Need to tow my '74

« **on:** December 06, 2006, 03:07:12 PM »

I need a tow setup to move my 1974 Super to her new home. On JBugs I see a simple clamp-on bar and for just a few dollars more, a bolt-on plate and bar. Since this is a one-time move (Huntsville to Pensacola), I just want to do it efficiently and cheaply. Any recommendations on the best source for a tow bar package? Anyone here have one for sale or rent?

Thanks for your time,

Ron
Huntsville, AL

Jason · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2006, 04:39:15 PM »

I would just rent a U-haul dolly or trailer

« **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2006, 06:11:08 PM »

Yeah, that's an option but their price for a one-way is about double what I can buy a towbar for. :?

Zen · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2006, 10:02:52 PM »

I had a home-made Superbeetle Tow bar at one time that was great. Unlike the store-bought Super tow bars, this one didn't require bolting a bar or brackets to the car, and only took a minute to hook up. But, I loaned it out about 2 years ago and haven't seen it or the person that borrowed it since.

I have an idea that I'm pretty sure will work, but I haven't had a chance to have the part made. I am pretty sure I can have a piece made to clamp on a Super Beetles "deformation plate" that will alow you to use a standard beetle tow bar on a Super. The home-made bar I had clamped onto the deformation plate . . . I towed several different Supers many, many miles with mine and never had problem with it. I jack-knifed once while towing a Super with it (bad driving, nothing to do with the tow set-up) and after I got the bumper of my truck pulled out of the beetle's fender, I continued on my way . . . no damage to the bar or to the deformation plate . . . but it did do a number on the fender! :oops:

Zen · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2006, 10:17:08 PM »

I no longer have the tow bar, but at least I have pictures.

http://www.volksfolks.org/gallery/peoplecars/vwboneyard/towbar/

What I'm thinking will work is to take a tube (maybe a piece from a junk front beam) and clamp it under the deformation plate using pieces to similar to the ones used to clamp my old tow bar to the deformation plate. If you had the right size tube with stops in the right spot clamped under the front of the car, you should be able to clamp a standard beetle tow bar right up to it. I think.

« **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2006, 06:59:30 AM »

Thanks Zen. The bar in your pic looks like a better-built version of one offered by JBugs.

I warmed up my Visa and ordered one.

VWGirl · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2006, 10:09:09 AM »

the super beetle tow bars are NOT fun to install... in fact the bolt on part of my tow bar is still sitting in chattanooga waiting on a replica to be made so that once it is on the car it will never have come off!!!! i'll make one for each super... then i can just hook up the bar and go! standard beetles are so much simpler! but you dont even want to know about the rabbit tow bar this guy used last night :shock:

Zen, thats a pretty crazy ac bracket set up... only problem being that not all super beetles have those! but i guess it works for a good percentage of them... i am not so sure about the set up, i'd have to see it in person before i would feel comfortable with that... but then again I have engine tin covering my engine compartment too :wink:

« **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2006, 10:00:59 AM »

Got the tow-bar in for the '74. They failed to mention the small stuff like, buy longer 8mm bolts before starting installation. :-)

Anyway, before ordering the bar, I asked around in several places and the consensus was that the auto-stick could be towed by just placing the shifter in neutral. The instructions that came with the tow bar says "not intended to tow an auto-stick beetle"! Guess I'd better drop the tranny and engine and ship them seperately! What a PITA.

I'll let y'all know the outcome. I plan to tow this little beast and if it burns up on the way, I'll post where the parts can be scavanged from the roadside.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2006, 11:49:51 AM »

Just take the 1/2 shafts off at the tranny and rear stub axles and tow your to your hearts content.

« **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2006, 05:21:53 PM »

Beats burning up a tranny fer-shur.

Thanks for the tip. :wink:

« **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2006, 08:01:28 PM »

Well, that wasn't so bad. Took about 20-minutes to bolt up the tow bracket, including searching for longer bolts in my metric stash.

Also attacked the dreaded heater cable replacement (one side was broken). I had convinced myself it would be a major undertaking. What a relief! Duuuhhh, I could have had adjustable heat all last winter! Again, about 30-min of minimal effort and she is as good as new.

« **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2006, 11:34:40 PM »

I hooked her up to the Jeep and gingerly drove around the neighborhood to get a feel for how she would tow. With the hatch open on the Jeep, I could see the steering wheel in the VW. Did a 180 in a cul-d-sac and when she came out of the sharp turn the wheel was whipping back and forth like crazy. I was only travelling at 5MPH!

Obviously, I have to find a solution. A "tank-slapper" at 50 would be a disaster! Checked the steering adjustment and found it very loose. Snugged that up and ordered a steering stabilizer. I dunno guys, never had a toad pull that kind of crap before. I think she was trying to spit the bit.

Zen · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2006, 11:32:01 PM »

Quote from: "74ron"

Did a 180 in a cul-d-sac and when she came out of the sharp turn the wheel was whipping back and forth like crazy. I was only travelling at 5MPH!

I've had a couple of supers pull that when starting out of a sharp turn at a low speed. Both of them had bad steering dampers. Once I got straightened out, I stopped, straightened the wheels and started back off straight. The only time it seemed to be a problem was starting in a turn at low speed. Once I finally got going and up to speed, they both tracked fine . . . but then, both of those were on short trips . . . maybe I just got lucky!?! Adding a little weight in the front might help . . .

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2006, 08:45:47 AM »

A standard Beetle will also pull that stunt. More often than not it was caused by a bad Damper.

« **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2006, 12:15:29 PM »

Good call bugtech! I got the new damper in this morning and when I started removing the old one the shaft end attachment point was not connected! Actually the through bolt was wallowing around in the chassis attachment point.

The search begins for the "whatever-that-is-called" piece now. The O'Rileys guy where I bought the damper didn't have a fish so we were unable to communicate. :?

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