Date:         Wed, 6 Jun 2001 14:44:23 EDT
Reply-To:     WarmerWagen@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Keezer <WarmerWagen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Ever tow a 20ft.plus travel trailer?is possible?
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

I have towed a 5x8 P-mail trailer loaded with 4,000 lb payload from Seattle
to LA and I don't recommend it.

The heavy load made the handling very squirrely, and the constant headwind
made top speed 45-50. It was a 1.8 100 hp engine. Even without the headwind,
top speed was 50.
the 2.0 115 hp or 118 hp is still not enough power for a large trailer.

And, it just isn't built tough enough to take the strain.

The end results to my Westfalia were: front pads worn down almost to the
metal, ruined clutch, and all four crankshaft end thrust washers were
hammered out, found on the bottom of the oil pan.

So, please don't ruin that new motor. I-4's are strong enough for the Vanagon
camper alone, and perhaps a max trailer load of about 1,500 lb, but I
wouldn't go over this.

My motor was a 91 Jetta with 65,000 miles, and 190 lb compression all four.
New clutch. New front pads. worn out in 1500 miles! There are a lot of
mountain passes between here and LA!

Robert

1982 Westfalia
Seattle


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