Dave,

Read the text that goes along with the photo of the fifth wheel trailer on
page 151.

Did you really think I made this bit of tid?  I am certain you should have
read the entire article before you decided to call me a liar.

Karl Wolz

|-----Original Message-----
|From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
|Dave Mcneely
|Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 8:23 AM
|To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|Subject: Re: Old Popular Mechanics - Make Your Own Camper
|
|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