How much does your van weigh?

[jage]

Originally Posted by maxacceleration

I can't believe the denial on this site on over loading and over weighting your (lifted) vehicles.
Its not common sense fellas.

I have yet to weigh my van full, it keeps freezing and I need to fill the water tank and get some gear in there- but I am interested in doing so from all the discussion. That said, I'm not going to freak out just because it's over an arbitrary number that has an unknown safety factor, both based on engineering calculations about an E350, not my exact heavily modified van.

I already know how the van drives and am comfortable with street driving in lifted vehicles, and I'd say it's as safe as either of my other vehicles, safer if you count how I drive it because it's more dangerous. (That made sense...)

It's not a number to be ignored, but it's not some absolute value that automatically ensures a failure if exceeded. Bad idea? Probably. But my opinion rests partially on having not gotten actual weight for my own van, so admittedly there is bias present.

I don't give a shit what carringb says.

So, so, so want to sig that, but he's already misrepresented in my siggy. (and I do find him a valuable and encyclopedic wealth of knowledge...)

With that, I'm going to go back to driver, driver, driver and add this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw7VpWPt ... ure=fvwrel

[carringb]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

You're right, I was talking about loaded 15 passenger vans, because they have the biggest risk of rollover. Compared to them our SMB's are safer and have less risk of rollover.

Mike

What is your evidence to suggest the SMBs are safer?

For one, 15 passenger vans are not the most dangerous for rollovers. Nearly all SUVs and most pickups are worse. 15 passenger vans are the worst from the standpoint of "the rollover risk increases the most when fully loaded" but that is mostly because the weight change is so dramatic. That said, the tires on most SMBs have much less on-pavement traction than the highway tires on a stock van, which will make it more likely to slide instead of tip. But there's a trade-off. The reduced traction could affect your ability to avoid a collision in the first place.

Most SMBs even unloaded weigh more than a loaded 15 pass van, and depending on the configuration, could have a higher cG. I think it's especially important to know the loaded weights of your vans, so you are not overloading components, and you can address the deficiencies accordingly. Some components, like the semi-float Dana 60, do not gracefully when overloaded. Many SMBs could be over the rating for that axle. Tires also don't fail well. Aftermarket rims are also a subject of concern, because many are not rated high enough for the weight carried or tire pressure in the tires.

Clearly MaxAcceleration disagrees with me about how to mitigate the hazards (don't do it vs. upgrade it) but I think we both agree that driving down the road ignorantly unaware of how much your rig weighs is very unsafe. Clearly, most of you are not wiling to give up your rigs because they weigh in over sticker (even empty) but by knowing your weights, you can at least begin do address some of those overloaded components.

BTW - If my grossly overloaded van (according to original sticker), which has been upgraded to match or better all components of the 12,500 GVWR cutaway chassis, can stop shorter and out-maneuver a stock van running at GVWR, is the stock non-overloaded van really safer?

[carringb]

PS - Proof vans can drift

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54Ss6puVVg

[Ford_6L_E350]

Awsome! He must have a Line-Lock on it so he can burn down the rears without moving.

Mike

[carringb]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

Awsome! He must have a Line-Lock on it so he can burn down the rears without moving.

Mike

All it takes as a little braking with your left foot.

[dhally]

Actual Scale weight: 7,300 lb
Added 16 gallons of gas after scaling for total of 7,400 lb
Front weight: 3550 lb
Rear weight: 3850 lb
E250 RB w/5.4l gas
OEM bumper style
Homebuilt package similar to RB50

Other weight factors
2 ea. Group 27 house batteries
Only water was 8 gallons in jugs
10 gallon propane tank full
One driver, one passenger
Fully loaded for 8 day boondocking/hiking adventure
Will be heavier for skiing or motorycycle riding with extra gear

Comments:

I am pleased to see how well balanced the van is front to rear, should help with snow handling.

[BIGVANS]

Way Cool!
But how much did that engine cost and how long will it last?

[Viva]

Originally Posted by jage

Respond with:
Actual Scale weight
Front, Rear, and Corner weight (if you have it)
EB or RB
bumper style
package ("50")
anything that would affect the weight (e.g. I have 2 4d AGMs)

Actual scale weight = 7,560#
Front axle weight === 3,420#
Rear axle weight === 4,140#
RB
Stock non-step bumper
"30/31-ish" package
Loaded for a summer trip - tools, sports gear, food, etc. Driver only. Water ~15 gallons; holding ~1 gallon; propane nearly empty; fuel ~10 gallons. Two house batteries (just average-sized ones). Stock size (although new/E-rated) tires.

Notes:
1997 Ford E250HD SMB, 5.4L gas, 2WD, RB, PH roof. GVWR 8600#, GAWR (F) 3700#, GAWR (R) 5200# (I think; may be off by 100# or so on this one), GCWR 13,000#.

[broncobandit]

10,960 lbs. with the driver, full tank of fuel and light supplies. RB with Aluminess bumpers. I have not weighed the front and rear separately. The rear is a little heavier because the rear tires run hotter.

[rob_gendreau]

8950

3950 front
5000 back

(almost right on the nose)

That's a tad over for stock, but I converted to 4x4 with a whole new F350 front end, so I actually think the front could hold more.

2001 EB.