Anyone Towing your beetle?

oldhuldy67 · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:02 pm Post subject: Anyone Towing your beetle?

Suggestions and your experiences wanted...
Has anyone towed one of these..

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Using this..

With one of these?

I have a stock beetle and stock hitch on the Bus, just bolts onto the tow eyes and nothing else on the Vanagon but the tongue weight can't be all that much with 4 wheels in tow . What do you think?
Thanks all

microbus · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:09 pm Post subject:

add safety chains to the tow bar....
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60ragtop · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:20 pm Post subject:

shouldn't you ask this in the vanagon section seeing that is what you want on opinion on?
I've been towing bugs cross country since the 70's with various vehicles. No problems
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Thor_orr · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:25 pm Post subject:

I towed my bug 2800 miles with a tow bar. Seattle WA to Ashville NC no issues. Didn't used a vanagon but think you'd be fine. No backing up and no tight corners! Definitely add safety chains too. I've heard of people having problems with the steering wheel bucking back and forth when taking off but i didn't experience it. I recommend wiring your stock tail lights into a four tab trailer harness pretty easy and then you don't have to fuss with tow lights that scratch your very nice paint.

hitest · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:29 pm Post subject:

Syncro Vanagon pulling a bug- many times without trouble.
2wd Vanagon, no experience.
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mukluk · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 10:00 pm Post subject:

I towed my '68 Bug a few times with my old '84 Vanagon back in the day, worked just fine (even towed the Vanagon once with the Bug using a strap, but that's a different story).
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shano63 · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 3:33 am Post subject:

Saftey chains and lights are a must. Been towing beetles with a tow bar for ever. Never used a vanagon though.

Just last month, 150 miles..
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Kiptere · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:41 am Post subject:

Make sure the tires are aired up on the bug.
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dobryan · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 6:43 am Post subject:

Flat ground using secondary roads (no highway speeds) you'll likely be fine. Keep an eye on cylinder head temps. You'll have a hard time keeping that engine alive on long upgrades and/or highway speeds. Yes, you can do it. But there is a price to pay if you do it for a long time under adverse conditions. YMMV.
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Abscate · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 1:01 pm Post subject:

No tongue weight on a tow bar. You don't have the balance issue nor the wagging issue like a two wheel trailer, it just follows the tow vehicle like a puppy dog.
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57BLITZ · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: Anyone Towing your beetle?

manfang · Samba Member Joined: January 31, 2011 Posts: 30

Bugs tow super easy. You'll need to figure out what to do for lights. Some folks splice into the wiring harness for the bug. I opt'd for cheap harbor freight magnetic lights which went on top of the car going to the paint shop. Coming home I zip tied a 2x4 to the rear bumper and mounted the lights there.

No backing up at all with this setup, you'll tweak the bug front end since it will quickly jack knife on you. I'd also recommend leaving the bug in neutral. Wink

Matt

surfbeetle · Samba Member Joined: September 07, 2005 Posts: 401

I have towed my '67 bug for years with a towbar. Don't back up, it will bend the towbar, my father did it and the towbar was never the same. If you must backup, I have done for short distances such as backing up my driveway into the garage by putting the front tires up on wheel dollies. In California, they require a safety chain from the tow vehicle to the tow'd vehicle. Chains to the towbar only don't cut it. Keep the transmission in neutral, you don't want to blow up your engine.
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Zylinderkopf · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 2:05 am Post subject:

Nice looking bug! Not sure if it has steering wheel lock. If so you need to turn the key and then detach the battery. And put it in neutral, of course.
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VOLKSWAGNUT · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 5:44 am Post subject:

You can back up with a tow bar provided there is a driver steering the tow bar'd car.

Most old VWs can be dinghy tow'd until the tires blow or wheels fall off.
If its good enough to drive, its good enough to tow. Tires, steering, fluids, etc, all need to be up and in good condition.

Be sure no joker has slid in for a free ride to the next town and or pop'd it into gear or pulled the brake up.

No (corrected) Engine in the car.. no problem as long as be sure to zip tie a clutch disc to lock the transaxle input shaft to simulate a stopped engine. If not damage WILL occur.

For lights I like splicing into the original lighting system at the park/tail and L/R turn circuits so the tow'd car also has front maker/turns/stops.. This allows all 4 park lights to operate as parks and left and right turns to operate as combined turns and stops... just like a trailer.
I know dont really need front stop lights.. but it sure is nice and comforting to see the lights on or flash, the car steady while towing at night and the extra side lighting visibility.

If its a one time tow.. slap on lights are just fine.

Never had a Syncro.. but a Beetle pulls so well.. and is virtually along for the ride I wouldnt have a problem with it.
.
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shortride · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 9:07 am Post subject:

I've used that same tow-bar. I've towed my '66 Sedan approximately 1200 miles since buying it one year ago last February. I have to look back and make sure it's still there it tows so nicely.
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57BLITZ · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:26 am Post subject:

VOLKSWAGNUT · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:45 am Post subject:

Old n' slow · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 4:47 pm Post subject:

I realize it's a 67 so it doesn't have a steering wheel lock but if it did don't do like I did 35 years ago. I started out towing with the ignition/steering wheel lock in the locked position but the steering wheel still moved, that is until I came to the first hard right turn and it locked up in the hard right position. When the tow vehicle went to go straight The towed vehicle wanted to continue making a hard right. I bent up that front end pretty good.
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Currently own : 1969 Beetle w/ 1600cc, Single Port, Solex 30 PICT 2, Dist. 113 905 205 T, stock exhaust.
All my daily drivers gone but not forgotten;

1964(sunroof)1967 & (2)1968 Beetles , 1968 Squareback , 1963 (23 window )Deluxe Sunroof Bus , 1969 Westphalia camper, 1974 Dasher , 1985 Vanagon , (2) 1981 Rabbit Diesels & a 1991 Jetta Diesel .

Old n' slow · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 4:51 pm Post subject:

Forgot to mention I was towing it with a School bus camper so it took quite awhile to realize the tow vehicle was trying to make right turns while I was blissfully rolling along down the road.
_________________
Currently own : 1969 Beetle w/ 1600cc, Single Port, Solex 30 PICT 2, Dist. 113 905 205 T, stock exhaust.
All my daily drivers gone but not forgotten;

1964(sunroof)1967 & (2)1968 Beetles , 1968 Squareback , 1963 (23 window )Deluxe Sunroof Bus , 1969 Westphalia camper, 1974 Dasher , 1985 Vanagon , (2) 1981 Rabbit Diesels & a 1991 Jetta Diesel .


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