[Wallygator]

Hello, I do not have a Transit yet and have never owned a van. That being said, it doesn't stop one from dreaming about a future build and determining the lay out inside the van. It seems that it's pretty natural to put more things on the drivers side of the van compared to the passenger side mainly because of the sliding door and also because it just makes sense. And this seems to be the case with the builds I have seen here. An some things just weigh more than others. Are these vans designed to handle more weight on the drivers side of the vehicle? If not, does even weight distribution really matter in a one ton van? Thanks.

 

[jethaden]

I am not qualified to answer most questions, but... I have my main row of cabinets on the drivers side, because, as you say, it is the most logical. Knowing that, I intentionally put the electrical (batteries, 2kw inverter) and water tank under the settee on the passenger side to try to balance things out. I might also consider weight distribution forward/centered/aft of the rear axle, particularly on an 148 extended length version. If you build light, it should not be too significant. On my boat, weight distribution does make a difference as she lists to starboard by a couple degrees or so. In the van, I expect it would be less critical.

 

[Chance]

All vehicles can carry more weight on one side versus the other, but the "maximum" load is the same on both sides. They have same tires, wheels, hubs, etc... I think you can load one side slightly heavier than the other as long as you don't exceed half of each axle's rating.

Obviously keeping weight distribution as close to 50:50 side-to-side should improve handling.

 

[EddieZ]

I was at first concerned, since my interior kayak loading design necessarily means more weight will be on the driver side. But, first, my build will not be particularly heavy. Second, calling these 1/2, 3/4, 1-ton vans is very misleading. The payload on my 148 inch medium roof cargo 250 is just about 1 3/4 tons. Since I will not be near that load weight, I'm no longer too worried about it.

 

[tthrsn]

It seems that it's pretty natural to put more things on the drivers side of the van compared to the passenger side mainly because of the sliding door and also because it just makes sense. And this seems to be the case with the builds I have seen here. An some things just weigh more than others. Are these vans designed to handle more weight on the drivers side of the vehicle? If not, does even weight distribution really matter in a one ton van? Thanks.

I ordered the dual sliding doors and will be using the driver's side slider as my entrance. Accordingly for me it will make sense to put more furnishings on the passenger side and distribute some of the weight that way. Though I suspect that with the large weight ratings of these vans it's a moot issue. Many people are reporting that they handle huge loads with ease.

 

[Zyzzyx]

I suspect that with the large weight ratings of these vans it's a moot issue. Many people are reporting that they handle huge loads with ease.

This.


I've estimated the different 'side' loads on my build, come up with a difference of 250 pounds at most from side to side. That's less than if you had the wagon and had two folks sitting on one side. And compared to the 3-4000# load ratings, small beans.

 

[Budsky]

I was at first concerned, since my interior kayak loading design necessarily means more weight will be on the driver side. But, first, my build will not be particularly heavy. Second, calling these 1/2, 3/4, 1-ton vans is very misleading. The payload on my 148 inch medium roof cargo 250 is just about 1 3/4 tons.

I agree..that terminology hasn't been valid for years.
I don't think the manufacturers use it.
My T350 HD is actually a 2.1 ton van

 

[Beridian]

I am worried about this as well. Because the drivers side is one long wall most of my furnishings are on that side. I also have a 100 lb AGM house battery on the drivers side and am contemplating adding a second. Then I noticed when crawling around underneath that the fuel tank is on the drivers side. Add to that my somewhat portly 200 lb self in the drivers seat and I fear my van might tip over like the car on the Flintstones! I did put the rather small water tanks on the passenger side and there are a couple cabinets and a fridge over there, but the load is clearly heavier on the drivers side. When I look at the van parked on a level surface I can't discern one side being lower than the other. I haven't weighed the van but I would estimate that my conversion probably added about 1000 lbs, maybe 1200 lbs tops. My van is a 150 148 WB Medium roof. So far so good but I share your concern.

 

[Wallygator]

All good points and thank you all for your opinions. Did not think of it in terms of it being a couple people sitting on the same side. That doesn't effect the handling in my economy car so I doubt it will in a T350. But will still try and keep it as balanced as possible.

 

[accrete]

I agree with the idea that it all sort of evens out : )


In our full size chevy 1500 conversion even though I have a routine loading all the camp _stuff_ back under the platform bed I know that there is little even-ness to the organization...and there is weight down there! I toss around 600 lbs of items in there from camping gear to prospecting equipment. I'm saying all that as I see no _sag_ in a 1/2 ton van... (haha, whatever that really means!) you shouldn't notice it in a one-ton.


Thom

 

[Wallygator]

I agree with the idea that it all sort of evens out : )


In our full size chevy 1500 conversion even though I have a routine loading all the camp _stuff_ back under the platform bed I know that there is little even-ness to the organization...and there is weight down there! I toss around 600 lbs of items in there from camping gear to prospecting equipment. I'm saying all that as I see no _sag_ in a 1/2 ton van... (haha, whatever that really means!) you shouldn't notice it in a one-ton.


Thom

Thanks for your input Accrete. I enjoyed reading about your build on another forum. Nice to see you here. I Look forward to seeing your Van2 if you guys decide to do it. I plan on someday doing a similar and simple build like yours. The hardest part is figuring out materials and layout, and all the details, etc...

 

[accrete]

Thanks for your input Accrete. I enjoyed reading about your build on another forum.,,The hardest part is figuring out materials and layout, and all the details, etc...

THX for the kudos : )


And yuppers on the _figuring_. Cari and I spend hours each week dreaming and scheming. A lot of it doodling over at the sportsmobile site with the (finally!!) transit DIY layout online builder. The rest is spent by me exploring and researching DIY builds on several forums.


The most recent version we actually were able to do everything we hoped to achieve in a LWB regular body HR dual slider no window cargo van. We sooo like the looks of it over the LWBe. And since this will be my wife's daily driver until we pull the plug from the 9to5... I gotta keep her happy.


Thom

 

[GROOVY2]

Personally I am going to put the heavy things like Batteries -water tank- motorcycle -
on the passenger side of van -

These things could become UFOs in a wreck and I would rather smash the possibly empty
passenger seat than the 100% occupied drivers seat -

The DIY vans that I have seen in Europe go very light weight in build materials-
1x2 wood instead of 2x4 etc -

Some of the bed frames I have seen DIY builders in the US using 2x4 would support
Hugh Hefner and 5 bunnies --

 

[accrete]

....The DIY vans that I have seen in Europe go very light weight in build materials-1x2 wood instead of 2x4 etc --

Thumbs up on the idea of light build materials. When Van Specialties did our interior all framing is thin-wall 1" square steel powder coated black. Nice look and strong.
In van V2.0 I will most likely be following Orton's lead and utilizing the T-Slot as there are two distributors in Portland Oregon...closest real city to our soggy-coastal-paradise (~100 miles away). Weight in current #1 floor plan doodle is fairly evenly distributed front-back/side-side.


: ) Thom

 

[Vince]

Does anyone know the approximate balance of weight driver vs passenger side of a stock T250 high roof extended van like mine? I know options like the rear AC/heater, etc. change the balance but does anyone know starting out without these options (or with if have, see list in sig line below) if one side is heavier than the other?

I'm building as light as possible with aluminum everywhere I can but would really like to balance as best as possible. Yes I know it will vary depending whether it's just me, me and wifey, or us plus guest(s). Will help me decide where to put heavy stuff like 12VDC system/battery bank, fresh/gray water, yata yata (latter pretty much has to be on passenger side since that's where my sink is).

My biggest question is which side to put the battery bank w/ 2+ AGM batteries I will have. With a 20 gallon freshwater tank something like this: http://www.plastic-mart.com/product/462/20-gallon-rectangle-poly-tank-r39w with a similar size gray water tank and assuming total in both will be 20 gallons = 167 lbs, should I put battery bank on driver or passenger side?

I read where most think it's a nit but with this big a van I'd like to design as stable as possible. No Flintstones moments ever...

FYI I weighed mine when first got and with my 205 lbs and a full tank it came in at 5860...

 

[foxharp]

FYI I weighed mine when first got and with my 205 lbs and a full tank it came in at 5860...

so, i've been wondering... where exactly does one weigh something this big?

 

[Zyzzyx]

so, i've been wondering... where exactly does one weigh something this big?

I've weighed my PM at two places.

1) Our local county landfill. Head out when its quiet, roll up on the scales, mention that I have nothing, just interested in vehicle weight.

2) The occasional roadside DOT truck scales that are 'closed', but the scales and the electronic display are still active.

You could also find a nearby CAT certified truck scales, though there's a charge at those (around $10-15?).

 

[accrete]

...The occasional roadside DOT truck scales that are 'closed', but the scales and the electronic display are still active.

We regularly weigh our current van at one just north of Seaside on the Oregon coast going north on 101. It reads "closed" most of the time but the digital readout is active ~24/7.



Thom

 

[rickhoran]

Good tips for weighing the whole van, but I think the original question was how much does each side weigh?

I've never used a vehicle scale but can you drive onto it with one half on the scale and the other on the pavement and then do the same thing on the other side? Then you can add up both numbers and see if it equals the total vehicle weight with all four wheels on the scale.

Would this work?

 

[foxharp]

how accurate are those truck scales? nearest 100lbs? better?