Date:         Fri, 24 Jun 2005 17:21:18 -0600
Reply-To:     jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: I need a trailer hitch
In-Reply-To:  <b304d64c05062413557b69f703@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I use the fastforward.ca combination rear bumper tow hitch.  Love it.  My
little trailer is only rated at a 1000 lbs so that is the most I have towed
so far. 13x80 lbs bags of concrete. (I know .. 1040 lbs)  from testing I
found that my slightly lighter rated brakes (1982 van) will have problems if
I load 1000 lbs inside as well.  Lots of braking distance needed.
jimt

On 6/24/05 2:55 PM, "Don in North Carolina" <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> On 6/24/05, Wesley Alden Pegden <wes@cs.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> I need a trailer hitch.  I'd really like to be able to pull a "class 2"
>> trailer from u-haul from Pittsburgh to New Jersey (I'd stay on pretty flat
>> roads).  Is this feasible?  More specifically, I'm eyeing the 5'x8'.
>>
>> Do people think I can do this safely?    And what are my best hitch options?
>> Cost is definitely a factor, but I don't want to cut corners if it's a safety
>> issue.
>>
>>
>> Thanks very much for any suggestions,
>> Wes
>
> FYI,
>
>> From the owners manual - 1986 and up (not sure if the early Vanagons
> are different):
>
> Maximum braked trailer weight -    900kg (2,000 lb)
> Maximum unbraked trailer weight - 600kg (1,320 lb)
> Maximum tongue weight -                 75kg (165 lb)
>
> NOTE 1: There is no difference listed between the Syncro and the
> passenger van.  Not sure if the camper supplement shows a lower number
> or not.
>
> NOTE 2: The above are the limits for a stock van, with all systems
> (brakes, transaxle and engine) in good repair.
>
> The only high capacity trailer hitch I know of is the South African
> one, like the one sold by Bus Depot.  The towing loop ones are
> normally rated at 1000 lbs, and I wouldn't use them for more than a
> motorcycle trailer.