Date:         Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:35:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Evan Mac Donald <vanagon_dad@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Evan Mac Donald <vanagon_dad@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Towing an Automatic Vanagon. Cutting the drive axles?
In-Reply-To:  <d1ea9acf0807291916p64de35f1xf5d99468b7c74a1f@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Yes, well, the major obstacle to that would be that you cannot get to the CV at the wheel easily, and cut it off flush at that. The CV and that end of the axle live up in that lovely pocket in the suspension arm...

craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> wrote:  I sortof figured this.....
But thought "ehh, what if you cut it off flush!? With the CV at the wheel
end.
But i guess you'd still be better off pulling the axle.

-Craig
'85GL (Soon to be WESTY!)

On Tue, Jul 29, 2008 at 10:08 PM, Evan Mac Donald
wrote:

> Good find!
>
> The problem is you cannot tow an automatic trans Vanagon without
> destroying, and possibly seting fire to, the trans. So, you must disconnect
> the road wheels from the trans/center drive. But, if all you do is cut the
> axles, the stubs that are still connected to the road wheels will still be
> turning. And, those now uncontrolled and unconnected stubs will beat the
> ever-livin' snot out of everything within reach. That would be a Bad Thing.
> Pulling the axles altogether is the only acceptable solution.
>
> craig cowan
wrote:
> So i have a chance to get a great deal on a westy interior from an '80
> vanagon that's too far gone to be saved. My scrap sale price should cover
> all my costs if everything works out well. The I thing is, it's an
> automatic.
> This means i cannot use a regular tow dolly, which seems to be the only
> option Uhaul is giving me. Well.... What if i just cut off the drive axles?
> I don't need them....
> If the front wheels were up, the problem at hand is the automatic
> transmission right? You could tow a manual vanagon fine with the wheels up.
> So.... if i were to cut, or actually take the time to remove the drive
> axles
> (i really don't need them. infact, i have two sets of automatic
> transmission
> drive axles i'll sell cheeper than you could believe!), would i be able to
> successfully tow said vehicle?
>
> -Craig
> '85GL (Soon to be WESTY!)
>