In a message dated 98-07-10 01:53:37 EDT, you write:

<< I would appreciate people's
 opinon and experience with towing a light weight tent trailer with 88
 vanagon auto tranny(non-westy).  How much load can a van take?  I don't
 have a trailer(or hitch) yet, so I want to find out how practical it would
 be to consider this. >>

Bill,

I just returned from a camping trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway here in Virginia
towing a very light (less than 500#'s) Apache Eagle pop-up camper with my '87
non-Westy with 4-speed tranny.
Didn't have a LOT of problems but could definitly tell it was back there -
especially on the upgrades.
On relatively level ground, however, I ran the A/C while towing and easily ran
55 - 60 mph.
The biggest problem I encountered was a 15% grade (that's right steep!) on the
approach to the Parkway where I was in between 2nd and 3rd gears.
My 4-speed's 2nd gear was too low and 3rd was too high so I had to continually
row between them to keep the rpm's in the green zone.
Your auto tranny shouldn't have this problem.

On level ground, I think the Vanagon (both auto and manual) should easily tow
500 - 1,000 #'s.
Just don't expect to accelerate with a BMW or such and allow additional
braking room for stops.

Sam Bateman
Fork Union, VA
'87 Vanagon GL (now resting)