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kombi towing abilities
alexit - February 13th, 2004 at 06:44 PM

Hi
I have been a long time reader, though my postings have been few :(
Anyway, I am looking for opinions....
I have a nice strong 2L bus that I intend to use to tow around my new boat rig. The kombi has a good towbar, mounted correctly (not hanging of the bumper!) and the rig will weigh about 300kgs all up.
Now I know that the dub will pull it and it is well within the legal limit, but.... do you think I am gunna kill something over time pulling this round? Anything that I should keep an eye on?
Thanks.........alex

modulus - February 13th, 2004 at 07:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alexit
... 300kgs all up.
... do you think I am gunna kill something over time pulling this round? Anything that I should keep an eye on?


It's not going to kill anything... Kombis and their bretheren were made for carrying a load and towing was always envisaged...
this is a modest total weight to be towing. The usual towing and boating aspects should be taken care of, especially if salt water gets near the Kombi.

For long distance, you might want to consider an oil temperature gauge, as they give you a bit of early warning when your Kombi is feeling stressed.

Good luck

tonyg - February 13th, 2004 at 07:17 PM

I towed a 6m wooden boat 3/4 full of of water up a gravel ramp in a beetle. You should have seen the looks on the faces of the holden brigade...
you won't have any probs

11CAB - February 14th, 2004 at 06:55 AM

Kombi's are a true "one tonner" so towing 300kgs wont be a problem.....I towed a 72 Twincab back from Dubs by the Pub last weekend with our 74 Kombi.....but "shooosh" dont tell anyone....

twoguns - February 14th, 2004 at 09:15 AM

mate, wouldnt be a problem ever i would think. in the pick below is my mate steve. in the background is his ute, it has a 1600 and he has towed neville out (pic'd in the forground) as well as hundreds of other beetles, notchs, buses, and my harley ( the alarm wouldnt deactivate). he is right now upgrading to a 2l, for the same use. so you shouldnt have a prob.

also, my splitty carried 1.9ton over a wiegh bridge at the tip in gosford once....

Softop - February 14th, 2004 at 09:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by alexit
I have a nice strong 2L bus that I intend to use to tow around my new boat rig. The kombi has a good towbar, mounted correctly (not hanging of the bumper!) and the rig will weigh about 300kgs all up.
Thanks.........alex


Ok, so the 300kg covers the boat trailer....maybe....but what about when you put the boat on it ?
BTW, if it's a yacht, raise the sails first, better fuel economy :)
Roger.

modulus - February 14th, 2004 at 11:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Softop

Ok, so the 300kg covers the boat trailer....maybe....but what about when you put the boat on it ?



You're thinking of stinkboats.
Many single handed sailing boats (Laser, Europe etc. etc.) weigh less than 100 kg with all their fittings and sails, so 300 kg all up is quite reasonable.

alexit - February 14th, 2004 at 04:35 PM

Thanks for all the help guys.
An oil temp guage?...already a done thing:thumb
And yes the rig will be 300kg all up.
The boat is a 13ft ply/epoxy hull that I have been building over the last month or so. It is almost ready for paint and it tipped in at just 130kgs the other day. Add to that 130kg of trailer and another 50kg in outboard/fuel/stuff....
Hey that makes it 310kg. But it seems the kombi won't have problem.:D

KruizinKombi - February 15th, 2004 at 10:35 AM

Bloody hell, my trailer weighs more than 310kg empty!!! Shouldn't be any problem whatsoever. :thumb

DoNkEy - February 15th, 2004 at 02:26 PM

I am looking at getting a kombi and a tow bar is a must.

Just wondering, if they dont have a tow bar, are they easy to get a hold of and install? Also is wiring a problem?

KruizinKombi - February 16th, 2004 at 12:27 PM

*Most* towbars simply attach using the same bolts as the rear bumper. I have had trouble in the past with towbars clashing with aftermarket exhaust systems, but this shouldn't be a problem with a stock exhaust.

Wiring is simply a matter of splicing into the loom near the RH tail-light.:)

As for availablility, I'm sure I saw one in Buying/Selling recently for $65.