Date:         Tue, 24 Nov 1998 07:58:18 -0000
Reply-To:     Frank LaHorgue <lahorgue@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Frank LaHorgue <lahorgue@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Towing
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Dane:

For many years, I towed my sailplane [glider] with my 86 GL.  The trailer
and airplane together weighed 1700 lbs, slightly more than the 1500 lb. tow
limit of the Vanagon.  The trailer was 28 feet long and a little smaller in
cross section than the Vanagon.

My first clutch lasted 150,000 miles.  I rebuilt the manual tranny at
170,000 when I installed a rebuilt engine.  The 86GL now shows 211,000. I
have no way of estimating how many miles I put on with this combination, but
it does include many thousands of miles in the southwestern deserts and a
number of trips up and down the Sierras.

Curiously, I would average about the same fuel consumption with or without
the trailer.  The long trailer must have smoothed out the aerodynamics to
compensate for the added weight.

You will find pulling the Hobie Cat is a piece of cake.

Frank LaHorgue