Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 21:05:07 -0700
Reply-To: Florian Speier <groups.florian@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Florian Speier <groups.florian@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Hitch install
In-Reply-To: <005701c6d6e5$a01f52a0$6500a8c0@notebook>
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hitches and towing
the subject always makes me wonder why there is such a difference in what
the legislation says and what people think can be towed with safely between
the U.S. and Europe. I mean, at the times when the vanagon was built, it
was a huge and heavy vehicle for German roads, and no one would think twice
about serious towing with it. Hey, the families of my classmateds went on
holiday towing their thirty foot camping trailer behind a ford escort (and
that thing is really small, kind of like a 75% focus). The vanagon had a tow
rating of two tons in germany which equals 4400pounds. When it comes to
brakes, most trailers in europe have brakes. they work by a plate in the
hitch, which means that if the trailer pushes the vehicle it activates its
own brakes mechanically. probably not as good as electric brakes, but
reliable and foolproof, and how many people really hook up their electric
brakes? next difference in trailer philosophy: in the u.s., we add these
chains in case the hitch opens up.....in germany we have a thin steel wire
that you hang over the towhitch. when the trailer goes, the wire pulls the
ratcheting handbrake and then rips off. byebye trailer. Admitted, if you
are going downhill when this happens, the brakes wont do much and the
trailer is likely to overtake you.
whats the lesson of tis article? no idea. except that i would like to know
what is actually legal here in CA and OR to tow with my 87 westy.
www.poptopheaven.com says 4400pound, but then they say a lot of the day is
long.... (german saying)
flo
On 9/12/06, Rich Bennington <rich.bennington@charter.net> wrote:
>
> <
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
> Dennis Haynes
> Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 3:42 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Hitch install
>
> The main reason I designed my hitch was the experience of having the tow
> hooks snap and dropping a luggage carrier. Luckily I was in a campground
> when it fell.
>
> While the tow mounted hitches are suitable for towing small loads, the
> twisting action of any overhung load flexes the tow loops and will also
> stretch out the mounting holes on the chassis rail. My hitch addresses
> both
> those issues.
> >
>
> How much were you towing(really, how much tongue weight)? And which
> hitch?
> Did it have a center mount besides the tow hooks? I've seen some that
> don't,
> which causes way extra torque applied right to the the holes you mention
> due
> to the twisting action you mention. Still, with tongue weight supposed to
> be 10-15% of the load, we should be talking about 100-150 lbs. I'm over
> that, and standing on mine, it doesn't move one bit. I wouldn't go
> overboard on it, though, for the reasons you mention.
>
> <
> The Vanagon drive line and cooling system handles towing quite well. I
> have
> towed Vanagons but I do not recommend it. The limiting factor is brakes
> and
> most states require brakes, some with trailers as light as 1,000 pounds.
> >
>
> I'm with you on the brakes - but I sure wouldn't give my vanagon
> transmission and engine much load at 160K miles (manual
> transmission). Most
> serious tow packages on trucks have transmission coolers(automatics) and
> "super engine cooling", which is increased capacity. And the torque is
> typically in the 300-600 ft-lb range. And most 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton truck
> mfgs. have very low tow ratings for manual transmissions -- you have to
> buy
> the automatics for serious towing. So even with electric brakes, and your
> hitch, you still can't (shouldn't) tow much with a vanagon.
>
> --Rich
>
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