Drag harrow through horse arena with VW

[Cusser]

I have been thinking of getting a used ATV to drag the harrow through the horse arena, the lawn tractor tires just spin in the sand/dirt even though it can pull that harrow over regular dirt. So far we have been borrowing an ATV from the neighbor, taking advantage of his neighborly actions.

Anyway, yesterday, tried out something we already had yesterday to pull that harrow, our 1998 4-cylinder, 2WD 5-speed Frontier with 207K miles on it, did a nice job, did not get stuck; regular all-season tires, no weight added to truck bed either.

So now I'm thinking that maybe I should fix up my currently un-used 1970 VW to do this job, that would get even better traction as the weight is directly over the drive wheels; might need to find a hitch to bolt onto the VW though, don't think bumper would be strong enough.

I know this idea will spark some controversy here as many here feel old VWs should be fixed up and road driven (which I would still do), but this might be a good job for my oldest VW to do. So far all I've done to get it going again is to lube the door and window hardware this week. But I have a goal to get this running by year's end now that I'm "retired".

Edit: it looks like tow hitches for these are still available new (CURT Class 1 Fixed-Tongue Trailer Hitch #11652) for about $175 shipped or maybe I can find one in Classifieds or at a swap meet.
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/1657674683...8wII1AEwAA
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[johnnypan]

Ford N series,you can get them cheap...

[TDCTDI]

Absolutely, there's nothing cheaper than a vehicle that you already have. That beetle would love to be your work horse, they were work horses before they became "collectibles" & it's not like you're trying to clear stumps & saplings with it. And I would think that it would be a better ride than the truck, tractor, or the 4wheeler.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[60ragtop]

Yep use the old 70 as a tow vehicle, it will love it Here is the Bonneville Pit Bug, goes there twice a year when they are racing.
probably find a used hitch at a vw swap.
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[Cusser]

And I can keep a VW alive way easier than some ATV for which I'd be 100% inexperienced.

On the other hand, I've done pretty well learning lawn mower, lawn tractor, jacuzzi, above ground pool, ice machine, washer & dryer repairs, my other vehicles...just as long as there's no mouse and keyboard !!!
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[airschooled]

The only thing I love seeing more than a Volkswagen, is a Volkswagen being used for something cool or useful. This falls into both!!
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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
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[busdaddy]

Nothing wrong with awakening it for some work, likely better for it than sitting.

Have you considered tire chains for the lawn tractor?, my decrepid 50 year old John Deere 110 harrows the wifes arena pretty good with it's (used to be) 8Hp. Bogs down in the puffy parts if it's damp but smaller bites gets it done, rarely spins the tires with the chains on.
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[Cusser]

[busdaddy]

I just shortened a set of snow chains I had kicking around, I guess they don't come free in the trunk of every old used car/truck you find in AZ like they do here?
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[Cusser]

The lawn tractor does not travel very fast, and several passes would need to be made. So I just think that in reality it would be too slow.

I'll likely move ahead with the VW idea; with retirement, was thinking of working on that after summer ends (October, it is Arizona), but think I'll move the timetable up.

First thing is tires for that 1970 VW, maybe find a set of somewhat wider wheels for the rear...not going to cut the fenders though....
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[TDCTDI]

No need for different wheels, it's common to put 215/75/15 BFGs on the stock ones.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Cusser]

[TDCTDI]

Yes sir, do a search in HBB off-road for class11 & several will come up. Dustymojave suggests that's it's the usual tire (but some tire shops may not want to install them.). Someone just had some installed & the first shop declined but the next was willing to accept his money.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[busdaddy]

Hmmmmm......, got me thinking about a shorty singlecab I've got out behind the barn, my tractor could out cool your tractor
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Cusser]

[enjoyther1de]

You can run a 235/75/15 on a stock wheel. That's gonna be the coolest lawn mower west of the Mississippi.
_________________
HBB took me to BBV.

[Cusser]

OK, dumb question: what is the width of a stock 1970 beetle wheel?

And is 1971 the same?

I think I'll have trouble finding a place to install wider tires than "a book" states.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[iowegian]

Hey, Cusser-------I been thinkin' about this all afternoon here.
So yer lookin' for a way to pull a harrow around a horse arena?

Why not get yerself a nice, sturdy HORSE to pull it?
Maybe one of them Clydesdales like pull that beer wagon.

[enjoyther1de]