FWIW:  I'm with Jeff & Dennis on this, having done similar trips
myself.  2 Vanagon trips and/or towing should be at the bottom of
your options list.  Why stress the old Vanagon which you apparently
want to keep?  Put shipping and/or rental truck/trailer at the top.
Then use your spare time to enjoy the trip more fully.  //Jack

On 21 May 2005 at 19:28, Detroit Bus wrote:

> Good Saturday afternoon to you all...
>
> I'm planning a cross-country move from NYC to LA. We are hoping to
> forego renting a moving truck and use the Vanagon instead for the
> contents of our one-bedroom apartment. I figure it will take about two
> Vanagon-loads (that's 2 VL's, official metric unit).
>
> However, if I get a small trailer, or rent a U-Haul trailer, I might
> be able to make it in one trip, which would save a lot of
> cross-country mileage (5000 miles, in fact). But I know that Vanagons
> aren't exactly happy doing their own towing and I don't want to damage
> my vehicle.
>
> So-
>
> Question 1:
> What's harder on the Vanagon ('87 GL, 160k miles, orig 5-speed, new
> wasserboxer engine): an extra trip cross-country, or one trip pulling
> a small trailer with about 800 lbs in it? I have time to make two
> trips because my new job doesn't start until late June.
>
> Question 2:
> My Vanagon does not currently have a trailer hitch. Any models I
> should look for, sizes, capacities? Anything to watch out for? What
> kind of place installs these?
>
> Question 3:
> Where could I get a good roof rack, for bicycles and light flat stuff?
> Is Thule the best option? Any suggestions for model numbers or sizes?
> Anyone sell large flat racks for Vanagons like you used to see on
> splits? Even homemade would be fine...
>
> Any other comments or suggestions on this kind of thing would be
> helpful, especially from anyone with experience good or bad moving
> with a Vanagon. A Penske truck would cost me $2000 including gasoline
> for one trip cross-country (and then i'd still have to drive the
> Vanagon out.)
>
> Garrick
>
>
>
> --
> Garrick, Queens, NY
> '87 GL Weekender
>
> *****
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.14 - Release Date: 5/20/2005
>