Flat towing a Syncro behind a RV

[Bassyaks]

Has anyone towed their Syncro behind a RV, I thinking about it, it will allow more stuff to be brought along and kayaks or whatever can be mounted on top.
The RV is a class B+ with a Ford v-10 with a towing package . I thinking that the driveshaft should be removed for better turning radius. What would your concerns be.

[MarkWard]

I’m not a fan of flat towing. Had a crazy wreck once. Ever since, I have used a trailer with electric brakes.

Removing the driveshaft seems like a pain in the butt. A decoupler would be way easier. Flat towing is going to wear the driveline just like it would driving it. Lots of moving parts.

So, for short trips, it’s probably fine. I would not flat tow cross country.
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[danfromsyr]

it's fine, and others have done it for thousands of miles.

you can buy a RV braking system for the Tow'd vehicle which is required in some states @ the weight rating of a Syncro loaded with gear anyways. I see those on craigslist from time to time so watch the market.

you do not need to remove the driveshaft for turning radius.. it'll follow the RV in any regular turning radius it'll do just fine. the VC doesn't really care since there's no power being applied. it's the differentials and tires (diameter) that will impact the radius.
https://albany.craigslist.org/pts/d/albany-blue-ox-tow-bar-brake-system/7211824945.html


we did this for ~1ooo miles when we had a break down on a NY to FL family trip.
it was 'fine' albeit a little outside the ratings of the towing vehicle
* had a 1.8l ~105hp Jetta I4 fwiw

[16CVs]

Be super Anal to ensure that the van is in Neutral before taking off. There's a fellow member here that towed his Syncro behind his motorhome and left it in gear. He said he had noticed some resistance when he first took off and then it cleared up and rolled fine.
Needless to say it took out his Trans and his engine, he estimates that the driveline was spinning about 14K before it exploded.

Stacy
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1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
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Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
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[danfromsyr]

very much a valid point.. multiple REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT warnings and reminders need to be placed around the flight cabins of both vehicles.

there's a Bay guy who did the same behind his motor home.. 1st gear @ 45mph is destruction and smoke quite possibly even fire.

if you are a forgetful, distracted or just plain stressed out type of individual take a serious look at your attitudes and behavior
I've a few friends that I wouldn't ever recommend such an endeavor to..

and don't listen to those who say it can just pop into 1st gear..
they're likely either parroting some alert others have said
those others quite likely forgot to put it into neutral and can't accept that fact.. instead blaming it on witchcraft.

[Sodo]

You’re spinning lots of “stuff”, but its all at “no load”.
How often will you be doing full-lock turns while towing, that might wear out the VC? Once or twice, at very low speed.
Much less than when driving the Syncro.
No stress, no problem.

I’d build a wooden “fixture” that positively, absolutely, and VISIBLY holds the gear lever in neutral. Plywood and 2x4s.
I highly doubt it would “fall”into a gear.

The risk is someone knocking it into a gear while loading stuff, cargo shifting, a dog, kid, well-meaning old fart who always leaves a parked car in gear, or just forgetting. One glance at the “neutral fixture” and all is well.
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[MarkWard]

[Bassyaks]

Removing the drive shaft is a 20 minute job and I don't even have to raise the van. I do have a decoupler with a solid shaft inplace of the VC. Does anyone have photo of the tow bar installed.

[danfromsyr]

lotsa pics in the towbar threads
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search_keywords=towbar&search_forum=20



maybe wld*wsty will chime in.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520559&highlight=towing

[danfromsyr]

ok because we like pik-tures more than following links to other threads where it's already been discussed ad nauseum but hey who like to search through the forum for such obscure things like a tow bar.. shirlely no one else has blazed this trail before.


anyways.. if your Universal joints are about to explode in the next trip then maybe you should pass on the notion altogether, stay home and grease your rotating bits and bobs.

a tow'd tire monitoring system would be handy though. that's far more likely to happen. than grenading a transaxle or driveshaft.

from this thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9100124

[Sodo]

[4Gears4Tires]

At $10/quart, it's more like $50. But I definitely agree with you.
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[Sodo]

[Microbusdeluxe]

I'll be the skunk in the garden party. Get rid of some stuff and you won't need to tow a full blown Westy behind a big RV. I can imagine you will spend 1/2 your time searching for the thing you want which will undoubtedly be buried under your other stuff.
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'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[Abscate]

I think the westy needs a tow hitch rack with a tent and a pop up trailer to complete the series
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[vanagonjr]

[danfromsyr]

a vanagon makes a great tow'd behind a motorhome. as a road trip weekender vehicle for excursions away from the mobile hoe base.

people certainly use and lifestyle these in very varied ways.

me I bought a 82 rabbit to tow behind my vanagon for when I camp, to carry stuff and to use as the runner to town/places so I
1) don't have to break camp for (kayak launching, store/firewood running/sight seeing)
2) often times I want to do one/some of the above and my other half wants to stay @ camp and read a book or vice-versa. so i/we don't do all that I/we want to do at some time.

more options, more fun (more complications more hassle too )

[MarkWard]

Wouldn’t this reverse load on the ring and pinions as well as the gear pairs for an extended period of time and at highway speeds, at a high rpm? I would be interested to hear what Gears has to say about this. I’m sure you can get away with this, but is it a good idea?
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[4Gears4Tires]

[danfromsyr]