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wcdennis
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2004
Posts: 955
Location: Winston-Salem NC
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 Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Weight |
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| Merian wrote: |
| Or DOT says their scales are calibrated periodically and are good to 20 lbs. |
OK I started adding up the weight of all the possible extras in a Syncro Westy, including all the popular add-ons (like auxillary batteries, solar panels, heavy bumpers, roof racks, etc) plus a generous amount of gear and food for two people, then add a full fresh water tank and fuel tank-- and I got pretty close to the extra 2K lbs you would need to make a 5200 lb Syncro Westy. I don't think my 2wd has ever been close to that, but now I'm a believer and I understand why some of you stress so much about tire ratings. |
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desert westy
Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2011
Posts: 103
Location: Twentynine Palms, Ca
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 8:28 am Post subject: Re: Weight |
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| We have a truck scale at work. My 84 Westy weighs about 3600# without all the gear. Weight for the front wheels and rear wheels is split evenly until I get in to drive making the front heavier than the rear. |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 10:30 am Post subject: Re: Weight |
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| wcdennis wrote: |
| I have a reprint of a review of my 84 Westy that lists the weight as 3370. Hard to imagine how passengers, fuel and gear can make up 2100 pounds. I wonder if those truck scales are not very accurate at the 4-5k range, since they are made to weigh much heavier vehicles. |
3370 lbs. is the weight of an empty tintop Vanagon: your Westy weighs more like 4200 lbs. empty.
Highway scales, dump scales and yard scales all report similar weights.
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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Jon_slider
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2007
Posts: 5091
Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Weight |
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Once you know your ACTUAL axle weights, you can make an informed decision about proper inflation for the actual load.
as you can see here, out of 33 Vans reporting:
http://www.roadhaus.com/tires/load.html
"24% were loaded over the spec limits
67% of vehicles have more weight on front axle than the rear axle."
if somebody wants help with proper load inflation, Im happy to help.. if you PM me your actual axle weights, and your actual tire specs (max load, and max PSI)
or you can calculate for yourself.. here are some rules of thumb (better accuracy from Load Tables, but this will get you close, and err on the high side)
data for my 87 Syncro Westy, actual truck scale weight, with 245x75x16 BFG AT KO tires, and me in the driver seat.
front axle 2300 pounds
rear axle 2700 pounds
tires rated for 3042 pounds at 80 PSI
example calculations
calculate front wheel load
2300/2= 1150 pounds
add 20% safety margin: 1150x1.2=1380
calculate inflation 1380/3042x80=36 psi front
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My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4798
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 1:17 pm Post subject: Re: Weight |
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that's cool, Jon. i know nothing about tire loading... does it really work in a linear relationship like that? if so, a great way to figure psi to run at!
-dan |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: Weight |
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| Tire pressures are a bit subjective. I have run 27x8.5R14's on both my 91 Multivan and my 83 1/2. On the Multivan 2 psi below the numbers on the sticker worked pretty well front and rear, whereas for my 83 1/2 I end up running the front 4 psi below the sticker number to lessen the understeer while keeping the rear at the pressure on the sticker. |
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Jon_slider
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2007
Posts: 5091
Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: Weight |
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| DanHoug wrote: |
that's cool, Jon. i know nothing about tire loading... does it really work in a linear relationship like that? if so, a great way to figure psi to run at!
-dan |
no
Load tables are more optimistic than the linear math I prefer to use. Load tables alocate about 10-20% of the load capacity to the empty tire carcass
so my linear math is more conservative, and produces higher inflation targets than the load tables
and, after calculating load inflation, I often use an extra 5psi, IF I feel the van is too "soft" and has too much body roll.
and, If the van oversteers, I change the relationship between front and rear inflation (using more air in back than in front)
start with the tire inflation targets on your doorjamb.. then drive test
note that doorjamb inflations are NOT the same for front and rear.. I do NOT like using equal front and rear pressures, due to not liking oversteer...
front and rear axle weights have a LOT to do with what pressures are actually needed
weigh your Van! then decide what the minimum safe inflation is
bear in mind that doorjamb inflations are for GVWR.. IF the van is overloaded door jamb pressures may be too low
at the other extreme, overinflation produces uncomfortable ride, banging over lane dots and road seams..
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My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco |
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AndyBees
Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 2332
Location: Southeast Kentucky
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Weight |
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FWIW, my 84 Tin-top with TDI engine (15" steel rims 215/75/15 tires) , weighs 3,640 with me in it and about a half tank of fuel..... local recycler's scales!
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. |
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