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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
Comments: To: scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM
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 &lt;scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM&gt; To: vanagon &lt;vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM&gt; 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: &gt; On Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 5:44 PM, David Clarkson&lt;dvdclarksn@aol.com&gt; wrote: &gt; &gt;&gt; Does anyone out there know what the towing capacity is for a turbo zetec &gt;&gt; engine(I think about 180 BHP/ not sure of torque but probably slightly &gt;&gt; less) westy outfitted with bigger front disc and rear disc brakes assuming &gt;&gt; suspension is in good shape (I have HD Bilstein and getting new progressive &gt;&gt; springs). Just thinking about future plans that might involve towing. Could &gt;&gt; this setup tow 1500-1800 lbs( Harley on a light trailer or two medium size &gt;&gt; 4 wheelers) assuming safe speeds and braking and no extreme hills? Is this &gt;&gt; only possible with a Subi 3.3 and upgraded trans/axles? Thanks list. &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; David Clarkson &gt;&gt; &gt; I think you might want brakes on the trailer, too. I've towed all kinds &gt; of loads with various rigs and once the towed load gets up there in &gt; comparison to the weight of the tow vehicle...the load really 'pushes' the &gt; tow vehicle during slow down maneuvers. With some simple electric brakes &gt; and the controller properly adjusted, you'd be much happier and safer. I &gt; recently pulled a 10' Wells Cargo utility trailer with my wife's Subaru &gt; Forester...While the load was OK (about 1200lbs, I guestimate) with the &gt; power, under braking, especially when cornering, it was pretty &gt; sketchy...brakes on the trailer would have eliminated the tendency of the &gt; load to push the rear end around... &gt; &gt; Somebody will certainly chime in on the reasons you can't do it, I bet. &gt; I guess you could, the key word is guess, if you drove with care. &gt; Don Hanson &gt;


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