Ordering VW retractable towbar, getting special permit, use adapter - possible?

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Originally Posted by Marakai

*sigh* Just too hard, I guess. Not like I have nothing else to do. :(

Amazes me sometimes how a first-world country can be so behind the times in many ways. Australia has a worse NIH syndrome than even the US (OK, at least we've gone metric! ;) )

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Its not that we are behind the times. Its that we have different standards for different conditions.

We also design the trailers and vans in a different way.

I would like to see some of your European vans after 500km of corrugations.

Also our vehicles have much higher towball weights and the Euro vehicles and towbars are built for the lighter weight used over there.

Im not saying its better, just different and unfortunately if you want to buy a vehicle that doesnt allow Australian weights, well you just have to live with it.

Or go and buy something that is more suitable.
Like a Landcruiser.

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Originally Posted by Hillbilly

I would like to see some of your European vans after 500km of corrugations.

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I actually hear this argument a lot. :D

This despite the fact that in reality, Australia is one of the most urbanised societies on the planet. Some high80s/low90s percentage of the population are city-slickers. Urbanites and sub-urbanites - who just pretend to themselves that any moment now, if they really wanted (but of course they don't because they couldnt get a proper soy decaf macchiato!) they could just leave it all and return to the bush and really be at home. ;)

Not accusing you, HB, but I do get a chuckle because it reminds me all those people I currently listen to on trains or in the office, who's most strenuous daily activity is stapling. People who would forget to bring water, but certainly bring the hair gel!

Gawds, I am so ready to move (and yeah, I actually grew up in the country a looooong time ago, I haven't forgotten that steaks don't grow in the supermarket ;) )

P.S. before you diss those "European vans" you need to spend some time on Eastern European roads (yes, still, despite EU)... or up in Scandinavia (you know where all the Euro car makers test their vehicles).

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Originally Posted by Marakai

I actually hear this argument a lot. :D

This despite the fact that in reality, Australia is one of the most urbanised societies on the planet. Some high80s/low90s percentage of the population are city-slickers. Urbanites and sub-urbanites - who just pretend to themselves that any moment now, if they really wanted (but of course they don't because they couldnt get a proper soy decaf macchiato!) they could just leave it all and return to the bush and really be at home. ;)

Not accusing you, HB, but I do get a chuckle because it reminds me all those people I currently listen to on trains or in the office, who's most strenuous daily activity is stapling. People who would forget to bring water, but certainly bring the hair gel!

Gawds, I am so ready to move (and yeah, I actually grew up in the country a looooong time ago, I haven't forgotten that steaks don't grow in the supermarket ;) )

P.S. before you diss those "European vans" you need to spend some time on Eastern European roads (yes, still, despite EU)... or up in Scandinavia (you know where all the Euro car makers test their vehicles).

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After several years of vanning right around the country and not always on tar seal I have seen the results of what happens when vans are taken out of their comfort zone.

Lots of deserted wrecks on various tracks around the country.

Not long after I left school I lived 13 miles from the nearest road for 5 years. To get our food and anything else we had to, use a launch or a dinghy for 1 1/2 miles A tractor and trailer for 2 miles. A Jet boat or a punt for 6 miles. Repack it all onto packhorses for the last 5 miles. Anything we couldnt put on the horses we carried. This included a piano which was shifted on two lengths of rail the length of the Piano Push it forward pull the length round to the front Push it forward do it all again for 4 miles and then 6 of us carried it up the 900ft hill to where it was going. So dont talk to me about taking the hair gel.
I fell over a bank once with a case of 200 sticks of gelignite in my pack Got the heart racing a bit I can tell you.

LOL

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Originally Posted by Hillbilly

I fell over a bank once with a case of 200 sticks of gelignite in my pack Got the heart racing a bit I can tell you.

LOL

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HB, one day I want to read a book with your driving stories! I'd buy it! It would be awesome!