TheSamba.com :: View topic - Bug tow bar

Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:01 am

Will the bug tow bars commonly sold by VW vendors work on a Ghia without modification?

Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:19 am

Search reveals...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=274339&highlight=tow

Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:44 am

No; you will need to lengthen the towbar or commit to replacing your headlights

Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:27 am

what kind of tubing is that?

Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:37 am

Thom:

I just got a tow bar for my Ghia. How much did you lengthen your tow bar? I read that it should be at least 18 inches but your appears longer in the photos.

I was thinking of getting one of these extenders but I like the looks of yours better. I can take your photo to my local welder and have him duplicate.

http://www.hitches4less.com/2recex.html

Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:40 pm

IIRC, I added 20" or so to mine. I bought a piece of pipe that fit over the tow bar tube, cut the tow bar mid-way between the cross support and the hookup bracket, slipped the tow bar pieces inside the pipe, and welded it up. I then added a couple of braces for good measure. I also use pins to secure the towbar to the beam, and they're on small chains so they don't get lost.

I can take more measurements if you need them.

It still works on bugs, although it puts it further back than you're used to seeing, but the effect is only cosmetic.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:54 pm

Thom:

Many thanks. That is good. 20 inches should work. I am going to try and stop by the welder tomorrow.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:16 pm

thom wrote: No; you will need to lengthen the towbar or commit to replacing your headlights

I know I'm going to hate myself for saying but... yours is way longer than mine... :shock: I bought a Ghia specific bar from CIP1 and have used it four or five times with no problems.

From searching around here I see that a Ghia's nose is longer than a Beetle, will a Ghia bar worl on all ACVWs or are there other types?

Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:47 pm

I just bought one from CIP1. In fact it came today. I did not see one for the Ghia, only the Beetle.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:22 pm

A Beetle tow bar works just fine on a Ghia. The trick is just pay attention and remember what you are doing and don't turn real sharp.
I've flat towed Ghias thousands of miles with mine. :D

Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:36 pm

NOVA Airhead wrote: I just bought one from CIP1. In fact it came today. I did not see one for the Ghia, only the Beetle.

Ghia tow bars used to be available but haven't been for a few years now. I've towed a couple times with a Beetle bar, as has been mentioned you just can't make any sharp turns. I have since modified mine for length and to work with my narrowed beam.

Shane

Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:50 pm

It looks like I am off to the welder tomorrow anyway. The POS tow bar from COP1 does not fit right. Guess what brand it is - Empi.

The brackets hit exactly on the grease fittings. If I move it off the grease fitting on one side it gets hung up on the suspension on the other. I could probably bend it a bit and get it to fit.

However, I will just have the welder move each side in 3/4 of an inch on while he is lengthening it.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:53 pm

I have a 18"hitch extension that I use.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:25 pm

NOVA Airhead wrote: I just bought one from CIP1. In fact it came today. I did not see one for the Ghia, only the Beetle.

I've had mine for four or five years, pretty sure I ordered it from CIP1 but I could be remembering wrong... I have a Chevy S10 4x4 that I tow with, when the bar came in, the first thing I did was hook everything up and drive slowly to the left and to the right in the tightest circles the truck would make (with my wife watching for the dreaded headlight crunch).

I also orderd an adjustable drop hitch as my bumper hitch is like 20" off the pavement.

Sucks that your bar doesn't fit, once upon a time EMPI didn't equal garbage.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:17 pm

thom,
is that just regular water pipe? thats what is kinda looks like.
if it is good, thats the only kind of tubing i can get easily around here as far as i know, i just want to be sure b4 i use something that isn't strong enough.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:24 pm

73_ghia wrote: NOVA Airhead wrote: I just bought one from CIP1. In fact it came today. I did not see one for the Ghia, only the Beetle.

I've had mine for four or five years, pretty sure I ordered it from CIP1 but I could be remembering wrong... I have a Chevy S10 4x4 that I tow with, when the bar came in, the first thing I did was hook everything up and drive slowly to the left and to the right in the tightest circles the truck would make (with my wife watching for the dreaded headlight crunch).

I also orderd an adjustable drop hitch as my bumper hitch is like 20" off the pavement.

Sucks that your bar doesn't fit, once upon a time EMPI didn't equal garbage.
I guess I forgot to mention that part. :oops:
The tow bar wants to be pretty much parallel with the ground. My drop hitch is about 13 inches (base of the ball) off the pavement and has an
additional 8 inch projection rearward beyond the receiver ( I guess that helps, too.).

Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:53 pm

Finished sorting the tow bar this weekend. Picked it up from the welder Firday evening and gave it a nice coat of John Deere Blitz Black.

Hooked it up to The Tundra to measure for the safety chains. I already had a couple of different receivers due to the different rigs we tow horses with. The Ghia looks pretty good hooked the Tundra. I don't think it will need any trailer lights with this truck!

Next step is to connect the safety chains.

Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:10 pm

shok wrote: thom,
is that just regular water pipe? thats what is kinda looks like.

Yup.

Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:41 am

NOVA Airhead wrote:

Sweet lookin' rig!

Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:26 am

What is the measurments on the tow bars lenght and how much did you add in inches?