Good Saturday afternoon to you all...

I'm planning a cross-country move from NYC to LA. We are hoping to
forego renting a moving truck and use the Vanagon instead for the
contents of our one-bedroom apartment. I figure it will take about two
Vanagon-loads (that's 2 VL's, official metric unit).

However, if I get a small trailer, or rent a U-Haul trailer, I might
be able to make it in one trip, which would save a lot of
cross-country mileage (5000 miles, in fact). But I know that Vanagons
aren't exactly happy doing their own towing and I don't want to damage
my vehicle.

So-

Question 1:
What's harder on the Vanagon ('87 GL, 160k miles, orig 5-speed, new
wasserboxer engine): an extra trip cross-country, or one trip pulling
a small trailer with about 800 lbs in it? I have time to make two
trips because my new job doesn't start until late June.

Question 2:
My Vanagon does not currently have a trailer hitch. Any models I
should look for, sizes, capacities? Anything to watch out for? What
kind of place installs these?

Question 3:
Where could I get a good roof rack, for bicycles and light flat stuff?
Is Thule the best option? Any suggestions for model numbers or sizes?
Anyone sell large flat racks for Vanagons like you used to see on
splits? Even homemade would be fine...

Any other comments or suggestions on this kind of thing would be
helpful, especially from anyone with experience good or bad moving
with a Vanagon. A Penske truck would cost me $2000 including gasoline
for one trip cross-country (and then i'd still have to drive the
Vanagon out.)

Garrick

-- 
Garrick, Queens, NY
'87 GL Weekender

*****