RE: Hitches

["Belt, Stephen D" <stephen.d.belt@intel.com>]

Mike sez>

> Any advice is appreciated!  Any alternative ideas on getting this car to
> Utah are welcome too.  I checked on a few movers, but they want in the
> neighborhood of $1000!  Ouch, no thanks.  Anyone know of a good priced
> mover?  

My advice would be one of the following:

	o Fly out and drive the new car back.
	o Borrow a friend's truck, drive out and pull the new car back.
	o Fly out, rent a truck, and tow the new car back.
	o Rent a truck in UT, drive out, and tow the new car back.

I would not tow (for any appreciable distance) another car with a Jetta.
Its a great car, but its not a towing platform, and you mentioned 2200
miles.  That's a pretty big haul, and I don't know of very many spots in
UT than can be accessed without cover over a significant grade from the
east.

I've done a fair bit of towing in my days (have Dodge Ram V10 - will
tow!) and travelling at interstate speeds (even if only 55 mph) needs
to be done with extreme care and caution.  The most dangerous aspect of
towing is going down grade.  When the tow vehicle and trailer are of
similar weight, the trailer tends to want to get down the hill faster
than the tow vehicle.  Add to that any inclimate weather (wind, snow,
rain) and the results can be devestating.

That's why I recommend just borrowing a friend's truck as the best 
answer.  Any 1/2 ton will handle it fine (yes even a Ford F150....gads!).  
It won't break your bank, and I'm sure you must know someone that 
wouldn't mind lending you their truck for a few days.  Maybe make a
road trip out of it, with a couple of stops to help make it worth
someone's while.

Regards,

Steve Belt
1998 VW Jetta GLX