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Towbar for 1970 bug. Is it doable???

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odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391635
Have a small trailer I want to put onto "Barbarella" for when we do a promo some where. Need to fit in pamphlets, posters, stationary, small table, chairs etc. You know, all that stuff you have to have to fit out a stand at an expo. Guards front and rear are glass.
Q1. Can it be done?
Q2. Are they factory made or custom?
Q3. Where do they fit onto? (the exhaust line is joined and comes out the RHS very low to the tar)
Q4. Is it a lot of work and is it costly?
Q5. Am I better of to forget it and deal with postage instead?
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#391641
chop the arse off it. baja it and then attach the ball to the cage:vader
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391642
Whoa, I'd end up with my arse chopped of if I did that! Bajaing is no option! There must be a way of doing it. What about something on the inside of the bumper attached to the chassis, cut a hole for the tongue to come out with the ball on that?

That way it would not scrape the tar and keep the pull reasonably level.

But would an engineer have to do it and sign off on it???
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

Ellabella Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#391645
there are ones that bolt all the way back to the rear torsion bar, not sure where else they hang from tho...

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391646
Where have you seen them? Are they available as a retro fit and who from?
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#391647
I found one by the side of the road a while back, and a wreckers in marayong (NSW) has one too. He's just up from the station on the Nth side of the Station.

However, you should be able to make one.

they have two clamps that go round the chassis horns and then two bits of tube come back underneath to the back of the car and stick out beyond the bumper with the mounting plate for the ball. These bolt up to the bumper and the bumper probably should have a bar going in between the mounts to stiffen them up a little. I'll see if my bro can send me a pic of the one I gave to him. If so then I'll post it.
"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391650
A pic would be great as I have a mate who can do stuff like that and make it look like a bought one.

Found by the side of the road??? Yeah suuuure!
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

silverbullet Officially Full-On Dubber

331 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#391721
i use to have one on my 70 beetle it used to attaced where the bumper bolts on. It use to just hang below the rear bumper. no cutting of the guards required. The brackets were made from about 7mm steel. I had no problems with this i use to tow my jet ski wtih this. I dont know where this was made or bought but i sold it with the car.

pod i`ve got to finish this thing one day

4,980 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391733
most towbar manufacturers can custom make a tow bar to fit,just cost more than a std one ,used to work for a towbar manufacturer about 9 yrs back ,so have seen them done for coaches and trucks etc :thumb
gooseneck should be made out of 20mm thick steel use 2" pipe for the cross brace and 8mm plate for the brackets ,12 mm for the plate where the gooseneck bolts on to ,hope this helps with your problem👍
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General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#391866
Heh, shame things are the way they are I have a beetle towbar back at my mothers place. It's one of the V-shaped torsion bar dealies. I bought it and couldn't fit it because the thunderbirds were in the exact wrong place. If I could have made them both occupy the same space, it looked like there would have been a clearance issue with the irs arms.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

ruckus Veteran Volks Folk

2,118 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#391892
I took one off mine a few years ago. Left it with Dean at Vee Dubs Only down in Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads. He might still have it. Attatched to the torsion bar.

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391893
Good lot of info *pod* thanks. Got a few lines in the water to see if there is one for sale without the delivery costing a bomb, so we will see.
Passed the *pod* info onto my engineer mate who says it can be done quite easily and for only around $150! Installed!

The next question is what would the rear end of a beetle be able to stand as far as a maximum towable weight is concerned?
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391894
ruckus wrote:I took one off mine a few years ago. Left it with Dean at Vee Dubs Only down in Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads. He might still have it. Attatched to the torsion bar.
Got a contact number or email address for them as they don't appear in my ph book and telstra says it is not enough info for them to give me a number???
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

BiX Veteran Volks Folk

2,499 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#391896
Yeah i got an old one, my dad had on his bug in the 70's. It has a round tube welded between the bumper bar brackets and a tag hanging down of that. Then 2 tubes than ran all the way foward to the torsion tubes. So the bumper brakets took the vertical load, a nd the torions tubes take the hor load.
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391899
A shame Brisbane is so far away BiX, what would it cost to buy and post/courier?
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

Ellabella Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#391911
i have also seen em with tags that bolt to gearbox horns as well as bumper and torsion tube no wi cum to think of it

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#391924
the two long round pipe sections go under the engine and back up to clamp around the torsion bar tubes.
Then a flat steel bar bolts across the rear behind the bumper bar attaching to the bumper brackets....

If You look around You will find one....
The bumper brackets will need changing behind the bumper for the later model bumper bar brackets...

Best of Luck

I have had some luck... .. My Son tells Me He has one as I was looking for one too....

Have You seen the smallish sized trailer.... could be made for a motor cycle, but they look great on small cars....

Lee Noonan 68autoBug

Htp://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

ruckus Veteran Volks Folk

2,118 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#391926
Here you go. Nicest bloke in volkswagens IMHO

V-Dubs Only

Ocean Grove VIC 3226
ph: (03) 5256 1911 Motor Engineers & Repairers

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#391940
Ta, will talk to him monday.
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#393811
Good pix, where do the brackets bolt onto on the chassis? There must be a brace between the bumper mounts behind the tongue I would have thought. What gauge steel rod is it?
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

ctefeh Wolfsburg Wizard

479 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#394943
Hi,
Picked up the wife's 72 super on the W/E and it has a towbar attached. The ball sits above the rear bumper.

Want some pics?


Regards
Ctefeh

Chewy Fahrvergnugen

889 posts · joined Jul 2004 ·

#395057
ruckus wrote:Here you go. Nicest bloke in volkswagens IMHO

V-Dubs Only

Ocean Grove VIC 3226
ph: (03) 5256 1911 Motor Engineers & Repairers
Are you sure he is still in business??
I think his shop is now a resturant?
Dunno, tell us if you get a hold of him

Cheers
.

Chewy Fahrvergnugen

889 posts · joined Jul 2004 ·

#395060
P.S my towbar is the type that bolts to the bumper brackets and has a big tube running between them with the towbar attached to that.
I am going to make some tubes that mount to the towbar tube and run under the engine to the torsion bar to mount a skid plate too

Cheers
.

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#395314
ctefeh wrote:Hi,
Picked up the wife's 72 super on the W/E and it has a towbar attached. The ball sits above the rear bumper.

Want some pics?


Regards
Ctefeh
If you could please, also any from underneath to show how what and where.

Thanks
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#395316
Chewy wrote:
ruckus wrote:Here you go. Nicest bloke in volkswagens IMHO

V-Dubs Only

Ocean Grove VIC 3226
ph: (03) 5256 1911 Motor Engineers & Repairers
Are you sure he is still in business??
I think his shop is now a resturant?
Dunno, tell us if you get a hold of him

Cheers
Yeah, the two times I tried calling it rang out. Will keep trying...
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!

ctefeh Wolfsburg Wizard

479 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#396277
Hi,
Took the photos last night, I'll e-mail you them after a little shrinking.

Regards
Ctefeh

odapbr Commited Dubber

59 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#396307
Look forward to them...
Pomponderoo Bush Retreat WINNER POWERCOR WIMMERA ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD Pomponderoo Boosh Produce, UNDERTAKING THE WIMMERA'S FIRST FOOD FOREST FOR ALL POWERED BY VW SPIRIT AND TENACITY!!!