Centre of Gravity in a Campervan: Why Your Van Sways in Corners — and What to Do About It
Reading time: approx. 5 minutes
Anyone who drives their fully converted van on the motorway for the first time sometimes gets an unpleasant surprise: the van feels different than before. Slower to respond in corners, more sensitive to crosswinds, a slight sway during quick lane changes. This is not imagination. It’s physics.
The centre of gravity of your vehicle has changed — and that directly affects how the van behaves on the road.
What Is the Centre of Gravity and Why Does It Matter?
The centre of gravity is the point where the entire weight of your vehicle is theoretically concentrated. The lower this point, the more stable the vehicle. The higher it is, the more susceptible the vehicle is to tipping.
An empty van has a relatively low centre of gravity. A fully converted high-roof Sprinter with a roof rack, solar panels, bikes on top and a cabinet full of kitchen appliances beside the sliding door — that’s a problem.
The vehicle doesn’t simply tip over. But the margin before it does becomes narrower. And you feel that when you’re driving.
The Three Centre of Gravity Traps in Van Builds
Trap 1: Overloading the Roof
A 200-watt solar panel weighs 15–20 kg. A roof rack itself already weighs 30–40 kg. Two bikes another 30 kg. That’s 75–90 kg at 2.5–3 metres above the ground. Every kilo up high has a greater effect on the centre of gravity than a kilo at floor level.
Trap 2: One-Sided Loading
Fridge on the left, water tank on the left, cabinet on the left — and only the lightweight bed on the right. The centre of gravity shifts sideways. In right-hand corners the vehicle stabilises, in left-hand corners it destabilises. This is why some converted vans handle better in one direction than the other.
Trap 3: Everything at the Rear
Battery bank at the back, water tank at the back, rear kitchen — and almost nothing at the front. The rear axle is overloaded, the front axle too light. This reduces steering precision and increases braking distance. In rear-wheel-drive vans it can also reduce traction in wet conditions.
What Is a Good Centre of Gravity — Concretely?
A simple rule of thumb for amateur builders:
Longitudinal (front/rear): Place heavy components so that weight is distributed as evenly as possible between front and rear axle. Ideal: 40–60% on the rear axle, 40–60% at the front.
Lateral (left/right): Weight as symmetrical as possible. A deviation of more than 15% to one side is noticeable.
Vertical (up/down): Heavy things as low as possible. Lithium batteries under the bed platform rather than in an overhead locker. Water tank on the floor, not raised.
Which Components Affect the Centre of Gravity Most?
Ranked by weight and position impact:
| Component | Typical Weight | Recommended Position |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium batteries 200 Ah | 25–40 kg | As low as possible, central |
| Water tank 60L (full) | 60 kg | Floor level, near vehicle centre |
| Refrigerator | 15–25 kg | Floor level, as central as possible |
| Roof gear + bikes | 50–90 kg | Minimise — lightest items first |
| Kitchen block | 40–70 kg | Side matters less than height |
| Solar panels (roof) | 15–25 kg | Unavoidably high — compensate with floor weight |
Calculating Centre of Gravity Without an Engineering Degree
In practice, no amateur builder calculates centre of gravity with formulas. But there’s a straightforward approach: digital planning with weight visualisation.
In VanLogic you see in real time during planning:
- How much weight is on the front and rear axle
- Whether lateral distribution is balanced
- Whether the virtual centre of gravity is in a safe zone
- Warnings when a critical threshold is exceeded
You move the water tank from the rear to the centre — and immediately see how axle load distribution changes. That’s not guessing, that’s calculating.
Calculate your build’s centre of gravity, try it in your browser — free, no download required
Five Measures That Help Immediately
1. Batteries under the bed platform. This is the single most effective measure for a low centre of gravity. LiFePO4 batteries are dense and heavy — exactly what you want low down.
2. Water tank in the vehicle centre. Not at the very rear, not at the very front. The midpoint between the axles is ideal — that way axle load distribution barely changes between full and empty tank.
3. Minimise roof cargo. Every kilo up top counts three times as much as the same kilo down low. Bikes are better carried at the rear than on the roof.
4. Balance left and right. If the fridge and cabinet are on one side, put the bed on the other — at the same height it has similar weight. Where that’s not enough: deliberately place heavy equipment on the lighter side.
5. Test drive before everything is permanently fixed. Drive with prototypes or weights in their planned positions on a test route. Corners, motorway, emergency braking. What feels strange will feel no better after the final build.
Conclusion
Centre of gravity is the safety topic that gets the least discussion in the vanlife world — even though it has a direct impact on driving behaviour. No vehicle inspector will come with a measuring device and check your centre of gravity. That makes it the personal responsibility of every builder.
The good news: with thoughtful planning, a low and balanced centre of gravity is not luck but the result of conscious decisions.
→ Calculate your campervan’s centre of gravity and axle loads — vanlogic.app
About VanLogic: VanLogic is a planning app for campervan builders with real-time calculation of weight, axle loads and centre of gravity. Available for iOS, Android — and usable directly in your browser without downloading anything.