Removing the entire A/C system would be a major undertaking and might adversely affect the resale value of your van (if this matters to you), and haphazardly removing components would leave a butchered system that might make buyers what else on the van had been treated that way.  Even an inop system, if complete, would be less likely to turn off many prospective buyers.  I would not have bought my van without A/C, even though it was not working at the time.
You can simply remove the belt to the compressor in order to reduce drag.  
Freon recovery is best left to the professionals.
Good luck!
Stephen 

    On Thursday, March 10, 2016 5:45 AM, jbclem <jbclem1@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
 

 I have a 1986 Vanagon, and I have no use for the air conditioner.  I'd like to remove it to get it out of the way and also to cut down on engine drag.  I have two questions:

1.  when the air conditioner is off, is there any engine drag or is it totally free wheeling?
2.  is it possible to save the Freon (or whatever is in there) at home, without a specialized device?