Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Premium Membership  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
trailer hitch
Forum Index -> Beetle - Late Model/Super - 1968-up Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
motersickle
Samba Member


Joined: July 02, 2007
Posts: 12
Location: possum kingdom texas
motersickle is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:44 pm    Post subject: trailer hitch Reply with quote

i'vw got a 69 with T-bar style bumpers. I am looking for an trailer hitch that will work with this style bumper. if anyone knows how to build one that does not have to tie into the bumper i would like to know. any comments and or observations will be welcomed.
thanks
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
ampegboy1
Samba Member


Joined: March 21, 2007
Posts: 291
Location: UK
ampegboy1 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi motersickle,

My Peka/VW towbar is essentially a big A-frame which attaches with U-bolts around the rear torsion tube to do the pulling, then clamps to the frame forks and bolts to the bumper to share the vertical load.

I reckon you could rig up a similar affair with a bracket that attaches to the bumper mounts instead of the bumper itself.

HTH,

Michael
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
motersickle
Samba Member


Joined: July 02, 2007
Posts: 12
Location: possum kingdom texas
motersickle is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ampegboy1

is it made out of flat stock or square tubing??
thanks
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Vedauwoo
Samba Member


Joined: May 20, 2007
Posts: 188
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Vedauwoo is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmmm, a trailer on an Air Cooled VW......

No Better way to ruin the Transmission!
_________________
1974 Beetle
Beetle's Big Brother
---------------
Junkwaffle-181
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
bugninva
Samba Member


Joined: December 14, 2004
Posts: 8857
Location: sound it out.
bugninva is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vedauwoo wrote:
Hmmm, a trailer on an Air Cooled VW......

No Better way to ruin the Transmission!


hmm...so by that way of thinking, passengers is a big no-no?

(when pulling a trailer with a type one, the brakes are your main concern, not the transaxle, which is fairly robust.)
_________________
[email protected] wrote:
With a show of hands, who has built over 1000 engines in the last 25 years? Anyone?


GEX has. Just sayin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Scott H
Samba Luddite


Joined: August 15, 2003
Posts: 3026
Location: NorthCarolina,USA
Scott H is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vedauwoo wrote:
Hmmm, a trailer on an Air Cooled VW......

No Better way to ruin the Transmission!

It hasn't ruined mine.
_________________
Scott
oc92 wrote:
I like the soul of an old car to be visible...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
NOVA Airhead
Samba Member


Joined: July 20, 2005
Posts: 5225
Location: Richmond, VA
NOVA Airhead is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

VW says its Ok to tow. 882 pounds for a trailer without brakes - 1,433 with brakes.

Here is the reference in the '74 Owner's Manual:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/74beetle/74T1-30.jpg
_________________
Ghia Owner Emeritus
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
ampegboy1
Samba Member


Joined: March 21, 2007
Posts: 291
Location: UK
ampegboy1 is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can't see why the transmission would care unduly about towing a trailer. Surely a load is a load is a load to the transmission. My dad used to tow his boat trailer all day with his GT Beetles and never once had the transmission complain. I can see why applying the load brutally can upset it, but I tend to shy away from racing launches with a trailer Smile

Anyway, the A-frame of the Peka hitch is made from L-section, with the flat part 'against' the car and the downward part towards the outside. I tried to take a picture, but even my widest lens wasn't man enough! It's more or less identical to the version for the Ghia:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/misc.php

The design brings two nice bonus features - since it passes under the sump, it offers some protection from large things like speed bumps. Believe it or not, it also stiffens up the back end a little, resulting in a slight but noticeable improvement in 'chuckability'!

Michael
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Vedauwoo
Samba Member


Joined: May 20, 2007
Posts: 188
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Vedauwoo is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

NOVA Airhead wrote:
VW says its Ok to tow. 882 pounds for a trailer without brakes - 1,433 with brakes.

Here is the reference in the '74 Owner's Manual:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/74beetle/74T1-30.jpg


Folks will say, and probably have towed all sorts of things....but....one thing I have learned when it comes to trailers and weights and such is that most folks have no clue and/or never check the actual weight...they just assume they are ok....many do not even consider the weight of the trailer it self in that 882 lbs. Depending on what you have, you may be ok or you may be overcapacity with the trailer hooked up alone.
_________________
1974 Beetle
Beetle's Big Brother
---------------
Junkwaffle-181
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
motersickle
Samba Member


Joined: July 02, 2007
Posts: 12
Location: possum kingdom texas
motersickle is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've got a trailer that is a diamond plate aluminum tool box that is mounted on torsion bar axles. I have pulled it all over the country with my stock HD motorcycle. The tongue weight isn't over 60# so i think it will pull all right. I appreciate everyone's input. I came up with a plan and started putting it together today. I'll let ya'll know hwo it turns out. Once again thanks everyone.

G
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
GA_Boy
Samba Member


Joined: October 10, 2006
Posts: 1405
Location: Jefferson, GA
GA_Boy is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

motersickle wrote:
I've got a trailer that is a diamond plate aluminum tool box that is mounted on torsion bar axles. I have pulled it all over the country with my stock HD motorcycle. The tongue weight isn't over 60# so i think it will pull all right. I appreciate everyone's input. I came up with a plan and started putting it together today. I'll let ya'll know hwo it turns out. Once again thanks everyone.

G


I wouldn't worry about the tranny as long as it is properly lubricated, but I would keep the RPM's up on long uphill pulls to keep the heads as cool as possible. If I were going to add any one gauge it would be a CHT gauge.
Marvin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Scott H
Samba Luddite


Joined: August 15, 2003
Posts: 3026
Location: NorthCarolina,USA
Scott H is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

motersickle wrote:
I've got a trailer that is a diamond plate aluminum tool box that is mounted on torsion bar axles. I have pulled it all over the country with my stock HD motorcycle. The tongue weight isn't over 60# so i think it will pull all right. I appreciate everyone's input. I came up with a plan and started putting it together today. I'll let ya'll know hwo it turns out. Once again thanks everyone.

G

Have any pictures of the trailer?
_________________
Scott
oc92 wrote:
I like the soul of an old car to be visible...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
motersickle
Samba Member


Joined: July 02, 2007
Posts: 12
Location: possum kingdom texas
motersickle is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i can email you some pictures of the trailer if you would like. I don't know how to insert them in to this reply or if it can even be done. Send me an address and i would gladly forward some pics.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Scott H
Samba Luddite


Joined: August 15, 2003
Posts: 3026
Location: NorthCarolina,USA
Scott H is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PM sent. Thanks!
_________________
Scott
oc92 wrote:
I like the soul of an old car to be visible...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
motersickle
Samba Member


Joined: July 02, 2007
Posts: 12
Location: possum kingdom texas
motersickle is offline 

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

only 8 years later but here are the pics

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
[/img]
_________________
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas" Davy Crockett
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
mikeonthebike
Samba Member


Joined: December 08, 2012
Posts: 1010
Location: Sacramento, CA
mikeonthebike is offline 

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd like to see how you have that mounted underneath.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
andrewvwclassic
Samba Member


Joined: January 25, 2012
Posts: 928
Location: los angeles
andrewvwclassic is offline 

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 11:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You da man!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
motersickle
Samba Member


Joined: July 02, 2007
Posts: 12
Location: possum kingdom texas
motersickle is offline 

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2015 7:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mikeonthebike wrote:
I'd like to see how you have that mounted underneath.

Next time i have it up in the air i'll take a pic and post it
i promise it will not take me 8 years this time
_________________
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas" Davy Crockett
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
vwwestyman
Samba Member


Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5874
Location: Wamego, Kansas, USA
vwwestyman is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2020 5:56 am    Post subject: Re: trailer hitch Reply with quote

...You've got 3 years left!

Ha ha
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Beetle - Late Model/Super - 1968-up All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2025, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.