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Date:         Thu, 15 Oct 1998 23:16:45 -0400
Reply-To:     John Anderson <janderson@IOLINC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         John Anderson <janderson@IOLINC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Jettas Towing Vanagon??
Comments: To: mike and becky <mayfly95@PAONLINE.COM>, vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Totally unrelated, but I did just tow a '70 single cab (maybe 3000 lb) 1/2 way cross country on a Subaru Outback Legacy. The legacy was 4 wheel disk and is something over 140 hp or so with the 2.5 l boxer 4. The power was quite all right, brakes were marginal. Towed with a bar all 4 Bus wheels on the ground.

Now a vanagon is going to be heavier than the bus was, the Jetta lighter than the Subaru and less power and less brakes unless it is a GLI. Even then you would need at least a 3000 lb rated hitch (mine was a "heavy" Class 2, not a class 3, by hidden hitch, very nice quality) and some sort of tow bar.

My tow was alright, and I bet the Jetta could move the Van alright but stopping would be nightmarish, going down hills the same, the Vanagon would way outweigh the tow vehicle and I already noticed a real tendancy for the Bus to jerk the Subaru around greatly. The van would try to run over the Jetta and shove it aside all the time.

I wouldn't do it.

The reverse tow would be acceptable but slow and still a bit light on braking but with the nice Class 3 Vanagon hitch and tires in the Jetta pumped way up (40psi or so?) you could probably get by. Would be slow towing but we used to tow a fairly heavy pop up camper (about 1500 lb) with both the '76 and the '86 with no real trouble. If the van engine is strong and the brakes good, I'd attempt it that way.

John janderson@iolinc.net


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