Dumb question about ground clearance.

[Towel Rail]

Hey all,

What's the correct way to measure ground clearance? The Thing brochure tells us that a Thing has 8.1" when fully loaded. When empty, mine measures roughly 12" from the battery tray to the ground. My tires are roughly stock diameter and it looks normal, I think.

With an 800 lb payload, will it really sink 4" or am I forgetting something here?

Thanks,
Scott
_________________
1974 Thing -- under the knife
1967 Beetle -- spring/summer/fall driver
1996 Subaru OBW (EJ22, 5-speed, AWD) -- winter car, 3-seasons "don't feel like biking today" car

049 > 070 > 053 > 009

[Ian Epperson]

As I understand it, in a stock Thing, the muffler hangs down lower than anything in the car. This may be what the brocure refers to.

[74 Cosa]

My guess is the lowest hanging part of the vehicle dictates the true ground clearance. That could be the front beam, shock mount, exhaust or the engine bottom case.