Since it is only a few miles, why not ask/pay someone to move it for
you? My guess is the weight you list is the empty weight. Is the trailer
really empty? Tongue weight should be 10-15% of the trailer weight. This
is almost 500 lbs, again empty. This much tongue weight calls for the
use of a weight distributing (equalizer) hitch. Also, the tow vehicle
needs controls for the trailer brakes. No way would I do this with a tow
loop mounted hitch. Can you do it? Maybe, but I think the risks are not
worth it.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jim Felder
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 2:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Travel trailer towing a few miles with vanagon?

I plan to take my parents' 20-foot travel trailer to the gulf for them
(350 miles away).

I'll use my dad's truck or have it towed to get it down there, but the
truck will have to come back home. After several weeks on the campsite,
the plan is to tow it a few miles away to the long-term storage
facility, then go take it out when they want it set up, then put it
away again.

I plan to do this with my vanagon. Any reason I can't? It's the gulf,
so it's level. It's nearby on small roads, so it's slow.

The trailer weighs 3336 lbs. The tongue weight (I think) is 250 lbs.,
not more than 500 as I recall.

Is this doable if I take it easy? Can I use a bolt-on hitch? Any hitch
recommendations?

Thanks,

Jim