Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 06:55:04 -0800
Reply-To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Towing & sliding door
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
All,
I'd like some help with the sliding door hinge access panel. The
long narrow one on the exterior that covers the sliding hinge and it's
track. My manual is packed away from a move but I'm fairly certain
that it only has two screws that hold it on. After that, best I can
tell is that it moves nearly straight up to come off. I don't want to
put anymore pressure on it without knowing the proper way to remove it.
Maybe it's just tight with the rubber beading strip in there but I was
working really hard and it's barely move more than a hair. I'd
appreciate some input.
Now for my comments on a previous post about towing. I've done a lot
of towing and moving vehicles and stuff around our great country(and a
few others) and have to say in response to Chuck Reisinger's comments
about U-haul and his vehicle weight. DON'T go to U-Haul. I find their
equipment to be substandard. Check the net and you will find sites
that list multitudes of problems. I will say on their behalf that the
trailers are better than the trucks but I will only use them as a last
resort. Just recently I had move a 2WD vanagon and my trailer wasn't
fixed up yet to my liking(just got another after someone pinched my old
one). I was persistant/picky and got a "newer" tow dolly from U-haul
but I put the FRONT wheels on the road not the rear. I see people tow
all sorts of vehicles with the driving wheels on the road and if it's
OK for them but I avoid it. That's just me.
If you want to get a great deal(they'll price match at a minimum) and
rent new well serviced equipment, I'd say go with PENSKE rental. I
have had such great luck with them in the past 10 years I wish I had
bought stock in them. No, I'm NOT affiliated with them. I'm very sure
their dual axle trailer (and I'm sure the U-haul is the same) can
handle the weight of the van with no problem. I have to agree with
Jeff that finding the few sharp individuals at any rental place can be
difficult and having your own trailer (no matter what a pain of
space/money/wife) is worth everything. According to my local trailer
expert, most of the dual axle trailers are in the 7K load range.
That's GROSS vehicle weight. Subtract the weight of the trailer and
that's the max load it can carry. I suspect that while a Westy is
plenty heavy, that the weight of the trailer PLUS the Westy is only
close to the max gross weight. Even if it's pushing the limit, it's
probably well within the safety margin of design limits. If you need
to tell them it's just a Vanagon and not the Westy than do that. Just
my .02 so everyone chill if you see it differently.
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 14:15:28 -0800
From: Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon weight
The U-Haul website lists the maximum trailer capacity at 4,000 lbs., a
non-syncro Westy weighs in at 3670 lbs. (empty). As I said before, a
lot of
these U-Haul guys are not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Cheers,
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Chuck Reisinger
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 10:02 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Vanagon weight
They advised me their car carrier would not handle the
weight...also...refused to rent me one based on make and model....
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