My Vanagon rides like a Caddilac when there's 500-1000 lbs  on the floor
in the middle. I go to Atlanta to buy potter's clay. Three hours over,
three hours back. Going over empty is a rough ride, coming back with a
load is a sweet ride. But then the Vanagon is basically a utility
vehicle and the running gear is configured as such, thus the "truck"
like ride when empty.

Regards,

John Rodgers

Richard Golen wrote:
> Hi,
>
> This weekend my wife, son, two of my son's fellow boy scouts and I
> loaded up our Westy with backpacks, sleeping bags, etc., and headed
> up from coastal Massachusetts to Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire. The
> van was fully loaded with people and gear. Yet we were able to cruise
> at 70 mph and got 21 mpg.
>
> As I was driving home it began to dawn on me that the Vanagon was
> riding "happy"...it was not creaking and groaning, it was moving
> along on the highway, etc....it seemed that it was its "element". As
> I thought about it even more, I realized that my other VW vans had
> the same "behavior" in the past...my 67 Westy and my 93 Eurovan all
> seemed "happy" when fully loaded with family, equipment, etc.
>
> Anyone ever observe this phenomenon?
>
>
> Ric
>
>
> Happy Thanksgiving
>
>