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Date:         Wed, 13 Sep 2006 09:11:47 -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
Comments: To: rich.bennington@charter.net
In-Reply-To:  <005b01c6d6ed$a29d7860$6500a8c0@notebook>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed

hmmm, it seems even poptopheaven changed their max tow from 4400 to 2400 pounds - see http://www.poptopheaven.com/about_vanagon_specification.asp

I will check my 87 camper manual tonight flo

On 9/12/06, Rich Bennington <rich.bennington@charter.net> wrote: > > 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! J > > > > 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 > > >


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