Does anybody have personal experience with one on a Vanagon ('87 GL Auto, in
my case) and can give the benefits of their experience
(recommendations/warnings)? With five people (and sometimes two dogs) I'm
trying to figure some way to spread out the load without resorting to a
mini-trailer.

I pull the middle seats out and load that space and the hatch space. The
kids go on the rear bench and the wife and I are up front. I try to secure
everything as well as I can, but my concern is that in an accident somebody
stands a high risk of being crushed by something that breaks loose. I
realize that in a sufficiently violent accident it probably won't make much
difference, but that's no reason not to do what I can.

I think I'd actually prefer the trailer, but I'm concerned at this point
that I'm pushing the weight limit of the vehicle. I should load it up and
actually go weigh it, of course, and then I'll know. Anybody made that or a
similar run into the mountains with a stock 2.1, a full load and a small
trailer?

We're looking at a trip from SoCal to Durango via Cottonwood, AZ around the
first week of July with the full load of camping gear (but not the dogs).
It'd be nice to use the A/C but that may be asking too much. : /

Thoughts?

Cya,

Robert