Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 21:32:33 -0700
Reply-To: Rich Bennington <rich.bennington@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rich Bennington <rich.bennington@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Hitch install
In-Reply-To: <dad0e8a40609122105t51b40392s3556a71162f87154@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Where did you find the 4400 lb rating?
I did just find an aircooled vanagon (2.0 l) rating in the UK - it was:
1300 lbs max, no brakes
2645 lbs max, brakes, 1764 auto
So it would seem the manual can handle more than the auto on the vanagon, at
least on a new one! :-)
If anyone has a user manual for a watercooled, does it say anything about
towing?
Rich
_____
From: Florian Speier [mailto:groups.florian@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:05 PM
To: Rich Bennington
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Hitch install
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
