Friends, I hitched up Ebon (my '56) and hauled it to my home, about 10 miles, under a variety of driving conditions- city streets, turns, highway speeds. It towed like a dream with my bus.
I really appreciate all the tips I have received. The only thing I'm puzzled about is the "binding down" of the steering. I used a cinch strap, so perhaps that was the problem, as it was not flexible enough to allow any movement. When I would negotiate a relatively sharp turn, the wheels would skitter along, chirping and bouncing, since the wheels were not turning into the turn. Perhaps a bungee cord would be better after all? Or what? 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 ----- Original Message ---- From: acvwguy64 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Air-Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 7:51:32 PM Subject: Re: [vintagvw] towing old beetle The bumper hitch on my F-250 is too high, so I use a drop hitch. Ideally, you want the tow bar to be as close to parallel to the ground as you can. I think most states require current tags, registration and insurance, since more than zero of the wheels are on the ground. (Another advantage of a flatbed trailer) Depending on the state, you can sometimes get temporary tags. Safety chains!! I use bulk chain and chain links to connect the front beam to the hitch, leaving enough slack for movement, in case the tow bar fails from either end. I've never gone over the maximum speed of the bug in-tow. Is there any danger of damaging the bug if you do? I was towing a bug, with magnetic lights, on Rt-22 in NJ. Someone actually tried to cut off the bug, was honking at it, and gave it the finger. I'd imagine to avoid that, stay out of NJ. ;^} acvwguy At 07:02 AM 3/11/2007, you 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 > > > > > >____________________________________________________________________________________ >Don't pick lemons. >See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. >http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html > >_______________________________________________ >vintagvw site list >[email protected] >http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.9/719 - Release Date: 3/12/2007 >8:41 AM _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw
