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Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:23 pm

I just took ownership of a 1974 Thing. It has been restored to very good condition. I intend to tow this car behind an RV and have purchased a "universal" tow bar from the whitney catalog along with the "universal" mount plate they suggest. Is it acceptable to mount the plate to the face of the bumper? It is in very good condition with no rust and is made of pretty heavy metal(approx. 2/2.5mm) If not any suggestions as to best place to mount as I am unable to find a good flat surface to mount to under the car. Thanks for any help.

Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:17 pm

Please.... please.... please....
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Just buy the correct tow bar. It mounts to the front axle or "Beam", requires no drilling and won't yank your bumper off.
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Also.... do a Google search for a local VW shop to buy it from. Shipping is a bit high.
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Here's a picture...

Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:59 pm

Ditto Uber-man. We did a cross-country last year, 4000-odd miles and back, towing ours all the way with this same setup. No complaints at all. Just disconnect the battery to keep the steering unlocked and the tranny out of gear. Ofcourse you need tow lights, there was another thread on this about 3 months ago.

Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:26 pm

Agreed with the proper tow bar... Keep your eye's on your local craigslist can probably find one for less than $50

Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:47 pm

Thanks for the responses. All are reasonable. Unfortunately, Santa Fe is not a big aircooled town. Only one guy who works on them and he isn't in the parts business. Could have gone to Albq. but didn't think that this would be a problem. Also, I don't care for Albq. that much.
I already bought the tow bar from whitney so I need to figure out how to use it. Looking at the pic from right to left, what is the dimension from the part that hooks onto the axle to the bend going upward. Also, the measurement between the two "eyelets" would be helpful. I can fab up the attachment points and modify the bar I have.
Wish I'd known about this forum before I spent the money

Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:58 pm

Come to ABQ and go to Foreign Auto Aide (the VW place). They have the tow bar in stock for like $90. Then go to Harbor Freight, magnetic tow lights are $20 (usually on sale for $15, and the same ones they sell at Walmart for $40.) They also sell a quick disconnect for your negative battery terminal, for less then $10. One quick trip to ABQ and for like $120, you got all the right stuff, the Type 1 tow bar being the most important.

Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:06 pm

Ugh, those harbor freight lights didn't even last one trip on my '56... and it was only 70miles, the magnets SUCK!

Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:09 pm

Return the wrong tow bar or perhaps sell in on the local Craigslist!
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Making and fabing towing parts is typically a bad idea.
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Drive to ABQ or click here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=830350

Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:24 pm

Thanks for the link. Now I've got to get whitney to take this first one back.

Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:24 pm

I bought one of the towbars in the above URL. Very heavy duty and great quality. Also has the trigger lock that will soon be required on tow bars. (You have to pull the trigger before you can lift the latch to disconnect the towbar) :D You will have to devise your own safety chain hook up though. :(

Mon Feb 01, 2010 4:10 pm

I use one of those 79 dollar tow bars, I love it...

Just went to Fla and back from KC no problems (except I turned a little to sharp and touched bumpers, thing got a little bent.)

I even left it on for the ride home (dropped of camper at the farm)

Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:40 pm

I also recommend the type 1 tow bar.

If your looking for a place that likes aircooled vw's check out these guys, I'm sure they would like your thing.

KoobleKarWerkes • 11207 Acoma Rd. SE, Albuquerque, NM, US 87123 • 505.292.5614 • Fax 505.237.8240

http://www.kooblekar.com/

I'm sure they could help you find anything you would need.

Where did you get your Thing from? Got any pictures? I used to live in CLovis, NM and miss that state a lot. My dream is to retire and cruise my Thing around the enchanted circle :wink:

Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:01 am

Thing came from El Paso, Tx. Moved here Sept of 08 from NC. Rode the enchanted circle on my motorcycle this past sept and it was fantastic.
I see from the pics that the bars have an upward bend and the one in the ad is straight. Will that be a problem if hooking to a motorhome? Not sure of exact height of hitch as mh is not onsite. Thanks everyone, this is a great group.

Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:04 am

terrything wrote:
I see from the pics that the bars have an upward bend and the one in the ad is straight.

I think that is just an optical illusion, your computer screen is flat so when you look at the picture of the ad, you do not see the bends that are in the bar. In the photo of the bar attached to the vehicle you can see the bends. I believe they are the same tow bars.

Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:52 am

caseydenise wrote: I used to live in CLovis, NM and miss that state a lot. My dream is to retire and cruise my Thing around the enchanted circle :wink:
CLOVIS?!?! :shock:
BTW a nice drive is completly around the Gila National Forest.
Gila, Reserve, Socorro, T or C, and then the Black Range. No traffic and few people. 8)

Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:20 pm

Van-go108 wrote: caseydenise wrote: I used to live in CLovis, NM and miss that state a lot. My dream is to retire and cruise my Thing around the enchanted circle :wink:
CLOVIS?!?! :shock:
BTW a nice drive is completly around the Gila National Forest.
Gila, Reserve, Socorro, T or C, and then the Black Range. No traffic and few people. 8)
I've been through Gila a few times geocaching. Great place.

I lived in Clovis while in the military. I love NM and wish I could find a job out there. No one even calls me back from my resume when they see New Jersey :cry: Anyway, New Mexico rules. People are so friendly and the weather is alsways good for the top down.

terrything -As far as the tow bar to camper hitch issue, most likely you can get the tow bar and then get the right hitch. They have tons of different drop hitches at pepboys or even walmart :D