David,

*Blue Highways* is a great book.  I read it, not coincidentally, a few
months before I bought my first Vanagon.

On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 8:22 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:

> 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 <http://www.busesbythebeach.com/>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>>
>