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rlutterb
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006
Posts: 1417
Location: Carrollton Ohio
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 Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 2:55 pm Post subject: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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For a super beetle tow bar mounting plate, there are already 6 holes in the Frame horn, so the installation is pretty straight forward, but I've always wondered what the existing 6 holes where there for from the factory. Anybody know? I had one SB years ago that already had bolts in the 6 holes....the one I just bought has the holes but no bolts and the holes do not appear to be threaded.
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1973 Super Beetle project
1978 VW convertable
1987 El Camino
1995 Miata M
2015 Chevy Silverado |
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60ragtop
Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006
Posts: 7801
Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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crash plate
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Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
| tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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| sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked  |
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rlutterb
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006
Posts: 1417
Location: Carrollton Ohio
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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| 60ragtop wrote: |
crash plate
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OK but what are the holes for?
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1973 Super Beetle project
1978 VW convertable
1987 El Camino
1995 Miata M
2015 Chevy Silverado |
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bilbo939
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2020
Posts: 59
Location: Isle of Wight, UK
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 10:23 am Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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The extra smaller holes are just for drainage. As when it's on the car they are the low points. I've never worked out what the bigger holes are really for I just figured they help it crumple in the safest way in the even of an accident, weight saving (unlikely) or form part of the jig and/or assembly process.
I wouldn't tow from it, the 6 bolts that hold it on are only through steel sheet, and the bumper irons are supposed to have a tow loop anyway.
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'71 1302-S
'03 T4 2.5 TDI
'04 Golf 1.9 TDI |
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rlutterb
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006
Posts: 1417
Location: Carrollton Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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| bilbo939 wrote: |
The extra smaller holes are just for drainage. As when it's on the car they are the low points. I've never worked out what the bigger holes are really for I just figured they help it crumple in the safest way in the even of an accident, weight saving (unlikely) or form part of the jig and/or assembly process.
I wouldn't tow from it, the 6 bolts that hold it on are only through steel sheet, and the bumper irons are supposed to have a tow loop anyway. |
The weird thing is it on some super beetles those smaller holes are threaded and have small bolts in them.
Those holes are the prescribe mounting points for the toe bar that is commonly sold for super Beatles. I have towed using it before with no issues. The steel there is probably 3/16 inch?
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1973 Super Beetle project
1978 VW convertable
1987 El Camino
1995 Miata M
2015 Chevy Silverado |
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bilbo939
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2020
Posts: 59
Location: Isle of Wight, UK
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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I've never seen this front mounted towbar.
Flaw towing seems like a bit of a niche use case to include this whole set up for, especially when some supers and standards don't have one. Even the Bentley manual doesn't mention this part at all, even in the exploded diagrams of the floor pan. It's bizzare.
The crash structure is chunk yeah, but where it bolts to, the frame heads front lip is not that strong really, compared to the bumper irons and their connection to the boxed section behind the inner wing
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'71 1302-S
'03 T4 2.5 TDI
'04 Golf 1.9 TDI |
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rlutterb
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006
Posts: 1417
Location: Carrollton Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 12:39 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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| bilbo939 wrote: |
| I've never seen this front mounted towbar. |
For a superbeetle this is the only tow bar that I have seen available on the market. It is commonly sold by many retailers. I would not want to pull a Volkswagen very far using the loop and a rope. In the past I have towed a Volkswagen using these towbars hundreds of miles.
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1973 Super Beetle project
1978 VW convertable
1987 El Camino
1995 Miata M
2015 Chevy Silverado |
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bilbo939
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2020
Posts: 59
Location: Isle of Wight, UK
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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| rlutterb wrote: |
| bilbo939 wrote: |
| I've never seen this front mounted towbar. |
For a superbeetle this is the only tow bar that I have seen available on the market. It is commonly sold by many retailers. I would not want to pull a Volkswagen very far using the loop and a rope. In the past I have towed a Volkswagen using these towbars hundreds of miles. |
I don't doubt you, I just find it odd that VWoA who provided the content for the Bentley manual, doesn't even mention this part or its intended purpose. And that mine, which judging by its condition has been ignored for decades, doesn't have captive nuts in any of those holes. They are just- holes.
And no the loop is more for getting it onto the back of a loader or breakdown truck.
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'71 1302-S
'03 T4 2.5 TDI
'04 Golf 1.9 TDI |
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rlutterb
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006
Posts: 1417
Location: Carrollton Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 1:04 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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[quote="bilbo939]
I don't doubt you, I just find it odd that VWoA who provided the content for the Bentley manual, doesn't even mention this part or its intended purpose. And that mine, which judging by its condition has been ignored for decades, doesn't have captive nuts in any of those holes. They are just- holes.
.[/quote]
There must be somebody out there that knows more than us about this  I had a 72 super beetle that had bolts threaded into those holes when I got it. I just took the bolts out and attached the towbar mounting plate. Clearly things changed over the years because my 73 super beetle has the holes but they are not threaded.
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1973 Super Beetle project
1978 VW convertable
1987 El Camino
1995 Miata M
2015 Chevy Silverado |
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rlutterb
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006
Posts: 1417
Location: Carrollton Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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If I look at your picture, it looks like four of the six holes or threaded on yours.
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1973 Super Beetle project
1978 VW convertable
1987 El Camino
1995 Miata M
2015 Chevy Silverado |
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bilbo939
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2020
Posts: 59
Location: Isle of Wight, UK
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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| rlutterb wrote: |
If I look at your picture, it looks like four of the six holes or threaded on yours.
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That's not my post lol, and I was confused I thought you mean the other holes dotted around. mine has all 6 of the bottom ones threaded vs 4 which is weird again.
couldn't find much on the web about this part, apart from elsewhere on this forum
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=674989
They also seem to think its a crash structure. I checked my haynes manual too, which was based on a strip down of a uk 71 1302-s and it fails to mention it, but you can see it in the background of a few pictures.
I feel ive become a bit too obsessed over this lump of iron. But I learnt my thing for the day, that you can get flat tow bars that mount under there!
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60ragtop
Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006
Posts: 7801
Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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The crash plate has the threaded nuts welded to it that is what it attaches to the bug. Those 6 bolts are taken out and longer bolts are used to attach the tow bar plate. If you are missing the crash plate you are missing the threaded holes
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
| tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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| sb001 wrote: |
| maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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rlutterb
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006
Posts: 1417
Location: Carrollton Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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| 60ragtop wrote: |
The crash plate has the threaded nuts welded to it that is what it attaches to the bug. Those 6 bolts are taken out and longer bolts are used to attach the tow bar plate. If you are missing the crash plate you are missing the threaded holes |
Thanks!
This thread talks more about this mysterious crash plate
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=619270&highlight=crash+plate
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1973 Super Beetle project
1978 VW convertable
1987 El Camino
1995 Miata M
2015 Chevy Silverado |
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cajun_sun_bug
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2019
Posts: 170
Location: Ms Gulfcoast
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 8:40 am Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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| 60ragtop wrote: |
The crash plate has the threaded nuts welded to it that is what it attaches to the bug. Those 6 bolts are taken out and longer bolts are used to attach the tow bar plate. If you are missing the crash plate you are missing the threaded holes |
I just did this install yesterday and it is only 4 bolts, unless mine is missing 2 but it seemed like the other 2 holes were smaller and did not have a backer nut or threads?
BTW I see some PO cut off your tow hook too? Mine is identical  gone!
Finally, since our super is lower than stock, the tow bar mounting brackets have 3.5 inches of ground clearance, should I be concerned 
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Regards,
Todd
1974 Super Beetle Sun Bug
#cajunhotrodder on insta |
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RailBoy
Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2008
Posts: 2916
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 8:48 am Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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Most German Look Supers that run sumps do to stroker Type 1's run less than 4 inches as well, at the sump!
All I know, is that you pay attention to the road ahead of you.. RB
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[quote="smitty24"]"HELP, I ported my own heads and now have fire coming out my ass" .[/quote]
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tadeoman
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2017
Posts: 4
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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Hello!
I just ran into this old post. I am trying to install a tow-bar into a 72 super beetle. I see the 6 holes, but no threaded nuts, so I assume I am missing the crash plate.
Is it still safe to add the tow bar? Clearly the M-8 bolts would be too small so I would likely add a bit bigger M-10 maybe. Thank you
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nworegonman
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Joined: September 07, 2010
Posts: 7
Location: Hillsboro Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2024 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle Tow Bar |
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How id it go with the larger bolts?
My issue is my but is lowered, and I am hitting the brackets that are sticking down a LOT. Not good, so I am looking for ideas on a different way to mount. |
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