Totally unrelated, but I did just tow a '70 single cab (maybe 3000 lb) 1/2
way cross country on a Subaru Outback Legacy.  The legacy was 4 wheel disk
and is something over 140 hp or so with the 2.5 l boxer 4.  The power was
quite all right, brakes were marginal.  Towed with a bar all 4 Bus wheels on
the ground.

Now a vanagon is going to be heavier than the bus was, the Jetta lighter
than the Subaru and less power and less brakes unless it is a GLI.  Even
then you would need at least a 3000 lb rated hitch (mine was a "heavy" Class
2, not a class 3, by hidden hitch, very nice quality) and some sort of tow
bar.

My tow was alright, and I bet the Jetta could move the Van alright but
stopping would be nightmarish, going down hills the same, the Vanagon would
way outweigh the tow vehicle and I already noticed a real tendancy for the
Bus to jerk the Subaru around greatly.  The van would try to run over the
Jetta and shove it aside all the time.

I wouldn't do it.

The reverse tow would be acceptable but slow and still a bit light on
braking but with the nice Class 3 Vanagon hitch and tires in the Jetta
pumped way up (40psi or so?) you could probably get by.  Would be slow
towing but we used to tow a fairly heavy pop up camper (about 1500 lb) with
both the '76 and the '86 with no real trouble.  If the van engine is strong
and the brakes good, I'd attempt it that way.

John
janderson@iolinc.net