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mtlyrba Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Lake County, CA
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:54 am Post subject: Anybody tow their camper? |
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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? |
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blakeck2 Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2009 Posts: 939 Location: Los Osos, CA
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:38 am Post subject: |
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Theres only one problem, You'll be driving a Touareg |
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mikey9 Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2009 Posts: 126 Location: Inverness, Scotland
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:18 am Post subject: TOwing |
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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 |
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Travlinman Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Crested Butte
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buildyourown Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2009 Posts: 1668 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:52 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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mikey9 Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2009 Posts: 126 Location: Inverness, Scotland
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject: Didn't take pics so here goes... |
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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.... [/img] |
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vwlovr Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 1122 Location: on the road
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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blakeck2 Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2009 Posts: 939 Location: Los Osos, CA
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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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? |
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vwlovr Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 1122 Location: on the road
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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blakeck2 wrote: |
Arnt syncros suppose to be on a flatbed? |
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. |
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vwlovr Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 1122 Location: on the road
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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mikey9 Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2009 Posts: 126 Location: Inverness, Scotland
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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vwlovr Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 1122 Location: on the road
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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mtlyrba Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Lake County, CA
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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j_dirge Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 4641 Location: Twain Harte, CA
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:33 am Post subject: |
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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 !
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. _________________ -89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.
-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5
danfromsyr wrote: |
those are straight line runs with light weight race cars for only 1/4mile at a time..
not pushing a loaded brick up a mountain pass with a family of 4+ inside expecting to have an event free vacation..
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westynova Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008 Posts: 209 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 4:25 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ 84 Westy
2010 VW Golf TDI Wagon
2009 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited, Lifted and Locked |
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Williamtaylor33 Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 1545 Location: Arkansas
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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:53 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ 89 Bostig powered syncro westy |
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SyncroGhia Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2009 Posts: 2458 Location: Highnam, UK
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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:46 am Post subject: |
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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 _________________ T3 Syncro 16 S6 Westfalia Limey SOLD
T3 Syncro 6x6 SOLD
T3 RS6 Bluestar
T3 Tristar Syncro 16 SOLD
T3 Tristar Syncro RHD SOLD |
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westynova Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008 Posts: 209 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:01 am Post subject: |
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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 _________________ 84 Westy
2010 VW Golf TDI Wagon
2009 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited, Lifted and Locked |
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tschroeder0 Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2008 Posts: 2096 Location: Boulder CO
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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? |
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funagon Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006 Posts: 1308 Location: SLC, UT
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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ 1990 GL 7-passenger
2.2 liter WBX |
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