hmmm, it seems even poptopheaven changed their max tow from 4400 to 2400
pounds - see http://www.poptopheaven.com/about_vanagon_specification.asp

I will check my 87 camper manual tonight
flo

On 9/12/06, Rich Bennington <rich.bennington@charter.net> wrote:
>
>   Where did you find the 4400 lb rating?
>
> I did just find an aircooled vanagon (2.0 l) rating in the UK � it was:
>
> 1300 lbs max, no brakes
>
> 2645 lbs max, brakes, 1764 auto
>
>
>
> So it would seem the manual can handle more than the auto on the vanagon,
> at least on a new one! J
>
>
>
> If anyone has a user manual for a watercooled, does it say anything about
> towing?
>
>
>
> Rich
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Florian Speier [mailto:groups.florian@gmail.com]
> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:05 PM
> *To:* Rich Bennington
> *Cc:* vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> *Subject:* Re: Hitch install
>
>
>
> hitches and towing
>
> the subject always makes me wonder why there is such a difference in what
> the legislation says and what people think can be towed with safely between
> the U.S. and Europe.  I mean, at the times when the vanagon was built, it
> was a huge and heavy vehicle for German roads, and no one would think twice
> about serious towing with it. Hey, the families of my classmateds went on
> holiday towing their thirty foot camping trailer behind a ford escort (and
> that thing is really small, kind of like a 75% focus). The vanagon had a tow
> rating of two tons in germany which equals 4400pounds.  When it comes to
> brakes,  most trailers in europe have brakes. they  work by a plate  in the
> hitch, which means that  if the  trailer pushes the vehicle it activates its
> own brakes mechanically. probably not as good as electric brakes, but
> reliable and foolproof, and how many people really hook up their electric
> brakes? next difference in trailer philosophy: in the u.s., we add these
> chains in case the hitch opens up.....in germany we have a thin steel wire
> that you hang over the towhitch. when the trailer goes, the wire pulls the
> ratcheting handbrake and then rips off.  byebye trailer. Admitted, if you
> are going downhill when this happens, the brakes wont do much and the
> trailer is likely to overtake you.
> whats the lesson of tis article? no idea. except that i would like to know
> what is actually legal here in CA and OR to tow with my 87 westy.
> www.poptopheaven.com  says 4400pound, but then they say a lot of the day
> is long.... (german saying)
>
> flo
>
>  On 9/12/06, *Rich Bennington* <rich.bennington@charter.net> wrote:
>
> <
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
> Dennis Haynes
> Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 3:42 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Hitch install
>
> The main reason I designed my hitch was the experience of having the tow
> hooks snap and dropping a luggage carrier. Luckily I was in a campground
> when it fell.
>
> While the tow mounted hitches are suitable for towing small loads, the
> twisting action of any overhung load flexes the tow loops and will also
> stretch out the mounting holes on the chassis rail. My hitch addresses
> both
> those issues.
> >
>
> How much were you towing(really, how much tongue weight)?  And which
> hitch?
> Did it have a center mount besides the tow hooks? I've seen some that
> don't,
> which causes way extra torque applied right to the the holes you mention
> due
> to the twisting action you mention.  Still, with tongue weight supposed to
> be 10-15% of the load, we should be talking about 100-150 lbs.  I'm over
> that, and standing on mine, it doesn't move one bit.  I wouldn't go
> overboard on it, though, for the reasons you mention.
>
> <
> The Vanagon drive line and cooling system handles towing quite well. I
> have
> towed Vanagons but I do not recommend it. The limiting factor is brakes
> and
> most states require brakes, some with trailers as light as 1,000 pounds.
> >
>
> I'm with you on the brakes - but I sure wouldn't give my vanagon
> transmission and engine much load at 160K miles (manual
> transmission).  Most
> serious tow packages on trucks have transmission coolers(automatics) and
> "super engine cooling", which is increased capacity.  And the torque is
> typically in the 300-600 ft-lb range.  And most 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton truck
> mfgs. have very low tow ratings for manual transmissions -- you have to
> buy
> the automatics for serious towing.  So even with electric brakes, and your
> hitch, you still can't (shouldn't) tow much with a vanagon.
>
> --Rich
>
>
>