I hauled about 800 lbs of old bus parts down from Boston a couple years ago
with my '85 Vanagon.  It rode nicer and the power seemed to be the same even
going up hills.  I did get some severe bucking on the trip home (of course
you get engine problems with a ton of stuff sitting over the engine
compartment).  I drove it all the way back to Jersey missing and carrying on.
 The mpg went down to 12 :(  Got home and found that the ground strap on the
motor had broken (probably got hit with some ice in the snow storm we drove
through) and was causing the computer to go haywire.  Replaced the strap and
unfouled my plugs and she ran sweet up until I sold the motor.
Ken Wilford
Van-Again
John 3:16