Date:         Sun, 25 Sep 2005 09:19:29 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Towing my Syncro with an Element??
Comments: To: Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Date: Sunday, September 25, 2005 4:29 am
Subject: Re: Towing my Syncro with an Element??

> Yeah, isn't the element is based on the chassis of one of the
> really little
> Hondas like the civic?  Probably either option would seriously
> stress the
> towing vehicle, be uncomfortable and tedious to control, and very
> dangerousin case of emergency maneuvers.  Maybe a friend could
> drive one for you?
>
> Edward
>
> At 12:14 AM 9/25/2005, you wrote:
> >To Vanagonauts who know more than me:
> >I'm considering a move to the east coast from California. If I
> keep my
> >Syncro Westy, then I need to get both it and my Element to South
> >Carolina in as economic a manner as possible. The Element surely has
> >the power to tow the Syncro -- especially since there's no way I'd be
> >exceeding 55 MPH anywhere, but it has a 4700 pound GVWR and is towing
> >rated to 1500 lbs - and thus, I assume it's
 not rated to tow a 5K
> pound>van. That is, unless the 1500 lbs means tongue weight -- and
> even in my
> >ignorance, I'm reasonably sure it does not. The Syncro has a high
> >output waterboxer and bull bumpers with receiver hitch. I think it
> >would be up to the task, but only marginally, and it doesn't seem
> like>such a good idea to tax any waterboxer Vanagon with a Honda
> element>bolted to the back. Especially on the long passes along I10
> in Calif.
> >Anyone have any ideas about this? Would it even be legal to put the
> >Syncro behind the element? Foolish?
> >Ideas?
> >Thanks,
> >Dixon
> Actually the Element is based off of the CR-V chassis, either way it is NOT rated to tow the weight of a Syncro, and you would need trailer brakes to be legal even if it could do the job.

Mark in AK
Assistant Parts Manager
Continental Honda
Continental Acura