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Lido5110 Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:57 am Post subject: Towing Capacity of Buses |
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I have never owned a bus, but growing up in Southern California I always thought they were cool... and still do. My plane jane minivan is just about run to it's end, and I was thinking about replacing it with a bay window bus. Here's the catch... I sail/race a small dinghy sailboat on a trailer and tow it around the Northwest behind the van. The boat weighs 315 lbs. and the trailer is another 250 lbs. - all up about 565 lbs. Is a bay window bus able to be fitted with a hitch, and can it pull that load?
Thanks for your insights,
Lido |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:04 am Post subject: |
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Here is for a 77 bus witha 2.0L type 4 engine and a 091 transmission as used from 76-79 in the baywindows.....
Tounge weight is critical.
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Lido5110 Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:35 am Post subject: |
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Thats great info... Thank you!
I'm really surprised at how large the towing capacity is with trailer brakes - really impressive, and way more than I need.
Wow... this opens up alot of possibilies... off to the Classifieds section I go...
Unless there is anything else I need to worry about on trailering??? |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:52 am Post subject: |
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A well designed and installed hitch is a must.
A nice engine with plenty of torque and the ability to monitor cylinder head temperature would also help.
Great brakes and tires are both money well spent. |
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twinfalls Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2003 Posts: 2133 Location: France
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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Very interesting data.
I do not clearly understand the tongue weight:
_Why two lines ?
_Lbs/kg are inverted, isn' it.
My understanding is: They recommend from 25kg to 50kg ( This happens to be exactly my own setting about my 600kg no brake trailer ).
This means, one must balance load and make sure it doesn't move on the way.
Other recommendations:
Trailer tires are small; So check regularly about tire pressure, bearing wear, hot hubs at pit stops.
Be aware that, from the driver seat, you don't feel a trailer flat tire or a broken spring. _________________ Stock 1974 US Westy, AW-A 1800cc dual carbs. Twin Falls is my favorite site on the Churchill river in Manitoba. |
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GusC2it Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2005 Posts: 1376 Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Towing Capacity of Buses |
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Lido5110 wrote: |
I have never owned a bus, but growing up in Southern California I always thought they were cool... and still do. My plane jane minivan is just about run to it's end, and I was thinking about replacing it with a bay window bus. Here's the catch... I sail/race a small dinghy sailboat on a trailer and tow it around the Northwest behind the van. The boat weighs 315 lbs. and the trailer is another 250 lbs. - all up about 565 lbs. Is a bay window bus able to be fitted with a hitch, and can it pull that load?
Thanks for your insights,
Lido |
Hi Lido, I've been towing my Flying scot sailboat to ragatts all over Fla. for years with my 75 2L. It weighs 850 plus trailer. Go for it!! Gus _________________ 75 type 2 http://gusc1.tripod.com/1975vwtype2
Old vices have now been upgraded to bad habits.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/VW-Wild-Weekend-2011-St-Pete-Fl/197064760336111 |
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Lido5110 Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Gus... that's the endorsement I was looking for! Of course there are a few more hills/mountains up here in the Pacific NW.
I lived near Sarasota (Longboat Key) for 3 years in the late 90's.... fell in love with the west coast of Florida.
Lido |
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GusC2it Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2005 Posts: 1376 Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
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skyecatcher Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2014 Posts: 22 Location: san tan valley
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 10:07 am Post subject: |
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If I am reading this right...camper can tow up to 1600 pounds, kombi is more? |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 10:42 am Post subject: |
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They are the same.....
Without trailer brakes = 1322 pounds
With trailer brakes= 2645 pounds
You would definitley feel it back there and a CHT guage would be essential IMNSHO. Especially when you are headed up hill. |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 10:47 am Post subject: |
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I've done it with 2000 pounds. You only have 60 - 80 HP back there moving you so don't expect to spend much time in 4th gear except downhill if you pull near the full listed weight. A 800- 1000 pound trailer won't impact you like pulling one that is 2000 pounds. What you list should not be much of an issue. _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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merlinj79 Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2008 Posts: 379 Location: SOCAL
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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For stability you'd want tongue weight at least 10% of tow weight, so IMO the weight limit would be 1100 lbs.
Otherwise you're either exceeding max tongue weight for the bus, or running with the trailer CG too far aft.
But 600-ish pounds with 60-ish lbs tongue weight should be OK as long as you don't load up the bus with other stuff/people. _________________ Rick
"Pumpkin II"
Stock 2L FI '77 Westy
CA Smog Stuff
Last edited by merlinj79 on Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:14 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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merlinj79 Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2008 Posts: 379 Location: SOCAL
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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ooops. _________________ Rick
"Pumpkin II"
Stock 2L FI '77 Westy
CA Smog Stuff |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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This seems like an appropriate place to post this question:
I understand that it really is up to conjecture, but in ya'lls opinion, what is the biggest limiting factor in the bus' towing capacity?
Engine's power/overheating concerns, brakes, overall weight of the bus, tow hitch build/design/quality, etc etc.
The reason I ask is engine conversions seem to be getting more and more popular, so that would certainly change one factor.
Maybe a percentage of each factor?
Just interested in seeing your thoughts. |
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Desertbusman Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005 Posts: 14655 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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vwwestyman wrote: |
what is the biggest limiting factor in the bus' towing capacity? |
Without trailer brakes the limiting factor is by far the buses lack of ability to stop.
But it's not the concern of the actual brakes not being able to stop that load but rather the stability of the bus in a stop. A loaded trailer without it's trailer brakes pushes the rear of the towing vehicle and might push it out of control. With trailer brakes the trailer is a drag on the bus keeping the bus stable.
As far as the nitty gritty numbers don't forget that the chart info is based on 77 which has many differences from earlier models _________________ 71 Superbug
71 Westy
Last edited by Desertbusman on Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Hoody Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007 Posts: 1948
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Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:05 am Post subject: |
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bignick Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2006 Posts: 299 Location: Chattanooga, TN
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Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 10:10 am Post subject: |
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No trailer brakes would be my biggest guess. Other than that, the fact that you would probably be barely able to get out of your own way! Don't forget to inspect where the hitch bolts onto; many of these buses have rust in the back corners and if it is unfortunate enough to get to where the hitch bolts on, then it could be bad news.
I would say trailer brakes is the big one. If you have ever seen the aftermath of heavy trailer trying to be stopped by a smaller vehicle, the tire marks are telling. The trailer will pick the back end of the vehicle up and hop around before flipping. _________________ '69 bug (Bonnie)
'74 Westy (Penelope) |
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Ives676 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2013 Posts: 274 Location: Rogers, AR
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Brian Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012 Posts: 8340 Location: Oceanside
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:27 am Post subject: |
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probably the same but a little bit more. Sure you wont be worrying about overheating but you still have the same safety concerns of jack knifing or tipping over or ripping your frame in half. _________________ Wash your hands
'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper
Only losers litter |
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bignick Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2006 Posts: 299 Location: Chattanooga, TN
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:32 am Post subject: |
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Ives676 wrote: |
What is everyone's thoughts on towing capacity with a water cooled swap? (Subaru, TDI, etc.) |
I think you could probably pull more easily, but the same issues mentioned above would still come into play. Brakes (stock bus brakes AND trailer brakes are both a factor) and the condition of the bus where the hitch ties in. I'd be concerned pulling a heavy load with a bus. I've pulled some trailers with my truck that don't seem improperly loaded or out of it's limits, but it definitely caused it be a handful. I couldn't imagine towing some of those with a bus! I'd play it safe and if you are going to try something specific, then do some test runs before getting out in the heat of things. Try some hard stops and such. It might just be that you have to change your driving habits a bit more than you do for just a bus alone. _________________ '69 bug (Bonnie)
'74 Westy (Penelope) |
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