Date:         Fri, 25 Oct 2002 23:36:26 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Towing (Tiico)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Well, several months ago I promised I'd post a comment when I towed my
Polaris Ranger into the shop in October. I did that a couple of weeks
ago (picking it up again on Saturday).

The Polaris Ranger (series 10 model) weighs in at around 1450 pounds
(this ain't your momma's ATV). Throw in the weight of my aluminum
trailer (probably at least 350 pounds) and you're talking at or just
past the "rated" towing capacity of the Vanagon.

I have towed this before in the GoldBrick (7 passenger Syncro) back
before I had the Tiico conversion, so this was an opportunity for
pretty close to direct head to head results...except at different times
of the year (more on this in a bit).

With the old 2.1 wasserboxer, towing was slow but steady. I could get
up to about 55 mph on the Interstate (relatively level terrain.) On
slopes (5%-10% grades) 25 mph was the best I could do. In the summer
(relatively cool day in the low to mid 80s) going at 25mph in the
wasserboxer up a steep grade caused the engine to heat up dramatically.
(I had to stop and let it cool down.) In cooler whether it didn't
overheat, but it definitely had the fan on high speed and was running
hotter than normal.

With the Tiico, the speeds didn't change (though I could run the engine
at higher RPMs, the load just simply wouldn't be moved any faster).
However, the TEMPERATURE was noticably cooler (never changed from
normal Tiico engine operating temperatures.) This was in early October,
so the outside air was cooler (mid 60s).

There are a few other difference, when using the 2.1 wasserboxer I was
using 205/70R14 tire/wheels. With the Tiico I'm using 215/75R15 tire
wheels (which means I am transferring power to the ground LESS
efficiently with the Tiico. Still, overall. I'm satisfied that the
Tiico is less stressed doing this than the wasserboxer was.

PS. AC was >NOT< running in either case (in the wasserboxer case it
adds too much additional load to the engine, in the Tiico case it just
wasn't hot enough to need it.)

PPS. For the non-syncro world, I think the Tiico is a great choice of
engine. For the syncro  7 passenger Vanagon, it is pretty nice...but I
want more power (and definitely want more than a standard Tiico in my
Westy Syncro.) I'm thinking the inline 5 cylinder might fit that
bill...And for a DoubleCab workhorse? Hmm, VR6's should be plentiful in
junkyards now. Yes, that's sometime to ponder as the stock market
recovers....

:)