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Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:22 pm

I have made this from a Harbor Freight tow bar, it works great, have towed several vans in town and across state lines, that been said you choose to do this is at your own risk.
Removing the front bumper is fast, 2 13mm bolts and 2 Phillips screws (most of the time this are missing or rusted). the hole hook up takes less than 20 minutes.

drill a hole in the center of the mounting bracket

and from the rear use one of the plates that come with it and 9.5'' grade 8 19mm bolts, this will fit between the radiator supports and frame work on the van (driver side pictured)

no drilling on the van at all, the pull very nicely (back it up is a challenge)
and can save you lots off $$$ on towing, it can collapse and be taken on trips
this works great on manual vans, on AT read the owners manual on towing your van.

Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:04 pm

:bay_blue: Cool, thanks. I have the same tow bar, use for my Toyota , and now I know how to use it on my van. :D

Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:14 pm

yepper,

Long bolts and a thick backing plate that fits near the rad brackets.
1st time tow'd mom's for the 1k miles
this last trip it travelled unused under her back seat.
be mindful that for automatics you must remove the drive axles to tow.
for standards (2wd & syncro) it's a remove the bumper, bolt on and go.

good looking out.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:03 am

I don't think the above statement is correct. Better do more research. All ways use a car carrier with a syncro. Or remove all the axles.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:31 am

kurt vonnagon wrote: I don't think the above statement is correct. Better do more research. All ways use a car carrier with a syncro. Or remove all the axles.

danfromsyr is correct. The syncro can safely be towed with all 4 wheels on the ground. read the owners manual.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:57 am

kurt vonnagon wrote: I don't think the above statement is correct. Better do more research. All ways use a car carrier with a syncro. Or remove all the axles.

No not true... Never move a syncro with front axles removed. Even a few feet will trash parts. Towing a syncro with all four wheels on the ground shouldn't be a problem because all the wheels are moving at the same speed. Don't tow it with two wheels on a dolly (maybe with a decoupler?) I've seen pictures of syncros being towed before.

Bob

Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:23 am

As per towing a Syncro.....

It is highly recommended to remove the drive shaft if you are towing for any distance.

As per towing a 2wd automatic......

It is highly recommended that you remove the rear half shafts.

These recommendations come from experience not the owner manual.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:00 am

is it safe to tow a vanagon with a vanagon?

Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:15 am

minsk wrote: is it safe to tow a vanagon with a vanagon?

Ohh now you're asking for it?

I would generalyl say NO, not unless you have an upgraded engine & brakes. a vanagon is heavier than the rated towing capacity for another vanagon. and certainly NOT with a towloop mounted hitch..
that being said here's my van towing another for ~1k miles on relatively flat non-interstate roads.. (about 80mi were necessary interstate though)
speeds within the limits. about 55-60mph in 3rd gear 98*+ temps

Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:34 am

insyncro wrote: As per towing a Syncro.....

It is highly recommended to remove the drive shaft if you are towing for any distance.

As per towing a 2wd automatic......

It is highly recommended that you remove the rear half shafts.

These recommendations come from experience not the owner manual. :bay_blue: insyncro is it ok to tow a syncro with a decoupler, would that be as good as takeing off the drive shaft? :D

Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:37 am

Book says... Emergency towing by commercial tow truck.
your car can be towed by commercial tow trucks using sling-type gear . No thanks ill just drive mine. Cant be good for it. As book says Emergency towing not any thing about a tow bar. Don't be so cheap get a trailer. Save a lot in the long run.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:26 am

I tow my Syncro four down behind my motorhome all the time. No special precautions, other than shifting into neutral, unlocking the steering wheel, releasing the parking brake, and closing the vents to keep out diesel smoke. Thousands of miles without any problems!

Larry H.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:51 am

Excellent info, thanks Racerrojo!

I assume this is the bar?
http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-capacity-adjustable-tow-bar-94696.html

Do you attach the safety chain to the factory tow loop? What do you do for lights?

Manual transaxle vans can be flat towed no problem. Automatic ones, no way! If the engine isn't spinning, the transmission oil pump is not spinning. There won't be much lubration to all the spinning parts inside the transmission. As mentioned, pull the axles before towing an automatic Vanagon.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:01 pm

presslab wrote: Excellent info, thanks Racerrojo!

Do you attach the safety chain to the factory tow loop?
I am curious about the chains too:

Racerrojo wrote:

Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:58 pm

Yes that it the tow bar.
I hook one chain to the tow loop on the van and one to the loop on the hitch of the tow vehicle. ( not shown in pics.) For lights I use magnetic tow lights, and run the wires inside the van, trough the wing vent.
kurt vonnagon wrote: Book says... Emergency towing by commercial tow truck.
your car can be towed by commercial tow trucks using sling-type gear . No thanks ill just drive mine. Cant be good for it. As book says Emergency towing not any thing about a tow bar. Don't be so cheap get a trailer. Save a lot in the long run.

I have a trailer. But it saves me time and fuel to use the the towbar, less wind drag and less weight. Not to mention I don't have to pull an empty trailer on the way to get the van. That and its hard to carry a trailer in the van :) . I always make sure to take a good set of tires and wheels. I think is safer

Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:41 pm

Great info I guess if i had a motor home i would know this. Sadly I don't my motor home is my syncro. :lol:

Tue Jul 17, 2012 6:05 pm

Tow my 2wd manual behinf my MH. I have the transport tray mounted, use lights from it. Just have a long wire running thru van. When just tray, it plugs into van itself.

I was told that syncro with decoupler can be towed 4 down, but in no danger of dealing with it for some time.

For towing however, while the HF may work fine, if you are going to tow a lot, you are better off with a real tow setup. Including some braking capability.
eTrailer.com has a real nice mostly bolt on unit, I think two holes need to be drilled. Then the tow bar pins to it. It stays on the van.

Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:40 am

So just before I accidentally lose my van off the side of Raton pass:
I have a 2wd manual.
I want the park brake off, transmission in neutral, and the steering lock on and pointed straight ahead?

Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:54 am

you want the lock OFF let the wheels follow track and make sure the key isn't 1/2 way on where it can be jarred back off and lock on you.

disconnect the battery if you must, though that makes it hard to use the hazards to let those behind you know to avoid you.
I also make tape "IN TOW" letters on the back glass
if going for long distance you can remove the front signal bulbs to get more run time from your hazards. if only an hour or 2 then no bother.

and remember you do NOT get to back it up on a tow bar (or dolly)
plan Each and Every parking lot and gas station accordingly..
don't forget it's back there and take wide right turns..
plan to stop well ahead of lights/intersections then approach them slowly (hence the hazards to other drivers) and man I hate ~50mph divided highways with traffic lights when towing a van.. really hard to time quick yellows.

Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:39 pm

I think the GVWR sticker on that 1981 Westfalia I was looking at showed 5,200 pounds or so. Capacity of the tow bar shows 5,000

http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-capacity-adjustable-tow-bar-94696.html?hftref=cj