At 08:02 PM 9/03/99 -0800, you wrote:
>
From:    David and Cathy Knightly <knightly@MEGALINK.NET>
>Subject: towing with a vanagon

>Can anyone give me some idea how much I can tow behind a Vanagon without =
>burning out the transmission?  Could I haul, say, a Beetle behind it all =
>day on the freeway?  The owner's manual simply says that towing "beyond =
>the normal useage of the vehicle".  I know lots of people tow stuff.  =
>Thanks.
>Dave way up in Maine

 Dave,

 FWIW,I towed a '76 Crew Cab on a car trailer behind my '92 5 speed WBX
 for about 400klms (for the gates and a few other good bits for my crew)
 a couple of years back.I think they weigh 1190 kg (plus the trailer)

 The trip involved quite a few big hills and some steep windy roads.
 I kept the speed to around 80 kph (50mph) most of the time and rarely
 used 5th but the Transporter handled it without any complaint.

 The combined weight of the crew cab & trailer was about the same
 weight as the Wasserboxer,so it was bordering on the absolute maximum
 I should tow.The gale force winds at the time didn't make it much fun
 but the WBX had enough torque to handle the job admirably.

 I wouldn't like to do it all the time but if you're careful and leave
 lots of braking distance at all times you should be OK.Beetles only
 weigh around 790 kg,I think.Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 Cheers,

 Steve O.
 Blue Mountains NSW Aus.

 '92 Transporter WBX
 '76 Crew Cab
 '68 Beetle
  and looking after a '89 WBX Safari Camper