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dhubz Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2003 Posts: 61
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 10:53 am Post subject: Towing with a tow bar |
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My buggy came with a tow bar that attaches to the front beam. Do you need to lock the steering or leave it free. I assume free, and it would follow behind better, but is there a reason it wouldn't veer left or right if the steering isn't locked? I could wire it to a 4 pin plug into the buggy harness to extend the lights from the towing vehicle. I need to tow it about 15km @ 80KM/H, roughly 10miles at 50mph. |
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Matt Wilson Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2005 Posts: 2406 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 11:39 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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For flat towing:
Towing with wheels on ground:
1. Steering unlocked (no bungee)
2. Key off
3. Parking brake off
4. Windows up
5. Transaxle in neutral
6. For long interstate hauls, disconnect speedometer cable to avoid accumulating lots of km's
7. Safety chains
8. Towing lights
9. Check wheels for heat periodically (make sure all bearings are greased)
I wired my 72 sedan for towing lamps and used a 4 pin/5 wire connector harness:
Yellow/Brown - Fuse 1 Right run lamp
Green/Brown - Fuse 2 Left run lamp
Green - Right turn (black/green junction)
Yellow - Left turn (black/white junction)
White - Ground
Brake lights will activate the front turn signals, which can be handy to ensure you're hooked up, with a quick glance in the mirror. _________________ 1972 Standard Beetle
1969 Baja Beetle |
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20366 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 12:03 pm Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Matt Wilson wrote: |
For flat towing:
Towing with wheels on ground:
1. Steering unlocked (no bungee)
2. Key off
3. Parking brake off
4. Windows up
5. Transaxle in neutral
6. For long interstate hauls, disconnect speedometer cable to avoid accumulating lots of km's
7. Safety chains
8. Towing lights
9. Check wheels for heat periodically (make sure all bearings are greased)
I wired my 72 sedan for towing lamps and used a 4 pin/5 wire connector harness:
Yellow/Brown - Fuse 1 Right run lamp
Green/Brown - Fuse 2 Left run lamp
Green - Right turn (black/green junction)
Yellow - Left turn (black/white junction)
White - Ground
Brake lights will activate the front turn signals, which can be handy to ensure you're hooked up, with a quick glance in the mirror. |
Yes.... But wire colors will vary according to how you wire vehicle...
I also used isolation diodes so I could umbilical into existing buggy tail lights...
And do not get in situation where you have to backup...
Dale _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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AMAC1680 Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2015 Posts: 300 Location: Jacksonville Fl/Mantoloking NJ
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 3:21 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Do as said above and you should be fine. I’ve done 1000s of miles on the highway without issue.
Pay special attention to the don’t back up rule.
AMAC _________________ www.SEGS4VETS.org |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12635 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 5:58 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Free is the correct way. My sand rail and Manx copy are both flat tow set up. I too have towed several thousand miles. This sand rail has gone on trips as far as 800 miles one way to play in the Peace River hills. I also change out the wheels and tires to street rubber so as not to wear out the off road ones.
Additional caution, if you anticipate any gravel road driving or early spring driving with some winter sand still on the road, duct tape cardboard over the headlights and windshield. I lost both headlights flat towing my sister's type 3 on 1/2 mile of gravel road!
_________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8689 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 6:37 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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If the car drives straight when you take your hands off the wheel, and if the steering straightens out by itself after a turn, it should tow just fine.
_________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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dhubz Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2003 Posts: 61
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Thanks for the info, it makes all makes perfect sense |
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Dan the workingstiff Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2006 Posts: 824 Location: Downriver, MI
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Key turned forward enough only to release the steering wheel lock. _________________ '69 Beetle
'66 FG buggy
My other air-cooled's
'76 IH 1200
'75 IH 1200 |
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20366 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 7:52 pm Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Dan the workingstiff wrote: |
Key turned forward enough only to release the steering wheel lock. |
What steering lock?
Dale _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12635 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 4:55 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Yes any steering column from about '70 or '71 Beetle and up will have a steering lock. Mine does. Turn the key on, then turn it back to off and leave the key in place and you are fine. The column will not lock until you take the key out. _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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TimGud Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2002 Posts: 6459 Location: Rio Rico Arizona
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 7:12 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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I always disconnected the battery and turned the ignition to the fart position when towing with a steering wheel lock. |
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2178 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Harbor Freight magnet towing lights are always helpful. _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20366 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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NJ John wrote: |
Harbor Freight magnet towing lights are always helpful. |
Not real good with fiberglass....
Just two taillamp assemblies on 4 foot length of angle iron and bungie cords worked really well with fiberglass if you don't want to umbilic to existing tail lights...
Dale _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5448 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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I've flat towed a buggy many miles myself. The thing I wanted to add is that you should pick a receiver that allows the tow bar to be pretty flat when connected. That's pretty low so watch your ground clearance. The reason for this is because if the ball is higher than the lower torsion tube then the buggy tries to lift the rear of the tow vehicle when braking. If your tow vehicle is heavy this is not a huge deal. Towing a 1200 lb. buggy with a 2800 lb. mini-truck will make will butt pucker the first time you slam on the binders (the 2nd time you have a 10 inch drop receiver!) _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4925 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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oprn wrote: |
Yes any steering column from about '70 or '71 Beetle and up will have a steering lock. Mine does. Turn the key on, then turn it back to off and leave the key in place and you are fine. The column will not lock until you take the key out. |
US market Type 1 had locking columns starting in '68.
Some Euro market T1s had locking columns starting in '61 -
bnc _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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Dan the workingstiff Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2006 Posts: 824 Location: Downriver, MI
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 6:37 pm Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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didget69 wrote: |
oprn wrote: |
Yes any steering column from about '70 or '71 Beetle and up will have a steering lock. Mine does. Turn the key on, then turn it back to off and leave the key in place and you are fine. The column will not lock until you take the key out. |
US market Type 1 had locking columns starting in '68.
Some Euro market T1s had locking columns starting in '61 -
bnc |
Yes my '69 has a wheel lock. _________________ '69 Beetle
'66 FG buggy
My other air-cooled's
'76 IH 1200
'75 IH 1200 |
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dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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didget69 wrote: |
oprn wrote: |
Yes any steering column from about '70 or '71 Beetle and up will have a steering lock. Mine does. Turn the key on, then turn it back to off and leave the key in place and you are fine. The column will not lock until you take the key out. |
US market Type 1 had locking columns starting in '68.
Some Euro market T1s had locking columns starting in '61 -
bnc |
My '65 German delivery came with locking steering column. My '67 Us Bug did not, but had 3-point belts. My friend's '67 US delivery Bug DOES have a locking column, but 2-point lap belts. Things can be kinda hit and miss depending on how the customer ordered it and where it was intended to be delivered. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12635 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 5:44 am Post subject: Re: Towing with a tow bar |
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Yes, I couldn't remember which year the locking column was introduced here. '68 - '69 is likely correct here too. I remember changing out the column in my '66 to get the locking one with the wiper switch on the column. I suspect lots of Buggies have them. _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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