And what are the numbers, Jim? Thanks, Jake
----- Original Message -----
From: "jimt" <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 9:17 AM
Subject: Re: Van Cargo

> I have axel checked more than once as I have made changes on the interior
of
> my van.
> The long of it...
> What is often overlooked is the CB (center of balance) changes on the van
> when you load up.  The weight placard on the early vanagon reflects the
> regular vanagon and not a westy load added to it. (can't say about later
> vans as I only researched out what I considered discrepancies on my own
> van).  This is further off by any cargo and the weight of the pax in the
> vehicle and where they are.  I found a note that in the 80s most mfr used
an
> avg pax weight of 160 lbs each for 4 pax.  This supposedly has been
changed
> to 175 lbs each now. (enjoying that bigmac?)  if you added all that pax
> weight to the empty vehicle balance of weight you have just added avg 640
> lbs forward of the rear axel to be felt mostly on the front axel. Shifts
CB
> about 3 inches further forward.  Add aux battery a tool box and two more
aux
> batteries CB now shifts another 2 inches. Add a camping cargo load to the
> center of the van and possibly put the load on top of the van in the cargo
> carrier and you now shift the CB another 2 inches.  The front axel is now
> the heaviest load by about 2 inches. Inflation needs to be adjusted
> accordingly. (USAF tactical load planning skills put to work)
> jimt
>
> On 8/1/05 9:26 PM, "Jake de Villiers" <crescentbeachguitar@TELUS.NET>
wrote:
>
> > Has anybody out there actually weighed front and rear axles separately?
When
> > I put Dixie (1986 Westy Weekender) over the Washington State truck scale
> > near Everett I was astonished to read 2460 front and 2260 rear with my
wife
> > and myself aboard with stuff  for camping and bluegrass festivals. It
really
> > made me wonder about the 10 psi difference front and rear - of course, I
> > gave up on that a long time ago with my GL as a ticket to terminal
> > understeer.  Seeya, Jake.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Shawn Watson" <shawnw@ULTIMATESUBARU.NET>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 8:19 PM
> > Subject: Re: Van Cargo
> >
> >
> >> I liked what I saw on a Vanagon that had a front mounted bike rack.
> > Pretty
> >> slick looking if you ask me and it kept the rear open for towing,
getting
> >> the hatch open, etc.
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Dennis Haynes [mailto:dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET]
> >> Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 8:16 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Re: Van Cargo
> >>
> >>
> >> I think some alternative solutions include leaving something home or
> > getting
> >> a trailer to haul some of the stuff. If you place a lot of stuff on the
> >> rear, consider what it will do for the rear axle loading. Also, stuff
on
> > the
> >> roof will increase wind resistance and noise and of course reduce fuel
> >> economy.  It sounds as though you are out growing the Westy. Time to
> > design
> >> a stretch version.
> >>
> >> Dennis
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of
> >> Jim Quan
> >> Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 11:19 AM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Van Cargo
> >>
> >> Getting ready to take off on our annual extended Van camping adventure
> >> and need to address some storage issues due to a growing family. We
> >> need to carry one Burley bike trailer, three bikes, two jogging
> >> strollers. Right now I have a Surco rack on Yakima bars on top of the
> >> van and one Yakima Cobra bike carrier. I am thinking of two options:
> >> One is to buy a third Yakima bar and get a Rocket Box, along with
> >> additional bike carriers and the second is to work with Gary Lee and
> >> use a configuration of his rear hatch rack.
> >> Suggestions/comments/alternative solutions?
> >>
> >> JIm
> >> 1991 Syncro Westy
> >>
> >
> >
>