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Date:         Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:58:24 -0400
Reply-To:     Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: FW: Car top carrier?
Comments: To: Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <003b01cadcf0$b299b500$17cd1f00$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I have made quite a few runs with a decent load and a small trailer on trips to the mountains, Canada, Florida and other places. This was while I still had the wheezy 1.9 in my 84 Westy.

I started with a Harbor Freight 40x48 trailer kit onto which I mounted a piece of treated plywood as floor and tied a large car top carrier to hold my stuff. I later had a frame built and installed birch plywood sides and a hinged top. The trailer pulls well, but backing can be tricky. In a worst case I get out and lift the back of the trailer to swing it into a desirable spot.

Forget putting anything on top of your Vanagon as it costs MPG, stability and stress. The trailer stays tucked in the slipstream and is not that noticeable given you load it evenly. 2010/4/15, Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@gmail.com>: > Does anybody have personal experience with one on a Vanagon ('87 GL Auto, in > my case) and can give the benefits of their experience > (recommendations/warnings)? With five people (and sometimes two dogs) I'm > trying to figure some way to spread out the load without resorting to a > mini-trailer. > > > > I pull the middle seats out and load that space and the hatch space. The > kids go on the rear bench and the wife and I are up front. I try to secure > everything as well as I can, but my concern is that in an accident somebody > stands a high risk of being crushed by something that breaks loose. I > realize that in a sufficiently violent accident it probably won't make much > difference, but that's no reason not to do what I can. > > > > I think I'd actually prefer the trailer, but I'm concerned at this point > that I'm pushing the weight limit of the vehicle. I should load it up and > actually go weigh it, of course, and then I'll know. Anybody made that or a > similar run into the mountains with a stock 2.1, a full load and a small > trailer? > > > > We're looking at a trip from SoCal to Durango via Cottonwood, AZ around the > first week of July with the full load of camping gear (but not the dogs). > It'd be nice to use the A/C but that may be asking too much. : / > > > > Thoughts? > > > > Cya, > > Robert >

-- Chris S. "No solution is too complex to be executed incorrectly"


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