good one,
I'll take a jab at an answer at the risk of being completely wrong for the
very first time (grin)

The Syncro has the fuel tank moved from behind the front wheels to above the
trans, that should help to keep 50/50

Ever wonder how a 2wd vanagon can hold a 50/50 with the engine and trans in
the back? well let see you've got the battery and radiator and radio up
front......hmmm.

Having cut up a vanagon I can TELL you there is A LOT of metal in the front
of a vanagon. SO MUCH metal that you will almost wish you NEVER decided to
try to cut one up to scrap it.

Lastly, could the higher psi specs for the rears be reflective of a full
load on board? and that would not be distributed 50/50?

Even a 7 passenger van fully loaded with luggage in the back and 3 adults in
the back would likely tip the scales bais to the rear?

The middle 2 pass  bench would put passengers more rearward a bit over the
jumps.

Good question, I will be interested in hearing the answer.

Pretty fantastic specs when the vanagon came out showing 90+mph with a 1 ton
on board.

VW spent more to develop the vanagon than any other project to date or was
it combined projects. I belive 10M.

Doug

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2005 7:00 PM
Subject: On weight

> So, as I've been trying out these Bridgestone tires on my Westy,
> something occurred to me as a subject to ponder in the dark of the
> night.
>
> Everyone will admit that the Vanagon has a near perfect 50/50 weight
> distribution. I've, of course, several Syncros, which might bias the
> weight barely forward (but perhaps not).
>
> When only a driver is in the vehicle, the driver is right above the
> front wheels. Even with a full passenger load, the folks are either on
> top of the front wheel, or between the front and rear wheels.
>
> So why, invariably do the tire inflation specs have higher pressure to
> the REAR on Vanagons?
>
>
>
> Kim Brennan
> 86 Syncro. 91 Westy Syncro. 90 Tristar
> Vienna VA. Sugar Grove WV.