Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 13:20:26 -0400
Reply-To: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Towing a Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <002701c43cf8$736bd820$d9032a45@ttowerdef17>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
when i wanted to tow my vanagon from montana to michigan using a uhaul tow
dolly i had some problems. i wanted to use a econoline 250 (3/4 ton) and
they wouldn't let me. they said i needed at least a econoline 350 (1
ton). we had both trucks at work at the time and i can tell you from
working on them that there is really no difference between the two besides
the rear springs. the brakes are the same on both. so my solution was to
visit the junkyard and buy myself a set of econoline 350 badges for my 250
and do some badge re-engineering. the uhaul people were happy and i made
my tow with out any problems.
jonathan
On Tue, 18 May 2004, Doug in Calif wrote:
> Warren,
> That Tundra is full size truck? V8 with same track width as a full pick up I believe?
> U-haul made no bones about using it to tow the vanagon on the dolly?
>
> Looks like I will have to trade in my ranger for a full size pickup if I want to rescue vanagons.
>
> I see no problem with towing the syncro as long as you remove the drive shaft first.
>
> Doug
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Warren McQuiggan
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 9:14 AM
> Subject: Towing a Vanagon
>
>
> I just recently (two weeks ago) towed a 1980 Vanagon from LA to Tucson on a
> U-Haul Car dolly behind my Toyota Tundra. I was able to do 65-70mph all the
> way across I-10 with no problems at all. I did disconnect the half shafts at
> the rear wheels. The Tundra knew it was there but I thought it was an easy
> tow all considered.
>
> Warren in Tucson
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Aristotle Sagan" <killer_jupiter@HOTMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 2:49 PM
> Subject: Re: What to do if you're really stranded in a Vanagon
>
>
> > >
> >
> > Trust me, that was good advice the UHaul people gave you. I lied and towed
> > home my 81 Westy with a 92 Toyota PU. Up hill and down. I knew about 10
> > miles into this adventure I had made a big mistake, but what the heck. I
> and
> > the trucks survived. Coming down the pass into Silicon Valley sure was
> > .."interesting". I have also towed it with a good sized Dodge 1500 PU and
> > that truck never felt it.
> >
> >
> > tim in san jose
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > Jim,
> > > At least you were stuck in a vanagon vs. some small car.
> > > When my 89 gave up I car camped in it for a day in LA.
> > > Walked to grocery store got some goods set up the table in the van and
> > made
> > > lunch.
> > > Also pulled the curtains and got some good well needed rest till I had
> > > arrangements for hauling it home.
> > >
> > > I did call U-Haul and guess what?
> > > The will not allow you to tow a vanagon on a dolly with anything but a
> > large
> > > truck.
> > > I have a Ranger 4wd and they would not allow me to use it to tow.
> > >
> > > I believe it would have been fine but their chart said the vanagon was a
> > too
> > > big to tow with my Ranger.
> > >
> > > Doug
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Jim <mailto:JK@PROJECTDESIGN.COM> Kennedy
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > > Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 12:48 PM
> > > Subject: What to do if you're really stranded in a Vanagon
> > >
> > > What to do if you're really stranded in a Vanagon, far from home and
> > cannot
> > > effect repairs.
> > >
> > > Once when traveling with my wife and 3 little people from Grand Junction
> > > Colorado to home in San Diego in my '87 GL, it started doing the
> Digifant
> > > dive. Lurch, cough, blah. You haven't lived until you coast deadstick
> to
> > > the side of I-70 in Utah FAR from ANYTHING with your family of 5, on a
> 100
> > > degree summer day. Not even cellphone coverage. This was my first
> > > experience with this kind of glitch, and I was clueless. Fortunately I
> > was
> > > able to get it to the next town (Salina). This is what you do. Get
> ahold
> > > of a Uhaul and TOW DOLLY and you are set. Expensive save, but it's just
> a
> > > good thing to remember...
> > >
> > > Jim
> > > San Diego '87 GL
> > >
> >
> >
>
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