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Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:54 am

Today I went to Kragen to get headlights. Got home, took off the grille and realized I needed different lights for the "fog lights". So I went back to Kragen in my Touareg. And it occurred to me that I would go faster, get better gas mileage, and feel safer driving my Touareg towing my Westy.

Any thoughts on this idea? Anybody done it?

Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:38 am

Theres only one problem, You'll be driving a Touareg :lol:

Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:18 am

towed our hi top - mate driving our 90hp tdi skoda - me in camper.

15 miles into town - relatively flat (thankfully)
I would say use a long towing line - saves on the nerves. We had no engine power so no servo (now that is challenging on the brakes - especially when it is your own car 15 ft in front....).

GO steady - let the traffic build up behind you :D

Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:31 am

This article says yes if you have the right setup.

http://www.vanagonusedparts.com/library_article.php?id=1047

TM

Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:52 am

If you want a tow trailer, buy a tow trailer.
Or, buy a Deisel pusher and tow a Jeep.
Your missing the point of the Westy.

Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:41 pm

As I didn't take the camera when we towed the van - did a little mock up for you.....

Obviously we didn't actually use ribbon.... :oops: [/img]

Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:52 pm

ha, well i do tow my syncro 7 pass with my camper :)

btw, awesome recreation mikey! i've been toying with the idea of making a lego recreation of my RV/van :)

Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:13 pm

vwlovr wrote: ha, well i do tow my syncro 7 pass with my camper :)

btw, awesome recreation mikey! i've been toying with the idea of making a lego recreation of my RV/van :)

Arnt syncros suppose to be on a flatbed? :shock:

Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:19 pm

blakeck2 wrote: Arnt syncros suppose to be on a flatbed? :shock:

on a flat bed or all fours, it doesn't matter. auto trans needs a flatbed (or towed backwards on a dolly). you just can't tow a syncro on a dolly. i have probably 12k miles on that setup.

Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:36 pm

to touch on the OP's original question i would say even with better mileage it would not be beneficial to tow a westy behind a toureg unless you really need two vehicles when you reach your destination.

the cheapest towing route is a dolly with it's own brakes but even with a braked dolly i would not risk both vehicles for what amounts to very little in gas money (if any after you subtract the cost of the dolly and tow brake setup)

i tow my syncro because i need a small car. i flat tow because a trailer is a PITA at RV parks and campgrounds, and i don't use a dolly because it's a syncro. so i use a towbar & mounts that cost $700 and a brake system that brakes the van when i brake the RV that cost me over $1000. installed the whole set up put me back over $2000. you can buy a lot of gas for that. for me it's worth it since i live full time in our RV and i have no intention of trading my syncro in for some saturn.

Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:40 pm

I love the fact that our whole family live in the little - amazingly well designed vehicle at the back for weeks at a time. And I am 6'4"

Don't know how I would spread out to fill all that space in the towing vehicle.... ;D

Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:50 pm

mikey9 wrote: I love the fact that our whole family live in the little - amazingly well designed vehicle at the back for weeks at a time. And I am 6'4"

Don't know how I would spread out to fill all that space in the towing vehicle.... ;D

weeks...psst. when you have a house to go back to your kids can be convinced to take a lot less toys. :D

Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:38 pm

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like I would be better putting the money I would spend on a tow set up in to the engine.

I probably was missing the point a little - but I'm starting to get it. I drove it today and it started snowing. I am sort of relaxing and slowing down mentally to the car's pace. This is probably doing wonders for my blood pressure and will add years to my life.

Still, I am definitely getting 16s in the near future. It just feels a little unsafe. Maybe it's because I am used to the Touareg that feels like a tank and hauls ass (V-8 with Flowmasters and such). It just kind of scares me when someone crosses the double yellow coming the other way or a breeze or semi sends me drifting.

Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:33 am

mtlyrba wrote:
I probably was missing the point a little - but I'm starting to get it. I drove it today and it started snowing. I am sort of relaxing and slowing down mentally to the car's pace.
Some people just aren't cut out for Westys.

The Vanagon is a breadbox.. horrid aerodynamics. Introduce a gusty crosswind and it can be a major fright driving one of these things if you're used to heavier vehicles, with more "robust" powerplants... or are accustomed to low slung sedans with climate control.

No matter what you do, you will always feel the crosswinds in a Westy.. or the buffeting from semis coming at you on 2 lane hwys.. just a reality.

But you can minimize some of the unpleasantness.

As you noticed already.. you can slow down. There are threads here discussing "what speed do you cruise?".. You'll see that lots of us cruise at 60. Try that on HWY 5 from Bakersfield to the Grapevine :lol: !

Then, as you are aware, there's a major trend towards bigger, fatter wheels and tires.. which helps some.. but not as much as $750-$2000+ might suggest it would.

Then there's your old worn out shocks (best bang for buck improvement, IMO, replace em...)

Then there's the 20 yr old front suspension bushings, balljoints, steering rack, springs, etc. And there's the sway bar...

And thats just the beginning. Engine swap?

Bottom line.. A Westy will never be a Sportsmobile. It will never drive like a Touareg.. And its never gonna rumble like a Flowmaster.

But if you're up for the journey, its kinda fun to find the zone that best suits you.

Sat Jul 17, 2010 4:25 am

What kind of engine do you have in your syncro that you can push that big RV on the highway!! Would it not be easier to pull the RV than push it!!!

Sorry I could not help it.

Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:53 am

westynova wrote:
What kind of engine do you have in your syncro that you can push that big RV on the highway!! Would it not be easier to pull the RV than push it!!!

Sorry I could not help it.
the zetec is the bomb!!

A parts westy that i have has a setup to tow behind a camper. Pretty neat rig.

Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:46 am

I've towed several vans with Limey using an A-frame. Not sure if it's legal over there... it's a grey area over here!!

It's hard work and takes a lot more concentration due to the slop in the system of the van following behind at speed. Limey's already high and top heavy so it rolls a bit, add this to towing another van which wants to wander a bit and it feels like you've been driving for 12 hours after 3!

MG

Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:01 am

I am looking at doing an engine conversion in a couple of years. The contenders are:
- GW 2.3L
- Ben's Subie Conversion 2.5L
- Zetec

Sat Jul 17, 2010 12:34 pm

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? :roll:

Sat Jul 17, 2010 12:37 pm

westynova wrote: I am looking at doing an engine conversion in a couple of years. The contenders are:
- GW 2.3L
- Ben's Subie Conversion 2.5L
- Zetec

Just tow it with a Touareg.