Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:47:19 -0400
Reply-To: David Clarkson <dvdclarksn@AOL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Clarkson <dvdclarksn@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: towing capacity with big brakes and turbo zetec engine
In-Reply-To: <4F737E83.8000502@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Sorry, it is a 2WD. Trailer brakes would make good sense to me. Seems that I saw on the Zetec conversion site that the limit of the stock tranny is 300 BHP? That seems a bit high to me and maybe I could see 225 BHP and no more than 175 ft./lbs. torque as being the limit that it might take and then only with synthetic and a heavy duty clutch. Any thoughts on that?
David Clarkson
-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wed, Mar 28, 2012 5:22 pm
Subject: Re: towing capacity with big brakes and turbo zetec engine
Don's right ..
trailer brakes would make the whole affair about 75 % better and safer,
over no trailer brakes. ..
in terms of braking and braking while cornering.
stress on the trans under load ..
if you're real nice to it , it might be all right.
A trans speicialist might chime in.
I don't think it says if this is a 2WD vanagon or a Syncro AWD one.
some factor there on the trans I'd think.
On 3/25/2012 6:34 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
> On Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 5:44 PM, David Clarkson<dvdclarksn@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> Does anyone out there know what the towing capacity is for a turbo zetec
>> engine(I think about 180 BHP/ not sure of torque but probably slightly
>> less) westy outfitted with bigger front disc and rear disc brakes assuming
>> suspension is in good shape (I have HD Bilstein and getting new progressive
>> springs). Just thinking about future plans that might involve towing. Could
>> this setup tow 1500-1800 lbs( Harley on a light trailer or two medium size
>> 4 wheelers) assuming safe speeds and braking and no extreme hills? Is this
>> only possible with a Subi 3.3 and upgraded trans/axles? Thanks list.
>>
>> David Clarkson
>>
> I think you might want brakes on the trailer, too. I've towed all kinds
> of loads with various rigs and once the towed load gets up there in
> comparison to the weight of the tow vehicle...the load really 'pushes' the
> tow vehicle during slow down maneuvers. With some simple electric brakes
> and the controller properly adjusted, you'd be much happier and safer. I
> recently pulled a 10' Wells Cargo utility trailer with my wife's Subaru
> Forester...While the load was OK (about 1200lbs, I guestimate) with the
> power, under braking, especially when cornering, it was pretty
> sketchy...brakes on the trailer would have eliminated the tendency of the
> load to push the rear end around...
>
> Somebody will certainly chime in on the reasons you can't do it, I bet.
> I guess you could, the key word is guess, if you drove with care.
> Don Hanson
>
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