Hi, Tim, Definitely tow with the car in neutral. Make sure the tranny is properly filled with gear oil and the tires are properly inflated and the rim bolts are tight. Yes, I've lost a wheel - once - (!)
For a '56, you don't have to worry, but if the car has a steering lock, leave the key in the ignition and the lock unlocked. The steering wheel should be free to turn without obstruction. Having the towed car's steering lock up in a corner is a good way to destroy the tow bar and maybe lose the tow - also - DO NOT BACK UP! Unhitch and move the towed car by hand if you have to go back from whence you came. If the front wheels are misaligned badly, or the suspension is loose, or the steering damper is shot (or missing), the towed car might oscillate violently at some speed - take your foot off the gas and slow down without hitting the brakes if this happens. Above all, avoid sudden moves - hard braking or sudden swerves. Give the guy in front of you a big space so you can stop safely if he does. Magnetic taillights are a good idea - in some areas they might be legally required. Helps keep the tailgaters off your rear. Other than that, it's easy. I've towed Bugs and Ghias many times, even the occasional older Bus, with a '91 Vanagon and a tow bar. Chuck Kuecker Timothy Osburn wrote: > Friends, I'm towing my '56 beetle down to Arkansas from Kansas City (about > 200 miles) in a couple of weeks, using a VW tow bar (all four "feet" on the > ground). > > Two questions- You do tow with the car in neutral, correct? Any special > instructions besides that? I'm assuming you don't "bind down" the steering > wheel, correct? > > I would love to hear any "horror stories" and what could have been done to > prevent them. Thanks! > > Tim Osburn, Head Mechanic, Ralph Spoilsport Motors. > 1970 Beetle (Sport), 1974 Westfalia hardtop camper (Tullio), 1956 Euro Beetle > ragtop (Ebon,in progress)and... Grand Canyon Nut. > Home of The Blues Notions website- http://www.bluesnotions.com > _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw
