20-footers

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by BearScream

Hello all. Just had my first trip after getting my VW Jetta diesel hitched to my 20 at CanAm in Ontario. Made me wish I were Canadian and lived nearby. Great experience!
Initial impression is the Jetta diesel, manual transmission, seems to newbie me to be super as TV, delivering a phenomenal 28-29 mpg towing highway (and double that solo!). It seems to be a fine choice for anyone concerned about lowering fuel costs.

From London, Ontario, I towed back on US90 to Syracuse, overnighting at a truck stop (that was a learning experience!) and then down US81 to Philadelphia for a family visit.
Photos: right, at CanAm; left in Phila.

Wondering if your Jetta is rated to tow the 20' with a maximum loaded weight of 4,500 to 5,000 pounds +/-?

Thanks

PS -- Just found this thread FYI:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...tta-79645.html

[BearScream]

Hey FCloud9, will keep my eyes peeled for you. On my 2007, the only LEDs are just those four break/stop lights And despite their age, they all seem fine. Someone cut costs?

Unless I;m wrong, there is no trailer inspection in MA -- no sticker needed. Enjoy your NY/NE tour.

[TCwheels]

Originally Posted by BearScream

Hello all. Just had my first trip after getting my VW Jetta diesel hitched to my 20 at CanAm in Ontario. Made me wish I were Canadian and lived nearby. Great experience!
Initial impression is the Jetta diesel, manual transmission, seems to newbie me to be super as TV, delivering a phenomenal 28-29 mpg towing highway (and double that solo!). It seems to be a fine choice for anyone concerned about lowering fuel costs.

From London, Ontario, I towed back on US90 to Syracuse, overnighting at a truck stop (that was a learning experience!) and then down US81 to Philadelphia for a family visit.
Photos: right, at CanAm; left in Phila.

Looks great Myles!

I'm in for a 20 rally, or a 20 subset of a larger rally!
I'll have to crash the VW party, as my non-pickup TV has an "L" rather than a "VW" on the badge 😈

[BearScream]

Thanks Darrell, and very much like yours! So it isn't the badge but the principle that even a capable small sedan (white, of course) can tow well.

[BearScream]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Wondering if your Jetta is rated to tow the 20' with a maximum loaded weight of 4,500 to 5,000 pounds +/-?

Thanks

PS -- Just found this thread FYI:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...tta-79645.html

Interesting thread, OTRA, tho it wandered a lot off topic in the middle:-- thanks for the link. From this thread, the answer to your question is no, not rated, due to lack of incentive to bother here in the US. The VW manual describes towing about half the load with a class 2 hitch. It is so rated in the EU, where TTs are lighter, weight dist hitches and electric TT brakes, are rare at best. I voted for Andrew T's analyses and his long experience at CanAm. My small experience towing thru the Poconos of PA taught me to downshift the manual trans when I needed to climb or brake. Seemed well controlled to me, with only a small hit on FE.

it seems to me that added TV maintenance costs go with the territory and are likely worth it.

[OTRA15]

Thanks BearScream, I was wondering mainly about the effect of towing the 20' on your Jetta's warranty, but you seem to have anticipated this issue.

[Wild Child]

Originally Posted by TCwheels

Right now we're camped at the marina in St. Clair, Michigan in the RAIN! So, I posted this as a reminder of our great weekend up north closer to home a couple weekends ago...
Attachment 241701


WBCCI #7246 Michigan Unit,Texas Hill Country Unit (associate member), AIR #91367

Looks soooo nice! It's great when we get to have nice weather for our adventures. Love the pix...I had to look twice as I thought it was our trailer!
In New England the weather is a roll of the dice. Last weekend we were at a rally put on the CT Charter Oak Unit from Region 1. We stayed at Riverside Marina in Portland CT.
It was so much fun meeting folks in the club. It was our first rally. Our 20' drew lots of attention as folks were curious to see the inside. So we gave a few "tours."
We had great weather the first two days, but Sunday was torrential downpours so a complete washout. But it sure was nice having a cozy 20' to have our breakfast in that morning! We are planning to join up with a couple more rallies this summer. It was great fun!
Have fun trailering!

[Wild Child]

FCloud 9 - Have a super summer traveling! Looking forward to your posts. Let us know if any great CG to try.
Bear Scream - Congrats on your new adventure! Your are correct, no inspection stickers for trailers in MA - just insane excise tax bills. Travel safe and have fun!

[BearScream]

Did you say excise tax bills FCloud9? Just got an excise tax bill for the trailer that must be in error!!? :-)

[BearScream]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Thanks BearScream, I was wondering mainly about the effect of towing the 20' on your Jetta's warranty, but you seem to have anticipated this issue.

Frankly, this is an unknown -- if VW will make an issue of towing for any defect that is unrelated. I did drive the VW for a month before getting a hitch, and it seemed to me to be solid. I need this kind of TV, and so accepted this risk, even extending the three year to a six year warranty. Much may depend on how your servicing dealer reacts, I suspect, and I have some confidence there. I told them of my plans before I bought the car; the sales mgr agreed the car could tow. But that's sales. Service? YMMV.

[FCloud9]

Originally Posted by BearScream

Did you say excise tax bills FCloud9? Just got an excise tax bill for the trailer that must be in error!!? :-)

BearScream,
We live in PA and only pay initial PA state sales tax with initial registration at 6%....then required yearly PA State inspections which we just paid $30. Believe Wild Child lives in MA with the excise tax.

[BearScream]

Originally Posted by FCloud9

BearScream,
We live in PA and only pay initial PA state sales tax with initial registration at 6%....then required yearly PA State inspections which we just paid $30. Believe Wild Child lives in MA with the excise tax.

Oops, meant to reply to 'Wild Child.' Sorry to both.

[subfan1]

Hey now that you're all hitched and ready to travel, come on out to the Desert southwest! We are the only Airstream in the park. We need some friends here😀


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[Wild Child]

Originally Posted by BearScream

Oops, meant to reply to 'Wild Child.' Sorry to both.

No worries. yes, it was me - from Tax-a-chusettes with the wise guy comment. I'd take the inspection sticker vs excise tax any time!

[Wild Child]

Originally Posted by subfan1

Hey now that you're all hitched and ready to travel, come on out to the Desert southwest! We are the only Airstream in the park. We need some friends here😀


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Wish we could come out your way. It would be so cool to see the Desert Soutwest, but work would frown upon a long enough departure to make the trip!

[FCloud9]

Originally Posted by subfan1

Hey now that you're all hitched and ready to travel, come on out to the Desert southwest! We are the only Airstream in the park. We need some friends here😀


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Thanks for the invite but we spent over three months AZ, NV, CA, UT this past winter and had a great time while successfully leaving the snow, ice and cold in PA. We hope to eventually move west of Mississippi someday so heading to Adirondacks and New England while we are still on east coast seems like a good plan this year. Will probably go west next summer 2016!

[renderit]

Hey, a little help here? Anybody hook up a FC 20' using a Fastway E2 type hitch (equalizer type) and have trouble dialing it in? We have the 800 # bars and with 2 washers on the tilt it is stiff and possibly a little skittish in the rear of the truck but with one washer on the tilt it is bouncy. I also have 600 # bars from my old 16 Sport I could use, but that is POSSIBLY a little light on the hitch weight. Unloaded is the hitch weight 630 or way under that? Would you opt for a stiff or a bouncy? Stiff comes up with 0 rear end difference in the TV rear end height and bouncy is about 1.5 lower than unloaded.

[TCwheels]

Originally Posted by Wild Child

No worries. yes, it was me - from Tax-a-chusettes with the wise guy comment. I'd take the inspection sticker vs excise tax any time!

Michigan only(!) 6% sales tax, no inspection, no excise tax, and I believe I have a "permanent" trailer plate (tag)...

[TCwheels]

Originally Posted by Wild Child

Looks soooo nice! It's great when we get to have nice weather for our adventures. Love the pix...I had to look twice as I thought it was our trailer!

In New England the weather is a roll of the dice. Last weekend we were at a rally put on the CT Charter Oak Unit from Region 1. We stayed at Riverside Marina in Portland CT.

It was so much fun meeting folks in the club. It was our first rally. Our 20' drew lots of attention as folks were curious to see the inside. So we gave a few "tours."

We had great weather the first two days, but Sunday was torrential downpours so a complete washout. But it sure was nice having a cozy 20' to have our breakfast in that morning! We are planning to join up with a couple more rallies this summer. It was great fun!

Have fun trailering!

Thanks Wild Child! You must have a very nice looking trailer!

Our first time camping at a marina. Very interesting subculture. There was a boating club event going on and there are probably some parallels with AS rallies. We're doing our first rally in November down in SC. Thought it best to go far away from home to do our first one in case I offended anyone too badly...

[subfan1]

We made it to Arches NP. We are staying at Devils Garden CG, at 104 I think I know why it's called Devils Garden



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