TheSamba.com :: View topic - Would you tow a Vanagon with a Vanagon? 80 miles

Sat Aug 25, 2018 12:56 pm

Thinking of renting a U-Haul flat trailer for $54 a day and moving one of my Vans 80 miles with the other Van. Would you do this?

Sat Aug 25, 2018 1:06 pm

Hello,
I hope you have AAA towing.... Just rent the PU truck for $29.99 also. Cheap piece of mind.

Sat Aug 25, 2018 1:08 pm

Angus II wrote: Hello,
I hope you have AAA towing.... Just rent the PU truck for $29.99 also. Cheap piece of mind.

The cheap price they advertise is offset by their .$99 per mile = 200 for this trip + 54 = 254 to move the van

Sat Aug 25, 2018 1:27 pm

I'd be real surprised if they'd actually rent you the trailer with the Vanagon as a tow vehicle. Hell, I had trouble renting more than a tow dolly to put behind a loaner S-10 with the 4.3L V6...

Sat Aug 25, 2018 2:20 pm

U-Haul wouldnt even rent me a trailer to tow a van with a Dodge Dakota equipped with a V6 Magnum engine. Told me to come back with a Chevy Tahoe.

Sat Aug 25, 2018 2:31 pm

Angus II wrote: I hope you have AAA towing...

Worth thinking about if you do not - Premier Plan has 200 miles of towing. Other plans cost less and have fewer miles.

I think there is a waiting period before you can use it so perhaps that does not fit your schedule.

Sat Aug 25, 2018 2:50 pm

They will NOT rent you a flatbed at all for a Vanagon.

You will have to come pick it up with a pickup that has towing capacity for about 6,000 lbs (trailer+Vanagon) and the pickup must have accomodation for the trailer's electric brakes.

You might be able to use a tow dolly. Or even a tow-hitch. You can tow a van on it's own wheels but if it's an automatic van or Syncro you'd have to unbolt the drive-axles.

Vanagon transaxles don't have a lot of headroom for such tasks as "towing 4,000 -5,000 lbs".

If the transaxle of the tow-van is in it's 1st 100,000 miles, and has clean oil, maybe it can tolerate 80 miles if you are able to use backroads etc. And if you use an IR temperature gun and measure the transmission temp from time to time. If your trans is old, or if it's a rebuilt trans, I wouldn't do it. It could easily cost you the same $$ in reduced transaxle life off your van, as the dollars for a rental truck.

Try searching craigslist for "auto moving" or "towing service".

Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:17 pm

What hitch? The most common hitch that spans the two rear bumper brackets is only rated for a MAX towing load of 1500. There no way I would tow another vanagon with that hitch. If any thing untoward happens you will be totally on the hook for all expenses incurred. I don't believe any insurance will cover you if you negligently operate a vehicle like that.

Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:24 pm

The trailer alone weighs 2000 lbs.
I wouldn't do it. Like others have said I don't even think they would let you even hook it up.

AAA would be the cheapest and safest method I have gotten more than my money's worth using it for my westy and my other vehicles.

How would an insurance claim work if you got into an accident with a vehicle that isn't rated to tow the load? I am not saying you would but I wondering how difficult it would be or if they would just pay out.

Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:25 pm

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=343520&highlight=towing+vanagon

Sat Aug 25, 2018 8:11 pm

The wait for AAA is 48 hrs. IIRC

Ive towed a van from san diego to Tucson bumping it along with different AAA memberships. The 200 mile tow is a godsend. I always have AAA premium. My van doesnt leave the garage without it.

This might be a new rule
Extended Roadside Assistance services for AAA Plus, AAA Plus RV, AAA Premier, or AAA Premier RV benefit levels are effective seven (7) calendar days after upgrade is processed, and receipt of the full payment due. The extended benefits will not apply to any vehicle breakdowns that occurred prior to, or during, the seven (7) day period.

I bet theres a way around it and for the cost of AAA you should already be on the phone. Its the last great deal in town.

Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:22 pm

If you are able to get this towbar SAFELY connected to the dead van it's only $60.

Hiltex 20046 Adjustable Universal Tow Bar, 5000 Lb Capacity | Includes Safety Chains AMAZON: http://a.co/d/5WOFacE

I could get one mounted to a Vanagon safely, and so could many others, but certainly not "just anyone". It may require removing the front bumper and attach directly to the inner bumper. Not sure how, but it's an option.

If there's backroads, and the towed van has brakes, maybe you can find an experienced person to help and just tow it with a strap. 20 miles at a time and take 3 breaks.

Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:43 am

I would not tow a Vanagon with another Vanagon unless there was no other options. There are always other options. That being said, Danfromsyr on here has towed a Vanagon with another Vanagon, a fairly extensive distance.
I have towed Vanagons across country (2000 plus0 miles using a towbar as pictured by Sodo. There is also a thread on here about using that towbar. I recently towed my 1986 to it's new home 600 miles away using a modified version of that towbar mounting using high quality bolts, homemade spacers and load spreaders to insure safety. I have always towed them with fullsize American pickup trucks.
There are lots of safety issues here, from hitch capacity to transmission life to braking capacity. I have seen too many trailer accidents to even think about trying to tow less than as perfectly safe as I can.
All the posters are right, u-haul has stringent rules about what can be towed with what. As a rental truck alternative, you could try Penske, you can get quotes online. Try both local and one way to get quotes, IIRC, one way has unlimited mileage. One way may be as simple as returning the truck across town. I cannot remember all the details, but they are available either on line or by calling Penske. You can pickup Penske trucks at Home Depot stores that have tool rental centers. Get your reservation details from Penske, Home Depot employees rarely know the ins and outs of the truck rental program.
One more thing about the AAA membership, which is, as others have noted, a smoking deal. You only get 1 200 mile tow per year. I need to save that tow for when a true breakdown occurs. And with a Vanagon, it will occur. Most likely when you are doing something you shouldn't, like towing one Vanagon with another.

Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:50 am

2 Xs what Tbob said...

I have a very similar tow bar modified for this specific use which requires removal of the outer bumper. However, I've always used something besides a Vanagon to do the towing!