I apologize.  I was wrong concerning the number of loops on the front of my camper ('91 Vanagon GL Campmobile).  In fact, I can find no loops on the front.  There are two on the year.  The loops are not mentioned in the owner's book.  The one time I have had the van towed, it was towed on a flat bed, and the operator winched it aboard by the axles and tied it down.  I do not remember the tie down method.

Now, if I were stuck and needed to pull the vehicle out, if possible, the loops on the rear would be my attachment points.  If not, frame members on the front would serve.  I have done that with other vehicles in the past, but never with the van.  I believe the van would require a pretty good sized vehicle as an extraction force.  I do travel into back country locations, but have avoided traversing stretches of deep sand or mud more than a vehicle length.  I certainly don't drive onto gravel bars or dry sand unless there is clear indication that it is traversible.  But, like Mr. Squirrel and others I do stop on the side of the road (which is where Mr. Squirrel indicated he got stuck).

Now I am wondering why, if other vanagons have a loop on the front, mine doesn't.  But I certainly feel foolish.  Memory is a strange thing.  In my mind I could clearly see those two loops.  Perhaps the fact that the previous owner had set the vehicle up for towing by an RV influenced my memory.

mcneely
---- Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
> David, I'll look at that tomorrow.
> ---- David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:
> > At 07:56 PM 5/24/2011, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> > >Mr. Squirrel, my '91 camper has tow loops on the front, as well.
> >
> > Does yours have two?  I've only ever seen one on the front, on the right side.
> >
> > Just to be picky, neither the one(s) in the front nor the back are
> > "tow loops."  They are "holdfast points" by means of which the
> > vehicles are lashed down to the deck during their ocean passage from
> > builder to point of sale, and they're meant to take a strain pointed
> > maybe 30-45 degrees downward.  What you do with them afterwards is
> > entirely up to you.
> >
> > In particular I'd be inclined to be very cautious about applying side
> > loads, especially to the forward one.  I don't have any hard data on
> > this, just a feeling.
> >
> > Yours,
> > David
> >
>
> --
> David McNeely

--
David McNeely