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Timbear
DADE CITY, FLORIDA
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Joined: 04/11/2008
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Anybody had any experience flat towing a 1978 or 1979 VW Beetle with manual transmission. I can't find any definitive information, but have seen them being towed. Since there are a number of tow bars available, I would assume it must be possible (at least for a limited distance/time). Thanks.
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MAJESTYPOINTERS
MONROE, MI.
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Joined: 04/08/2008
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WE USE TO FLAT PULL A DUNE BUGGY.. SIMALAR TRANS AXEL. PUT IT IN NUTRAL AND WE TOWED 400MILES EACH WAY WITH OUT PROBLEMS.
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Timbear
DADE CITY, FLORIDA
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What kind of supplemental braking system did you use? Any special considerations with the tow bar? Thanks.
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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Timbear wrote:What kind of supplemental braking system did you use? Any special considerations with the tow bar? Thanks.
When I knew people who towed the classic VWs, "supplemental braking" hadn't been invented yet. There used to be a towbar available that was especially built for the VW Beetle and Superbeetle. I would imagine they are still available somewhere, perhaps in VW specialty catalogs.
I have heard that the "Automatic Stick-shift" VWs are not flat towable. I don't know if that is a fact or not. As far as I know, the Beetle, Super Beetle, Karmann Ghia, and Thing are all flat towable, and the same towbar fits them all.
CM1, USN (RET)
2010 North Trail 28BHS TT
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"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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MAJESTYPOINTERS
MONROE, MI.
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NO WE DID NOT USE ANY SECONDARY BRAKING SYSTEM. IT WAS A LIGHT DUNE BUGGY AND DID NOT EFFECT THE BRAKING OF THE BIG OLD WINNY WE HAD BACK THEN. THE FLOOR MOUNTED ONES THEY HAVE NOW SHOULD WORK FINE...JUST DROP THEM IN PLACE, AJUST AND YOU ARE READY TO GO (OR STOP AS IT WERE). THE TOW BAR WE HAD WAS HOME MADE "A" FRAME THAT CONECTED TO THE 4 BOLTS THAT HELD ON THE FRONT AXEL TUBES. I DONT THINK I WOULD TRUST THE BUMPERS ON THE OLD VW UNLESS YOU HAD SOME HEAVY WAY TO TIE IT BACK TO THE FRONT AXEL. IF I REMEMBER THE BRACKETS RIGHT THEY WERE ONLY FLAT STEEL TO HOLD THE BUMPER IN PLACE NOT MUCH SIDE WAY STRENGTH.
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jcamp123
Putnum County, New York
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Joined: 11/19/2005
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No need for any braking system. Just wire it up, hook up the tow bar, put it in neutral and go for it. If it is a Super Beetle it takes a different tow bar than the regular beetle. The only problem is the VW is so light you will need a rear view camera to make sure it is still there.
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Qlake
Kansas City KS. or Port Charlotte FL.
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You can flat tow any air cooled VW beetle manual or auto-stick, just put it in neutral. There are inexpensive tow bars for a super beetle at www.veevillage.com that are very easy to install and use.
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