Looks to me like you should just select 2 Vanagons with the basic same
engines.
One a Westy and one a standard 7 person hauler and run them 100 miles down
the same road.
Since the Westy has all that top and added homestead hardware it should get
you a pretty good "efficiency" comparison.
I know when I unloaded my Westy in an effort to sell it the Westy one sided
sag righted itself and the van drove with more weight on the front steering
and drove better, accelerated better, stopped better and finally it sold
better.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Connolly, Aircooled.Net" <john@AIRCOOLED.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 3:36 PM
Subject: Re: How much fuel efficiency gained by shedding 300 lbs?

> My goodness you guys, nobody is thinking, and I can't sit quietly any
> longer!
>
>  The mass of the vehicle does not change the wind resistance, or the MPG,
on
> the highway. Stop and go or big hills is another story, but on flat ground
> at steady speed the van could be 6 tons and you'd get the same MPG.
>
> At steady speed you are not accellerating the mass, you are only pushing
the
> wind out of the way, so mass doesn't matter.
>
> John
> Aircooled.Net Inc.