Ballast weights under the spare tyre

I weighed the ballast weights.... 37kg of steel is bolted right at the back of the van!

Has no other purpose other than tail weight.

Crazy!!!

blimey, not sure mine has that being an lpg conversion. Haven't noticed 37kg of steel anyway.

Crawl underneath the back and see if its bolted on, it'll be right under the LPG tank. Big thick lengths of steel. Sort of bits of steel that if you drop them on your feel you'll remember it!

what year is the van Matt? Mine were on a 2002 52 plate 4x4

Every van I have right now has them on (excluding the pickup)

So thats a V reg, a T reg and a 2001

interesting, the s reg minibus that i cut up never had them or the fixing plates, lets see if others can have a little look,
weight them in separatly too, put them with your brake discs and drums, better price for heavy

Both my 993's (1995 and 1998) have them as does my 2002 1.3

Are they vans?

Yes, but I can't see why they'd be different from MPV's - unless they weigh the same as the seats?

thats what I was thinking, seats and glass etc

Seats n glass has weigh more

No ballast here 1995 993cc MPV. But...



It's still shedding weight for that extra bit of speed  

Maybe that's the difference - equalling the mass of the van and the MPV?

I think the assumption is right for the MPV/van versions. They need a little weight on the back to make them stable....

As I've just found out on my hard drive across the county - they are a bit light on the back under hard braking with out the ballast.

Both mine had it, have to remove it to fit the towbar, tells you about it in the fitting instructions.

My MPV currently running without seats in back to save weight on fuel. I drive 50 miles a day to/from work

Commuting like that sucks ass!

Tonight is the first time I've drove my van in the wet since removing the ballast weights and its alot more lively on the rear. Even when it comes in to the power band in 3rd it starts kicking the back end out.

Sounds like fun to me HJ.  

i'm not looking forward to winter in the Hijet... light all round... last time with one i couldnt even get off the driveway.. & its all flat!.. lump of snow & couldnt get over it or round it.

That's why you benefit from weight over the rear axle. I put 12 bags of sand right on the back of my pickup and strapped them down and I never got stuck in with it.

Doesn't do the economy any good but then it is usually loaded right up with tools anyway and I got about through both winters much to my amusement
and the looks on peoples faces in amazement that my "
"Wind-up Tonka Toy"could get through when even 4 wheel drives were struggling to.

There are certain T junctions that I cannot stop at in my hijets as they have a slight uphill to pull out from. If I stop, I cannot get rolling again.