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Subject:Re: Towing an Automatic Vanagon. Cutting the drive axles?
From:Evan Mac Donald
Date:Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:08:27 -0700

Good find!

  The problem is you cannot tow an automatic trans Vanagon without destroying, and possibly seting fire to, the trans. So, you must disconnect the road wheels from the trans/center drive. But, if all you do is cut the axles, the stubs that are still connected to the road wheels will still be turning. And, those now uncontrolled and unconnected stubs will beat the ever-livin' snot out of everything within reach. That would be a Bad Thing. Pulling the axles altogether is the only acceptable solution.

craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
  So i have a chance to get a great deal on a westy interior from an '80
vanagon that's too far gone to be saved. My scrap sale price should cover
all my costs if everything works out well. The thing is, it's an automatic.
This means i cannot use a regular tow dolly, which seems to be the only
option Uhaul is giving me. Well.... What if i just cut off the drive axles?
I don't need them....
If the front wheels were up, the problem at hand is the automatic
transmission right? You could tow a manual vanagon fine with the wheels up.
So.... if i were to cut, or actually take the time to remove the drive axles
(i really don't need them. infact, i have two sets of automatic transmission
drive axles i'll sell cheeper than you could believe!), would i be able to
successfully tow said vehicle?

-Craig
'85GL (Soon to be WESTY!)