Yeah there is definitely a psychological component to perception when it
comes to this stuff as well, but filling the interior room of the van with
people and stuff is a good demonstration of the NVH rule of thumb which has
mass being the most effective tool in noise control. However, try peeling
down an off or on ramp with the same vanload of folks and you quickly
discover some other principles that apply when adding lot's of mass to
something. I wonder what would happen if you filled a van with a foot of
jello and let it gel, then drove it.

Jim

Bostig Engineering
Engine Systems Voodoo
http://www.bostig.com/
617.272.3800

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Lincoln [mailto:magikvw@GMAIL.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 12:52 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Does your Vanagon "ride happy"

This also occurs after washing, oil changes, adding new "gadgets", and
generally knowing that you are driving your beloved beast for its intended
purpose (kniwing you have a few days off work helps too).

On 11/21/06, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> RE: Ride Happy
> I've had the same experience when loaded heavy.  A couple of times a year
> I
> load a bunch (I mean a whole lot) of astronomy equipment into my '90 Westy
> for about a three hour trip to a location in Eastern Washington.  Most of
> the distance is on the freeway, I-90.  And I always notice how nice the
> ride
> is and also how quiet because the back end is completely full, to the top,
> with scope and equipment cases.
>

--
Thanks,

Jeff
90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot of work)
86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90')
85' GL (sidelined but to be resurrected in the near future)