Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 11:17:59 -0700
Reply-To: John Klun <jklun@GJ.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Klun <jklun@GJ.NET>
Subject: Re: Towing Across The USA!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hi Volks!-
Let me add that my wife and I moved from Virginia Beach, VA to Concord, NH in 1969. We
towed the largest single axle enclosed U-Haul trailer behind a 1968 VW Squareback (Type
3). My wife was pregnant at the time and had to sit cross-legged on the passenger's
seat. We had the back seat folded down and the SB was totally loaded to the point stuff
would occasionally fall into the front or hit our heads. . The trailer was so loaded
that when we opened the door at our destination, our stuff fell out. The trip took 19
hours straight, stopping only for gas and food. We averaged about 20 mpg; up some hills
we had to downshift and were barely able to make it at 35 mph; down some hills we
actually had to speed up to keep from jackknifing- at one point we did 80 mph!
2 1/12 years ago, we moved from NH to CO. I came out first and I drove our '86 Jetta GL-
loaded to the gills- pulling an enclosed 5x8 U-Haul single axle trailer. This trip was
over 2200 miles and the Jetta was incredible! I average nearly 20 mpg for the entire
trip, maintained around 55-60mph on the 'flats' and when an 18 wheeler passed me- I could
get up to around 65-67mph.
I thought the true test of my trip out would be Highway 50- a 2 lane twisting and curving
highway west from Colo Springs to Gunnison over 11,800' Monarch Pass- in February. I had
absolutely no problem on the winding and curving part. I kept the Jetta in 4th gear and
had no problem maintaining and average of around 50 mph. When it came to Monarch Pass, I
down shifted to 3rd and kept it at a steady 35 mph. The Jetta just kept going and going
and... On top of Monarch it had snowed but the Jetta had no problem maintaining
traction. On the way down the other side, I maintained 3rd gear and lightly tapped the
brakes now and then until I cleared the snow. I had absolute confidence in the Jetta and
not once on the trip did the load or the Jetta fishtail.
When I reached my destination, all I did was change the oil!
Steve Shane wrote:
> Greetings Volks! Steve and Stephanie here. We just wanted to say THANK YOU
> to all the wonderful invitations and offers we got from everyone on our
> coast to coast trip.
>
> It is so nice to know that such a wonderful community of VW friends are out
> there. For all of you who let us hang for a night and whom lent us a hand,
> we are so very grateful. Thank you a million times over.
>
> For those of you whom want to see some of the details on our adventure of
> towing two sportbikes from coast to coast Via our Westy, point your browser
> to...
>
> http://wherearethey.homepage.com/usa_01/hitch.htm
>
> Thanks again my friends! Wish us luck on our winter adventures here in N
> Caly.
>
> Take care all!
> Steve and Stephanie
>
> Check out how the adventure is going at http://WhereAreThey.homepage.com
>
> _____________________________________________________________________________________
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