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insyncro
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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 Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:21 am Post subject: Frame Mounted Tow Hitch for Vanagon |
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I purchased this many years ago from a Vanagon owner who towed his Syncro behind a Class A motorhome.
This unit is very well built and I use it for the same purpose.
Hope this helps anyone looking to tow a vanagon.
dylan |
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vanis13
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Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 3091
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:45 am Post subject: |
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| I'd be very interested how you get the nuts inside the frame adn any other hints for frame mounting. |
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Brad4
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Joined: March 21, 2004
Posts: 60
Location: Long Island NY
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:45 am Post subject: |
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Are the brackets permanently mounted or can you switch it on other vans easily?
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91 Vanaru westy
07 GTI Fahrenheit
14 GSR Beetle
66 single cab
64 Herbie Beetle |
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insyncro
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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The mounts swap easily.
There are 6 total mounting bolts to the frame.
4 holes exist on the vans from the factory and two must be drilled...very easy to do.
The only draw back to the beefy mounts is that the tow loop in the front must be removed. That never bothered me as I usually bent them while offroading anyway.
dylan |
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vwlovr
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Joined: May 21, 2006
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Location: on the road
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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getting the nuts in there isn't easy, but there's some hole you can fit them through. i think mine came with nuts on a plate so the plate would keep the nut from spinning. i can't remember.
the brackets that bolt on are readily available from several tow bar vendors. i have a roadmaster setup on mine. the brackets alone are not cheap, like $200.
the brackets i have (which look very similar to this one) are not permanently mounted, but are not exactly easy to swap. on my syncro i had to grind off my tow hook on the front frame member. you could move it to a different van say if you bought a new van but i would not move it back and forth between vans as it would be a pita.
what you could do tho, is get a towbar and just get two sets of brackets. then you could easily swap the towbar to whatever van you wanted withing a matter of minutes.
i have the folding all terrain towbar from roadmaster on my van...
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15143
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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somebody say Tow a vanagon?  (click pic to see the Reese between the 2 vans)
This was the stop in Orlando putting the back axles back on so we could drive it onto&off of the Autotrain.
we were in a pinch, so just removed the stock chrome bumper and drilled down thru the bumper.
tow'd mom's van ~1,000mi with my 1980 ASI with 1.8 Jetta I4.
only about 100mi of on highway and probably only about 40 mi ever in 4th gear.
had 98* humid temps for alot of those miles.
kept it in 3rd gear mostly 55~60mph (gps) about 3800~4400 RPMs
from N myrtle beach to Tampa then to Orlando, loaded on autotrain then from DC to Gettysburg.
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GBA 88West LA
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Joined: September 04, 2008
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Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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when you tow a vanagon or any vehicle do you have to have wiring for brake lights and marker lights like on a regular trailer?
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
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Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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it probably helps the people behind you.
but we just put VW in Tow on the back glass and ran the hazards while underway (removed the front bulbs to save 12v juice)
we also had a very aggressive follow VW (my brother) in a Audi I5 Turbo powered vanagon (ex pizza driver to boot)
but man still alot of miles = alot of other idiot drivers. 
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vwlovr
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Joined: May 21, 2006
Posts: 1122
Location: on the road
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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| GBA 88West LA wrote: |
| when you tow a vanagon or any vehicle do you have to have wiring for brake lights and marker lights like on a regular trailer? |
yes you need something. the magnetic tow lights are the quickest to set up if it's just a temp thing.
mine are directly wired to the van using diodes. most towbar companies sell wiring kits with them. the only pita is that my RV has only turn/brake combo lights so my turn signals come on (not blinking) when braking. i have some gizmo that is supposed to fix that but i haven't installed it. for now i have smoked lenses and red LED bulbs for my turn signals so that when braking it's all red. i just have red turn signals, which isn't an issue really.
if you plan on towing regularly a braking setup is a good investment as well. several states require it for various minimum trailer weights. personally if i was only towing every now and then and my RV was pretty beefy (like large class A or super C with air brakes) i would consider skipping it (as it's very expensive), but on a smaller C or even a small A, i would get it. 4000lbs is a lot to tow and in a panic situation it could have an unwanted affect on a smaller RV that only weights 6-10k lbs. even on larger rigs, it's still a good investment if you plan on using it a lot. i have a lot of money in my RV and my syncro it's worth it. |
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j_dirge
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Location: Twain Harte, CA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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| GBA 88West LA wrote: |
| when you tow a vanagon or any vehicle do you have to have wiring for brake lights and marker lights like on a regular trailer? |
I would imagine the specifics vary somewhat by state.
Vehicle-Tow light packages can be purhcased at local FLAPS or from places like TruckandTow, Northern Tool, etc.
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| 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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insyncro
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| GBA 88West LA wrote: |
| when you tow a vanagon or any vehicle do you have to have wiring for brake lights and marker lights like on a regular trailer? |
Since I have parted so many vans...I just direct wired a spare set of rear lights that plug into my 7way plug on my tow vehicle.
I wrapped the wires into a harness and run it under the van, up to the front and along the hitch.
The spare wiring harness was less than $10 |
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insyncro
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Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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I want that folding setup for sure.
Sweet!
dylan |
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vwlovr
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Location: on the road
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:45 am Post subject: |
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| insyncro wrote: |
I want that folding setup for sure.
Sweet!
dylan |
yeah it is really nice. they have ones that detach from the toad and fold up to the RV as well, but since my RV has a liftgate/garage in the rear i opted for the toad mounted folder.
i think, i'd have to look at my set up, that your mounts are the same ones i have. i think you could cut off the draw tite mounts and bolt on (in those two holes) a mount from roadmaster to use any of their towbars. i believe that's how mine works. it has the mounts to the van that look identical to yours, then these mounting plate bolts to it, and the towbar attaches that way. the folding ones aren't exactly cheap, but if you could reuse your mounts you'd save yourself $200+.
pardon the large pic, but the smaller one doesn't really show them as well, you should be able to click it to see the it full size...
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insyncro
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Location: New York
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:03 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, they do look similar.
VWLOVR:
Is your van a 91 base model?
My favorite.
I have three, all with the P89 and P90 power option upgrades and AC.
A Carat interior finishes them off perfectly.
All of mine are white as well.
dylan |
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vwlovr
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Joined: May 21, 2006
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Location: on the road
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:28 am Post subject: |
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| insyncro wrote: |
Thanks, they do look similar.
VWLOVR:
Is your van a 91 base model?
My favorite.
I have three, all with the P89 and P90 power option upgrades and AC.
A Carat interior finishes them off perfectly.
All of mine are white as well.
dylan |
nah, it's an 87. it was originally blue but the PO gave it a maaco white paint job. i like the white, but someday i may change it up.
there was an awesome red carat that was converted to a syncro at SdM this year, that looked really great. |
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insyncro
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Location: New York
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| Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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I know Ken, the owner of the converted Carat.
Small Car did the conversion for him.
I have only seen pictures.
I own the same 91 Wolf Carat in Tornado Red, still 2wd though.
I am getting it ready for some track time at Westys at Watkins this Oct.
dylan |
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BlackChart
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Location: Skanderborg, Denmark
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| Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:55 am Post subject: |
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I've seen several pics of this but doesn't understand how the towed vehicle are turning?!
Is there some kind of connection from the hitch to the steering??
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Owner of http://www.t3nettet.dk
Denmarks largest community for VW T3 (Vanagon)
'86 DoKa, 2.0 R4i conversion and campertop
'90 DoKa Syncro, project car. |
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
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Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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Nope nothing just unlock the key (but NOT turned ON) and allow the wheels to track. aslong as there's not major problems with the alignment.
least that's what I did for the ~1,000mi I tow'd mom's camper this spring.
| BlackChart wrote: |
I've seen several pics of this but doesn't understand how the towed vehicle are turning?!
Is there some kind of connection from the hitch to the steering?? |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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vwlovr
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Location: on the road
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| Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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| BlackChart wrote: |
I've seen several pics of this but doesn't understand how the towed vehicle are turning?!
Is there some kind of connection from the hitch to the steering?? |
yup, just let it be free and it tracks to whatever is pulling it. kind of like pulling a shopping cart. it is a bit weird, but it's fine. i've pulled my van for about 20k miles so far. i would like to disable the steering lock so i can skip the key part. i've very paranoid about forgetting it after a long night at a rest stop or something. |
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