I've been towing a small trailer similar in size and weight packed with
various loads (mostly parts) for the past 10 years with my 84 Westy, several
times coast-to-coast with no ill effects (aside from going a little slower
on some hills) and this is with an automatic.  As long as you don't exceed
say, 50-75 lbs on the tongue weight and say, 1200-1500 lbs on the trailer
weight, there shouldn't be a problem.  I'm going to upgrade to one of Dennis
Haynes' heavier duty hitches I recently purchased and would probably handle
a bigger load but I wouldn't tow anything heavier unless I upgraded the
powerplant to Subie or Zetec.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
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On Wed, Apr 2, 2008 at 7:55 PM, Slloth <slloth@comcast.net> wrote:

> Sorry I haven't really been following this subject till just now. When I
> bought my van it had a home made tow bar/hitch assembly on it. I took it
> off because it was ugly but more importantly my friend told me his
> mechanic told him that the vans where not designed to tow trailers. Is
> this true? I imagine with a stock power train this might be true but
> with a more powerful after market motor and tranny you might be more able?
>
> --
> '84 Westfalia Gasoline