Admittedly did not read the entire article, but I am certain that it did
not advocate pulling a trailer via the rain gutters of anything.  I did
read enough to notice the admonition to make sure the bumper is properly
reinforced before using it for a hitch to pull a trailer.  Not a good
idea to use a car bumper, either, though it formerly was commonly done
-- when there were bumpers.

The article also stated that a subcompact car could tow half its weight,
a full size car up to slightly more than its weight.  I think that
modern subcompacts and compacts, and even some larger cars are
recommended not to tow.  I know my Honda Accord ('97) and my Prius ('06)
owner's manuals state that one should not tow with them.

So far as the great load of work to build a van conversion DIY, remember
that the magazine is _Popular Mechanics_, devoted to DIY.  Back in the
day, the magazine featured many projects that were impractical from a
time and effort standpoint.  Sort of like owning a Vanagon, and then
there one has to add from a cost standpoint, too.

For a more practical approach to DIY van conversion, one could consider
what author John Heat Moon did.  See his book _Blue Highways_.  Things
don't have to be complicated or difficult to be good.

Maybe you would and maybe you wouldn't have bought a VW Camper back int
eh day.  In 1972 a pickup sold for around $3000, a Toyota Corolla for
around $2500.  A VW Camper sold for more like $16K.

David Mc
On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 8:48 AM, Peter T. Owsianowski wrote:

> It was the '70's, Karl.  Not much clear thinking back then?
> ------Original Message------
> From: Karl Wolz
> To: Pete's Gmail
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: RE: Old Popular Mechanics - Make Your Own Camper
> Sent: Jan 29, 2010 09:30
>
> Can you imagine pulling a 27 foot fifth wheel trailer attached to the
> rain
> gutters of a Datsun 510?????
>
> That's scary.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> |-----Original Message-----
> |From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> |Peter T. Owsianowski
> |Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 5:44 AM
> |To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> |Subject: Old Popular Mechanics - Make Your Own Camper
> |
> |*Some Prhydae Phun - how to make your own poptop camper.
> |
> |Check out the cool '70's ads, too.  I forgot how outdoorsy they made
> |smoking
> |look.
> |
> |http://tinyurl.com/cuhw9u*
> |
> |**
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |--
> |Pete
> |'79 Westy "Aardvark"
> |'87 Westy "Joe's Van"
> |WWW.Busesbythebeach.com
>
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry