Date:         Wed, 31 Mar 2004 23:25:25 -0500
Reply-To:     Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      center of gravity and handling in wind  (was RE: On the issue of
              Drag Coefficient, etc.
In-Reply-To:  <005b01c4171d$6c3f6180$65f3cf42@intrstar.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

With a bunch more highway driving in the past week, I'm finding that the van
is noticeably more difficult to handle with a truck around 50-100 feet in
front of it.  At that distance, the wind from the truck is a problem, and
I've taken to slowing down to get the trucks further away.  I don't know if
that was the case before I put the boat on.

I don't carry notably heavy stuff in the rear.  I don't have a rear seat.
Sitting on the back part of the lower bed I have clothing and a cooler (the
latter sort of heavy, but not overwhelmingly).  In front I have the Optima
battery, at least as heavy as the cooler. I don't think it's a center of
gravity issue.

I've been told (by the mechanics in Raleigh NC who worked on my brakes to
deal with the smell) that my handling problems may be due to my tires, which
are car tires, not truck tires.  When I need to replace the tires, I'll go
through the archives on that subject - until then, I'm avoiding truck
slipstreams.  (I nearly got wiped off the road by one today - but I was on
my bicycle.)


Joy


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Joy Hecht
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
and Henrietta, sad-eyed orangutan who waltzes with Matilda and me
and Bicycle and Kayak, who ride on Matilda

For musings about life and the vanadventures:
http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Harold Harper
> Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 7:41 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: On the issue of Drag Coefficient, etc.
>
>
> I have an '82 Westy that I bought about 6 months ago and has not been my
> daily drive for several reasons, but my usual daily drive ('90
> Subaru Justy)
> is out of service for about a week causing me to drive the Westfalia. Last
> week during windy weather I noticed that it steered with difficulty and I
> attributed the problem to the wind as someone else on the list posted. But
> for the last couple of days I have driven the Westy in almost no wind
> conditions and noticed that the front wheels feel very light
> while steering.
> What brought this post up was the post by Joy Hecht of Tuesday,
> March 30 in
> which she commented on steering problems with her Westy with the
> boat on top
> which she attributed to the wind. But in looking at the profile picture of
> Joy's Westy without the boat on top on her web site (her latest entry) it
> appears that her Westy shows signs of a slight "squat " in the rear as if
> she, like me, carries a lot of "stuff" under the rear seat which
> could cause
> the Westy to be tail heavy or otherwise out of balance. I should note that
> my driving involves no additional passengers nor do I have an aux. battery
> behind the driver's seat as added ballast up front. Any comments about
> finding the center of gravity in a Westy, or such comments re handling
> problems?
>
> Harold W. Harper
> 2868 Beatty's Bridge Road
> Atkinson, N.C. 28421-9372
> (910) 283-1232
>