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Vanagon Tow bar!
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GVW is loaded with 4 adults and 15g water and gear.. it's not the static weight. the #5,ooo bar is more than adequate for the vanagon.
just don't load it up with your moving items.
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wasted youth wrote:
I think the GVWR sticker on that 1981 Westfalia I was looking at showed 5,200 pounds or so. Capacity of the tow bar shows 5,000

http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-capacity-adjustable-tow-bar-94696.html?hftref=cj


You are good.

GVW is fully loaded with people and supplies.
An empty Van weighs far less than 5000 pounds.
I've seen 3800lb numbers tossed around......

BTW ....
UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL!!!!!!!!!
If you don't you are going to have an exciting first couple of hundred feet!

Dave
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Wasted youth
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 3:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

^^ Sweet. Got a little concerned there... apparently I don't have a clear idea on GVWR. Laughing
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syncrodoka
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gross
Vehicle
Weight
Rating

How much in total it is rated to weigh. Wink
My truck was weighed by a certified weighmaster at 3600LBS.


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djkeev
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GVWR.......... Exceed 5200 lbs, you are over loaded and unsafe to drive.

Dave
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Jem5649
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did actually get worried there for a sec...

I did not know what GVWR stood for, but I didn't understand how the van could gain almost 2000 pounds from curb weight (3537lbs) to hit what I found on Vanagon.com for the GVWR (5072lbs) fully loaded... I know I weigh a stout 120lbs, and my gear maybe another 500+water so maybe 4000lbs max was what I was thinking!

On another note, what do people think on attaching the tow bar, is it better to drill a hole in the mounting plate and go with one bolt per, or go with drilling the van and two holes per mounting bracket?
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i did the 2 bolts per bracket 1st
it's more invasive to the van.
now i do the one large bolt per bracket in the middle (requires drilling the big hole in bracket)
you MUST make a large thick backing plate for inside/under the clamshell
also you must remove the front bumper skin.

check the bolts regularly for looseness.

also buy/use safety chains.. DOT required.
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tlbranth
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

so it's OK to tow a 2wd with the back wheels down? Good thing to know since it's a Volkswagen.
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

standards..
you can flat tow the Syncro with all 4 wheels down

automatics require the axles (both) removed.
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Tristar Eric
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yup they work fine...


Link

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nemobuscaptain
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

Racerrojo wrote:
and from the rear use one of the plates that come with it and 9.5'' grade 8 19mm bolts, this will fit between the radiator supports and frame work on the van (driver side pictured

I love this idea, but where does one find a 9.5 inch grade 8 (10.9?) 19mm bolt?

Fastenal looks at me like Ive got horn growing out of my head when I asked.
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

It's not 19mm, thats 3/4" .....

If I recall I got 1/2" bolts from fastenal.

You want known quality bolts with a paper trail..... Not a no name chinese POS.

Too much at stake shoukd the bolt fail.

Dave
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nemobuscaptain
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

For anyone else looking for bolts, 1/2 inch by 9.5 inches (grade 8. ) probably works. 1/2 x 10 does not work well. Youd have to add like 1/2 inch of washers.

I got M12 x 240mm grade 10.9 from Fastenal.

Feels nice being able to tow a vehicle home if necessary.

Everyone should have one of these!!!!
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topflood
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PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2016 12:10 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

When towing the van, do you need to tie the steering wheel so it stays straight, or simply unlock and let the wheels turn as they wish. I would think you would need to strap the wheel.
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2016 12:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

hundreds of miles with steering unlocked and not strapped.

don't know what would happen if the tow'd got a front flat tire, though I'm fairly sure it'd present itself fairly quickly.
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vwlovr
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PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2016 1:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

topflood wrote:
When towing the van, do you need to tie the steering wheel so it stays straight, or simply unlock and let the wheels turn as they wish. I would think you would need to strap the wheel.


leave a key in it so it stays unlocked and it's fine to turn as they wish. i have done this for literally thousands of miles behind an RV and it's totally fine.
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ManneBk
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 6:17 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

Anybody here would recomend a towbar-system to for towing a Vanagon behind a truck?

Preferably a system that does work with a mounted Multivan bumper on the Vanagon and including assisted break in the towed Vanagon.

I also would prefer if it hitches to an euro ball hitch, because my Mercedes Snubnose Truck hase one.

I would need online shopping as Im not located in the states, but am not sure what system is a good and proven one, dont want to ship it back and forth because its no good.

Thanks
Manne
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 6:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

I know this is a necro bump and you've solved your need or moved on
but to answer the questions

there are base plates available to bolt onto a vanagon to affix a tow bar.
these are roadmaster brand a big towing equipment manufacturer here in the US so if they say it's good it's good enough for their lawyers/insurances
https://www.etrailer.com/Base-Plates/Volkswagen/Vanagon/1986/1208-1.html?VehicleID=19861006947

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


and you can also get a brake assist unit for the tow'd vehicle that will use the tow'd vehicles brakes.. this is required in many states over a certain GVW of the tow'd vehicle. these units aren't cheap, but I do see them used from time to time in the local online classified marketplaces
https://www.google.com/search?q=rv+towing+brake+systems
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


ManneBk wrote:
Anybody here would recomend a towbar-system to for towing a Vanagon behind a truck?

Preferably a system that does work with a mounted Multivan bumper on the Vanagon and including assisted break in the towed Vanagon.

I also would prefer if it hitches to an euro ball hitch, because my Mercedes Snubnose Truck hase one.

I would need online shopping as Im not located in the states, but am not sure what system is a good and proven one, dont want to ship it back and forth because its no good.

Thanks
Manne

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otiswesty
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2023 2:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

Thanks for that. I'm looking for a tow bar to pull my Doka down to Baja from Oregon.
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2023 12:10 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon Tow bar! Reply with quote

Follow link and Scroll down, details on hardware needed to use tow bar are in this thread......

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=20
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

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