[A/S] Pickup (and other) Questions

[dash7_@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Greetings from Michigan, where we are finally getting to see the sun 
again!

Carol and I own a 68 Overlander 26 that we used extensively in the 
70's but has been stored for the better part of 20 years after the 
family became too big to fit in it.  We now have reached a point
where we have the time to travel (kids are on there own) but the AS 
needs considerable restoration, a project we could not complete in 
time for this summer.  So we're going to buy another AS to use in the 
meantime and have located several 26'-31' models within a 5 hour
drive and hope to be looking at them in the coming weeks.  

Our immediate problem is a tow vehicle.  We towed with a 454 Suburban 
back in the 70's and it gave us good service, however we now need a 
vehicle with more cargo room so we are considering a van or pickup.  
This leads to a couple of questions.  Our Suburban had a tailgate in 
the back and the AS has a power jack located ahead of the tanks which 
kept the tailgate from opening more than halfway when we were hooked 
up.  Removing the spare (or anything else) from the burb while hooked 
up was a real hassle.  Does this condition exist with a pickup 
tailgate?

With regard to towing with a van, are the extended vans less
desirable then the standard length models?  It seems the added 
distance between the ball and the rear van wheels might widen the 
minimum turning radius.

While compiling a list of available AS, I notice there seem to be
more 77 & 78 models available then other years, especially in the 
longer (28 and up) models.  Is this just a coincidence or is there a 
reason?

We welcome opinions as well as facts. Opinions often raise issues
that would not otherwise be considered.

We have been reading this list for several months and the discussions 
have been very interesting and now will be very helpful in buying 
another AS.  I'm sure there are others like us that have benefited 
from the rehash of old issues.  A month ago I didn't know how helpful 
they were going to be.

Regards, 

Don (MI)