Narrowing is it worth it?

[Joval]

TBH I don't like the narrowed look at all, narrowed for a brake wheel combo is fine, but I'm really
tired with the pissing competition narrowing. :lol:

i agree, and, at what point does it become dangerous?
...was that dude that flipped his split on its roof at EBI2, on a narrowed beam?

Ok - I'm not suggesting this played any part in that accident, and I have no idea what actually happened or how but in answer to your question; yes.

 

[Joval]

Done it before & wouldn't bother again.

I'd rather spend the money on a pair of CSP front discs.

Ah, I see you've surfaced - survive Düsseldorf ok then? :lol:

 

[kempy]

Done it before & wouldn't bother again.

I'd rather spend the money on a pair of CSP front discs.

Ah, I see you've surfaced - survive Düsseldorf ok then? :lol:

Just about. Took a week to recover & then went on my jols.

 

[Guest]

TBH I don't like the narrowed look at all, narrowed for a brake wheel combo is fine, but I'm really
tired with the pissing competition narrowing. :lol:

i agree, and, at what point does it become dangerous?
...was that dude that flipped his split on its roof at EBI2, on a narrowed beam?

Ok - I'm not suggesting this played any part in that accident, and I have no idea what actually happened or how but in answer to your question; yes.

looks like a 5-6 inch narrowed beam......

makes you wonder :|

 

[Clem]

Its a tough one to consider, take a van with a pretty narrowed beam, whack an engine in the back thats capable of 14 sec quarters in a fully kitted camper :shock: and throw it some derv, on a roundabout, on awful roads, in the wet and wind when the drivers 'probably' a bit knackered ...... (we certainly were)
What factor contributed to the accident? Could have been any factor I reckon, but maybe each element played its part. I think life is often in the lap of the gods and we are often beyond control of fate.
A family near me were killed last week in a stock Range Rover when a lorry veered across the road and killed them.
Id rather go in a fast narrowed bus, myself .....

 

[easy]

Its a tough one to consider, take a van with a pretty narrowed beam, whack an engine in the back thats capable of 14 sec quarters in a fully kitted camper :shock: and throw it some derv, on a roundabout, on awful roads, in the wet and wind when the drivers 'probably' a bit knackered ...... (we certainly were)
What factor contributed to the accident? Could have been any factor I reckon, but maybe each element played its part. I think life is often in the lap of the gods and we are often beyond control of fate.
A family near me were killed last week in a stock Range Rover when a lorry veered across the road and killed them.
Id rather go in a fast narrowed bus, myself .....

I totally agree, narrowed or stock they arent race cars and 99% of us dont drive em quick anyway so no more danger than anything else on the road. 8)

 

[Trikky2]

If you want the narrowed look then why not just buy a Commer?

 

[retro.james]

It's all about what you prefer the look of.

If you do it properly and drive as sensibly as you would/should in any 50 year old car then there shouldn't be any safety issues - if there were companies wouldn't be taking the legal risks by selling them ready made.

I love the tucked look myself - hence the Panzerfaust having a skinnier front beam - sure the turning circle has been reduced a bit but cornering and normal driving is other wise as it always was...

And I drive it every day.

It does however need drop spindles - as the ride is ridiculously bouncy due to increased spring rate in the torsion leaves, low profile tyres, hard shocks and ball joints not having much travel - spindles will be going on REAL soon.

 

[ddffrost]

started a war here oo :? :shock: ps

 

[Joval]

started a war here oo :? :shock: ps

Some like the look, others don't - no big deal. :wink:

 

[faux]

Thought I would add my bit!

I have narrowed my last three buses and I have loved them all. I can't see that a slightly narrowed front end will compromise safety. With my thinking, if it is done properly, the bus will be more stable than stock due to the uprated dampening and lower centre of gravity. I have a 2" narrowed front end with king and link pin set up to allow for 3.5" dropped spindles so the ride is pretty comfy too.

But on the other hand it is definitely a different experience to a stock bus, if you want a floaty light ride don't go down the modified route.

 

[jjgreenwood]

Its a tough one to consider, take a van with a pretty narrowed beam, whack an engine in the back thats capable of 14 sec quarters in a fully kitted camper :shock: and throw it some derv, on a roundabout, on awful roads, in the wet and wind when the drivers 'probably' a bit knackered ...... (we certainly were)
What factor contributed to the accident? Could have been any factor I reckon, but maybe each element played its part. I think life is often in the lap of the gods and we are often beyond control of fate.
A family near me were killed last week in a stock Range Rover when a lorry veered across the road and killed them.
Id rather go in a fast narrowed bus, myself .....

I totally agree, narrowed or stock they arent race cars and 99% of us dont drive em quick anyway so no more danger than anything else on the road. 8)

Hmm got a feeling modern cars are a LOT safer. Bear in mind its not you're driving that causes the worry its the other idiots on the road. On an old vehicle the brakes etc are not going to be as good as all the newer stuff. I have to say I don't like driving the camper on a motorway as I don't feel safe without a few BHP under my right foot. The roads in this country are packed out with people changing lanes all over the place & everyone drives too fast. I'm as guilty as everyone else in my golf, and then get irritated with people cutting in front etc when in the camper. Imagine this scenario, dual carriageway coming to roundabout. Fast golf cuts in front of camper and slams on the brakes, camper brakes don't react as fast, camper swerves to avoid golf - would a narrowed beam cause a camper to tip over in this scenario? No fault of driver of camper. Safety wise it could make a difference I reckon.

 

[Joval]

Who knows?

It could be argued a stock bus would have a higher centre of gravity and more body roll....

 

[jjgreenwood]

maybe but its probably been elk tested by vw. I doubt its likely to fall over as standard/stock.

 

[ground hugger]

maybe but its probably been elk tested by vw. I doubt its likely to fall over as standard/stock.

So if you have narrowed it and slammed it the center of gravity is lower
so id say no more chance than a stock van and if you've narrowed it to beef up the brakes ,you've a better chance to stop and avoide this scenario

 

[jjgreenwood]

dunno - any volunteers to try this out in the name of science with their buses so we can make a valid judgement :wink: :lol: :wink:

 

[slammedresto]

ive got a 4" narrowed beam, with 2.5" drop spindles, and adjusters going on my new bus

its also gonna be running disks and a set of alloys, so the narrowing is a neccessity :mrgreen:

at least thats what i tell the wife :lol:

 

[dubberdaz]

So if you lowered a Robin Reilent would it be safer round corners or in the event of swerving to avoid a accident? a little i spose... OK you have 4 wheels and not 3 on a VW but you are still narrowing the track and that WILL make your van more unstable.
As said before I LOVE the look and would convert my van were it not for the safety of my family.

 

[jjgreenwood]

maybe but its probably been elk tested by vw. I doubt its likely to fall over as standard/stock.

So if you have narrowed it and slammed it the center of gravity is lower
so id say no more chance than a stock van and if you've narrowed it to beef up the brakes ,you've a better chance to stop and avoide this scenario

won't that just throw the car off balance?

 

[Joval]

I have found a test video demonstrating the instability of a severely narrowed beam, take note -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5BnkUnN8Rk