
  front.
  "But Simon, the rears are stiffer than the fronts because of the
  engine's weight!"- No, stiffness and height are not necessarily
  entwined.
  Here, look at this:

  http://www.farrside.net/vanagon/windtests.jpg

  Notice the Westy is the only one with a tilt?

  -Simon

  On Jun 10, 2004, at 5:07 PM, cz1137 wrote:

  > Simon,
  >
  > Those measurements of yours seem to be what I would expect
  > considering that the camper cabinets and top are going to compress
  > the springs arcoss the board, and that winch you got mounted waaaay
  > out in front is going to compress the front springs even more.  I
  > think you will find that both of those vans have the same springs,
  > it's just the extra parts on the camper that are changing it's
  > attitude.
  >
  > Cory