Flat Towing in 2025?

[phillything]

Hello All - I'm a relatively new '74 Thing owner and have spent the past year getting him all fixed up.. new brakes, new steering, new tires, etc. He drives well, but I'm planning on taking him down to the Jersey shore from Philadelphia (about a 70 mile trip).

While he does great around town, I'm not too sure about driving him at highway speeds in this day and age of huge cars on the road... so I'm thinking about trailering. I originally was planning on getting a UHaul Auto transport, but then read about Flat towing here and elsewhere and thought it might be a good option.. not only for the 70 mile trip, but to also have in case the car dies down here and I have to get him to the old-school VW garage about 30 miles away.

So is flat-towing still a good option in 2025? As long as I follow these rules:

- Disconnect Battery
- Key in, Ignition on.
- Magnetic trailer lights
- Purchase and use a front-beam flat tow bar - with additional safety chains.
- NO REVERSE

The towing vehicle will be a 2022 Toyota Tacoma 6 cylinder.

Thoughts?

[CanStan]

70 miles shouldn’t be a stressful distance to go. If it drives nice around town, take it on some shorter highway drives to build confidence and see how it does. Avoid the interstates and take the scenic, slower roads instead. You’ll be fine.
That’s well within your AAA free tow zone, so I wouldn’t even bother worrying about trailers and tow bars honestly.
That’s just my opinion, but I also happily drive my aircooled cars on 500-1000 mile trips several times a year.

Driving a Thing is way more fun than a Toyota anyways!

[Glenn]

You don't need to disconnect the battery or have the ignition on, just make sure the steering column is unlocked.

Also make sure the transaxle is in neutral.
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[CraigInPA]

You can avoid the AC expressway, which has average speeds of 75mph, by taking the more leisurely Black Horse Pike (which is a 2 lane road in spots, and 4 lanes in others).

I guess it's all about how much "adventure" you want to have as part of the trip. I've driven many an antique car on good long trips, and enjoy the idea of "not hurrying and seeing the sights".

[lqqkatjon]

A VW tow bar and a set of magnetic towing lights is not a bad thing to have on hand....

I just got my VW thing driving. It has been years since I have driven many miles in a VW, much less the VW thing.

I can only say after getting mine up to highway speeds a few times this week, is that you should enjoy the drive, and take it easy. Don't try to keep up with the 60-70MPH drivers. do your 55 and take your time. my thing is completely stock, and maybe I need to do some more tuning up. but seemed that pushing over 55-60 was pushing on the car too much.

but as for towing the thing behind a toyota, that will be very simple and easily done. my thing will be spending time behind my motorhome going anywhere I choose.

lastly, I see someone mention AAA. has anybody used it lately? from what i know they leave many people stranded because they can't find a tow company to come out. and the cost is high, so the per occurrence allowance is met just by hooking up, much less moving the vehicle. I stopped my AAA a number of years ago when my buddy had something towed 65 miles and the cost was over his per occurrence allowance. I think that tow cost him his $200 a year membership and an additional $320 in mileage. I am now self insured on my towing. I have access to car trailers and tow bars.


good luck!

[obus]

Where you headed at the Jersey Shore? A bunch of Thing owners around Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Im in downtown Toms River right off exit 81 and 10 minutes to the ocean. Just have to get the engine back in my Thing

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July 1959 Mango Standard Bus aka Obus L346 L347 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256592&highlight=
June 1973 Pumpkin Orange Thing aka Othing L30H
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1960 Paprika Red Karmann Ghia Convertible aka Schatze L452 built 5/20/60
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March 1956 Beetle convertible L41 Black

[oscarsnapkin]

Greetings, been quite some time since I’ve posted. OP, are you in Phila. or out in the suburbs? I’m in Bucks County, and I see Craig is nearby in Norristown. Are the tow bars fairly decent? I’m going to need to tow my Thing in the near future and the tow bar doesn’t cost much more to buy than a trailer costs to rent.
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[Raineyv]

Hello. I am in Az after having my Thing shipped down from Wa state. everything works great except brakes and I wanted to go to event 80 miles away . My thing came with tow bar I have used once . Strapped it on with magnet lights and in neutral and worked great. Suggest going for a test run to get comfortable.

[Heiferman]

[phillything]

Thank you all for your input.. Going to order a tow bar and light and get some towing chains installed too.

Obus. - I'm further south than you down in Sea Isle City... Don't plan on leaving the island TOO much when I finally get it down there!

[phillything]

Just wanted to give you all an update... I got my tow bar, had a local iron working weld on safety chain points (that I bought from Amazon), and towed it down about 80 miles a couple of days ago.

Took a little bit to get used to, and city start/stop/bump driving certainly feels a bit unnerving, but once up at higher speeds (never went over 50 though), it worked very well.

I DID up disconnecting the battery because I thought it would go dead on the trip since the car was "on". Worked well, and now I have the bar and magnetic lights for future use if needed.. All cheaper than renting a U-Haul car transport one way!

Thank you all for your guidance.. I look forward to years of working on this car and gaining knowledge from all the pros here... I'm truly amazed at the knowledge floating around here... I just don't speak the language yet!

Photo of the setup attached.