Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 09:04:30 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Place to mount shackles?
In-Reply-To: <20110524233713.CE9BO.554704.imail@eastrmwml32>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I apologize. I was wrong concerning the number of loops on the front of my camper ('91 Vanagon GL Campmobile). In fact, I can find no loops on the front. There are two on the year. The loops are not mentioned in the owner's book. The one time I have had the van towed, it was towed on a flat bed, and the operator winched it aboard by the axles and tied it down. I do not remember the tie down method.
Now, if I were stuck and needed to pull the vehicle out, if possible, the loops on the rear would be my attachment points. If not, frame members on the front would serve. I have done that with other vehicles in the past, but never with the van. I believe the van would require a pretty good sized vehicle as an extraction force. I do travel into back country locations, but have avoided traversing stretches of deep sand or mud more than a vehicle length. I certainly don't drive onto gravel bars or dry sand unless there is clear indication that it is traversible. But, like Mr. Squirrel and others I do stop on the side of the road (which is where Mr. Squirrel indicated he got stuck).
Now I am wondering why, if other vanagons have a loop on the front, mine doesn't. But I certainly feel foolish. Memory is a strange thing. In my mind I could clearly see those two loops. Perhaps the fact that the previous owner had set the vehicle up for towing by an RV influenced my memory.
mcneely
---- Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
> David, I'll look at that tomorrow.
> ---- David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:
> > At 07:56 PM 5/24/2011, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> > >Mr. Squirrel, my '91 camper has tow loops on the front, as well.
> >
> > Does yours have two? I've only ever seen one on the front, on the right side.
> >
> > Just to be picky, neither the one(s) in the front nor the back are
> > "tow loops." They are "holdfast points" by means of which the
> > vehicles are lashed down to the deck during their ocean passage from
> > builder to point of sale, and they're meant to take a strain pointed
> > maybe 30-45 degrees downward. What you do with them afterwards is
> > entirely up to you.
> >
> > In particular I'd be inclined to be very cautious about applying side
> > loads, especially to the forward one. I don't have any hard data on
> > this, just a feeling.
> >
> > Yours,
> > David
> >
>
> --
> David McNeely
--
David McNeely
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