another noob question - tipping/rolling

[cd_photo]

Hey again,

I just wanted to put this out there to see what people's experience has been. Delica's being high, heavy, narrow vehicles, it seems to me that they could be easily tipped and/or rolled if you drive over stuff that has a steep horizontal angle (i.e. one side of the van higher than the other). Any thoughts/experiences you can share?

Thanks,

Colin

[nxski]

I've done this on a 40 degree hill, scared the hell out of me but didn't feel like it was ready to tip. I generaly go around corners at 35 degrees too. I've also slid it around a corner at 90 in the rain, in the dry at 30 and have had it up on 2 wheels thanks to a bump in a corner (not sure of the degrees for these though).

[naterade]

Keep in mind that although they are tall vehicles, the vast majority of the van's weight is close to the ground (frame, engine, etc). Unless you have a heavy-duty roof rack that is loaded up with heavy things, the center of gravity of the van will still be nice and low, keeping you very stable in a variety of environments.

[jessef]

You'll see/hear of examples of crazy off camber angles with Delica's but the majority are pictures or experiences at slow or crawling speed.

Most of the roll overs and tips occur between high speed corner and/or slippery or uneven surfaces. Some of these are documented on this site while many are just in the news.

It's not the height of the van that makes it tippy/sketchy on fast & tight corners. It's the short wheelbase (like the old Jeep CJ's) combined with more weight above the front axle compared to little weight ratio at the back axle (causes the rear end to swing around in certain situations).

Putting additional weight over the rear axle, having good working shocks and tires all contribute to a stable Delica. That accounts for a good 40%. The driver contributes a good 60% whether it flips/rolls or it doesn't.

Drive smart and make sure your tires/shocks are in good order and you will be fine.

[Elbrad]

I used my L300 as a courier vehicle when I was with Ace Courier. I was incredibly surprised at the speeds that Boba would take corners and it still seemed like he was on rails.

Admittedly, I wouldn't do slalom races in it...but the tippy look is deceptive.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I have had the Miss Lil' Bitchi at forty lateral degrees and she has been stable. I have drifted her sideways, doing 45 to 50 KPH (to avoid an accident on the causeway) and she didn't roll. However, had I hit a curb or a pothole, or if a wheel had come off ~ then things might have transpired differently, as has been seen in some cases. Most vehicles will roll if put under the right circumstances and the driver should take responsibility and drive accordingly. Much has to do with the angle and velocity of the approach.

Another point, I am referring to my experiences in a Starwagon. My information is limited with regards to the Space Gear. I would however venture to say that any vehicle produced in Japan must be stable at a thirty five degree angle, I believe the critical mass for a Starwagon is about sixty-three or so degrees before she succumbs to gravity. I would imagine that the Space Gear would be similar. There is a video, I think on Youtube, of an Aussie L400 being slowly pushed over onto her side, so she can be worked on... a bit creative for my tastes but I suppose it works.

Falco.

[Manitoba deli]

I agree that these vans are very stable, but along with being mechanically sound, having tires that help you remain in control is extremely important. On Monday I picked up a rolled l300 from Saskatoon for parts. It was rolled in Feb or March. One look at the tires, and I'm amazed the driver didn't lose control months earlier. They have lots of tread, but they are summer passenger CAR tires. Not suitable for use all season in Canada, and definitely not suitable for use on a vehicle with the weight of a Delica.

Jason

[cd_photo]

Thanks everyone. I'm definitely a safe driver and my van has good tires. I think the suspension is a bit old and could use some upgrading, which is high on the list of priorities. I don't plan on doing anything crazy with it, just trying to get an idea of my boundaries when driving on the back roads around here.

[nxski]

Thanks everyone. I'm definitely a safe driver and my van has good tires. I think the suspension is a bit old and could use some upgrading, which is high on the list of priorities. I don't plan on doing anything crazy with it, just trying to get an idea of my boundaries when driving on the back roads around here.

Chances are you'll get scared long before it's about to tip, I know I do!

[Super Exceeded]

I did a full 180 degree skid with three people on board on dry pavement doing about 50k, and she never went over. Made me trust the van a whole lot more after that.