Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 01:04:07 -0700
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: Re: Fwd: Towing a trailer
In-Reply-To: <17250-361689DA-1586@mailtod-221.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
My experiences of towing with my Double Cab is things are no problems as
long as what you are towing is light or has brakes.
When I had the 70hp 1.6L in my truck I hauled a 1979 GTI 150km on a U=haul
tow dolly. Acceration was not not fantastic, but once I got rolling
maintaining 90km/h was easy. The initial take off required starting in
bull low. Now with the 115+ hp 2.0L take off and acceration is not a
problem. The problem that I had is stopping. My brakes are due for
replacement soon, but there is something to be said about another 2000kg
(50% more weight) wanting to push you along. Long hills require gearing
down before going down them, don't tailgate anyone and leave your self lots
of time to stop. Mind you this is all really common sence!
Hauling a car across town on a U-haul car trailer (with brakes) was
fantastic even though I had to sweet talk the U-haul guy into renting me
the trailer. He said that that Vanagon is not allowed to tow the trailer
according to the U-haul book. I show him my "Audi Powered" Vanagon and he
let me take it. Persoanlly I think it is better to use a trailer with
brakes than not with breaks (the tow dolly IS allowed to be towed by
Vanagons).
At 15:32 10/3/98 -0500, Bill Urban wrote:
>2nd try.
>
>X-WebTV-Signature: 1
> ETAtAhR8R763TaG6VPNF+1iklvjwwpb2cQIVALX63iMYBUJ/WK0FQEvpiBbmHBuu
>From: KC-Sadie-VW@webtv.net (Bill Urban)
>Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 22:48:50 -0500 (CDT)
>To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Towing a trailer
>Message-ID: <2987-36159EA2-4416@mailtod-222.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
>Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit
>MIME-Version: 1.0 (WebTV)
>
>Hello everybody.
>
>I've only owned my van for a couple of months now and I think it is a
>very decent vehicle that is fun to drive. While this is my first van it
>is my third VW, the others being bugs.
>
>My questions are about towing. Is towing to be avoided at all costs?
>What is the maximum weight of load that can be towed without damaging
>the van or making it accelerate like a slug? Are there any
>modifications (tranny cooler,oil cooler,etc.) that are recommended?
>Busboys sells a hitch - is it a good one?
>
>My van is a 1991 Carat with a 2.1 (98000mi.) and an automatic trans. and
>A/C. I mainly want to tow a boat trailer of some kind such as a jetski,
>canoe, paddleboat, or a small ski boat. I currently tow my 17ft. skiboat
>with my old '75 IHC Scout but since the vanagon has the back seat that
>makes a bed it sure would be nice to be able to camp and tow with it
>even if it meant a smaller water toy.
>
>I tried the archives but the system did not respond to my search
>commands. Any helpful advice would be appreciated.
>
>Later,
>
>Bill Urban
>Kansas
>'91 Carat
>
>
-- David Marshall Quesnel BC Canada mailto:david@volkswagen.org --
-- 73 Audi 100LS, 78 1.8L VW Rabbit, 80 2.0L VW Caddy --
-- 87 Audi 5KQ, 85 1.8L VW Cabrio, 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab --
-- Volkswagen Homepage http://www.volkswagen.org --
| 
