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How to tow a 1967 Beetle?
benny_acko - November 9th, 2012 at 03:33 PM

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


Yogie - November 9th, 2012 at 04:02 PM

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

Yogie


benny_acko - November 9th, 2012 at 04:17 PM

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


whathaveidone - November 9th, 2012 at 04:25 PM

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


bitemeoz - November 9th, 2012 at 05:00 PM

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 - November 9th, 2012 at 07:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by benny_acko
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


benny_acko - November 9th, 2012 at 08:04 PM

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


sander288 - November 9th, 2012 at 08:29 PM

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/66bug/22-23.jpg

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! :lol:


h - November 9th, 2012 at 08:32 PM

on a trailer is the safest ;)


Yogie - November 9th, 2012 at 08:56 PM

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

Yogie


benny_acko - November 9th, 2012 at 09:33 PM

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!


grinderman - November 9th, 2012 at 09:52 PM

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 - November 10th, 2012 at 07:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sander288
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/66bug/22-23.jpg

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! :lol:

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


beetleboyjeff - November 10th, 2012 at 07:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by HappyDaze
Got it right there, Shaun......'When it doubt, read the instructions'.


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


benny_acko - November 10th, 2012 at 08:50 AM

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


whathaveidone - November 10th, 2012 at 08:53 AM

I always wondered how to reverse park:crazy::crazy:


sander288 - November 10th, 2012 at 09:09 AM

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


polak - November 10th, 2012 at 09:30 AM

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....