How to tow a 1967 Beetle?

benny_acko Officially Full-On Dubber

253 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 9 Nov 2012, 3:33 pm

#930268

Hey guys,
Anywhere on a 1967 Beetle I can affix a towing strap? Picking up a Beetle tomorrow and its only 1km away.It doesnt run currently (unless I can get it started) and:
1. Need to pull it backwards out of the garage and up a kind of steep drive
2. Hoping I can tow it the 1km to my house behind the Landcruiser (with assistance) instead of having to fork out $80 hire for 10 mins (3hr minimum).

Any thoughts or is this not a good idea? Surely there are some suitable attachment points?

Thanks,

Ben

1967 VW Beetle Deluxe

Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!

1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 9 Nov 2012, 4:02 pm

#930273

See if someone local to you have as A frame towing arm. They work great.

Yogie

benny_acko Officially Full-On Dubber

253 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 9 Nov 2012, 4:17 pm

#930275

Thanks.I will look into it-I have found some on ebay but international and would tske too long/get pumped with postage...

1967 VW Beetle Deluxe

whathaveidone Custom Title Time!

1,559 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 9 Nov 2012, 4:25 pm

#930277

just tie a strap around the lower control arm!!!

bitemeoz Officially Full-On Dubber

355 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 9 Nov 2012, 5:00 pm

#930285

ive had my beetle towed a couple of kms by a tie down behind my mates landcruiser, about a metre off his rear end, as long as it steers and brakes no worries just take it slllllloooooooooooow.

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 9 Nov 2012, 7:56 pm

#930333

benny_acko wrote:Hey guys,
Anywhere on a 1967 Beetle I can affix a towing strap? Picking up a Beetle tomorrow and its only 1km away.It doesnt run currently (unless I can get it started) and:
1. Need to pull it backwards out of the garage and up a kind of steep drive
2. Hoping I can tow it the 1km to my house behind the Landcruiser (with assistance) instead of having to fork out $80 hire for 10 mins (3hr minimum).

Any thoughts or is this not a good idea? Surely there are some suitable attachment points?

Thanks,

Ben

Not much there to put a strap onto:

bumper bar support.. around one of the bumper supports

or under the front apron to the front suspension

Just make sure the beetle doesn't run into the landcruiser..

what I have always thought of doing but never have..
for towing

a few metres of Large PVC pipe.. 4 or 5 inches

with a strap or rope thru the pipe so, if the towing vehicle stops suddenly the PVC pipe will be between the two vehicles..

or the best one [which was used by local NRMA a few years ago.. maybe they still use it?? ]

about 2 metres of 50mm pipe welded to a towing hitch on one end to be used on a tow bar..
and a D shackle on the other end..
or a couple of metal hoops to be used with straps..

these were used on cars with towing hooks on the front
but could be attached with a strap etc..

Main thing is the bar keeps the two vehicles apart..
they cannot slam into each other when braking hard..

LEE

PS: I was always going to put a towing hook on the front suspension.. I think Supers had them?? Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

benny_acko Officially Full-On Dubber

253 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 9 Nov 2012, 8:04 pm

#930337

I think once i get it out of the drive my brother and i are going to push it 😉
Nothing like a bit of fitness and saves a gym session...

So that brings me to my next point-how can i pull the damn thing out with the rear of the car facing the garage door?Is there anywhere on the rear of the chassis or rear suspension?about 10m but uphill..Never easy

1967 VW Beetle Deluxe

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 · 9 Nov 2012, 8:29 pm

#930350

Nothing better than workshop manual; I've used these points to tow mine around when in need; rope broke once but I was able to roll all the way to the workshop! 😂

BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 9 Nov 2012, 8:32 pm

#930351

on a trailer is the safest 😉

fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse

Fantasy http://seventhchronicle.com

Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity

Barrels www.barrelman.com.au

VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au

Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!

1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 9 Nov 2012, 8:56 pm

#930356

Surely someone near you has one of these that can loan it to you?

Yogie

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benny_acko Officially Full-On Dubber

253 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 9 Nov 2012, 9:33 pm

#930366

You guys are legends..Thankyou so much..

Sander288 -I'll have to try find myself one of those manuals.Love your Bug and thread-have read it at least a dozen times! I'd like to try make mine into a street/race kinda vehicle in a similar vein..

Yogie-I have seen and read about those..they are for sale on ebay too.

Depending on how we go towing my brother and I are prepared to push it most of the way for a laugh and workout.It's a gentle slope predominantly except for 2 or 3 slight hills.A challenge just before rugby pre-season starts!

1967 VW Beetle Deluxe

grinderman Officially Full-On Dubber

378 posts · joined Apr 2011 · 9 Nov 2012, 9:52 pm

#930368

Done many a tow over the years including a 80km tow at highway speeds, the main thing is that the car being towed must control the braking speed for both cars and if you keep the rope taut regardless of speed you will have no dramas. You need a tow rope that has a bit of stretch which is better than a cable, and crawl underneath and attach to torsion beam which is strongest point. If you dont have 2 way radios work out basic hand signals to let the tow driver know of any dramas. The good part about free towing a bug or early kombi is that you have full brakes and steering which is a sight less stressful than towing a cooked triton at 90kph and keeping that rope tight with bugger all brakes..............character building stuff

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 · 10 Nov 2012, 7:21 am

#930394

sander288 wrote:

Nothing better than workshop manual; I've used these points to tow mine around when in need; rope broke once but I was able to roll all the way to the workshop! 😂

Got it right there, Shaun......'When it doubt, read the instructions'.

I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 10 Nov 2012, 7:53 am

#930400

HappyDaze wrote:Got it right there, Shaun......'When it doubt, read the instructions'.

The way I heard it........."BEFORE all else fails, read the instructions" :-)

From your ole' mate Jeff

benny_acko Officially Full-On Dubber

253 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 10 Nov 2012, 8:50 am

#930405

Men dont read instructions!
Haha but when it comes to potentisl issues with safety I shall..my ego isnt too big to know when to ask for help...
Thanks again

1967 VW Beetle Deluxe

whathaveidone Custom Title Time!

1,559 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 10 Nov 2012, 8:53 am

#930407

I always wondered how to reverse park🤪🤪

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 · 10 Nov 2012, 9:09 am

#930408

The manual tells you how to drive economically too.. missed that section 😀

BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

polak Everything is alright with enough Vodka :P

913 posts · joined May 2009 · 10 Nov 2012, 9:30 am

#930409

trailer or tilt tray is always the safest option, but i guess if its only 1km u can flat tow it. i usually try to go around the lower bar on the front beam, and as for pulling it out of the garage backwards, i would probably go around the rear of one of the forks, where the gearbox cross member bolts to....

VW - helping put oil back into the ground for over 60 years