bobbyhill925
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- Aug 28, 2005
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any way i could tow one or if at all possible two motorcycles with a 71 bug?
Towing with a VW Bug
- Thread starter bobbyhill925
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Moparman1539
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- Sep 9, 2006
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Buy a small flat bed trailer.
bobbyhill925
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- Aug 28, 2005
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- Thread starter
- #4
like do i need to add a ball and hitch? i kno i already have rail trailer
wr200rider
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- Jun 21, 2006
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yeah you need a hitch/ball. How far are you towing and is it uphill or downhill. I wouldn't want to tow anything more than a few hundred feet on flat ground with one of those, but maybe I'm wrong.
I drive aircooled vw's daily. You should be able to pull a small trailer with two dirt bikes no problem. If your going to be pulling up any long hills or mountain passes you just need to be willing to run a little slower and a gear down. "lugging" a vw up a hill is the best way to blow an engine.
Vw's are a lot stronger and more versatile than most people think.
Vw's are a lot stronger and more versatile than most people think.
bobbyhill925
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- Aug 28, 2005
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- #9
oilspot said:
Yeah i wouldnt be towing far. 15 miles to gorman. but i live in the mountains so(frazier park, ca) and the road isnt really whindy but it is up hill for about 5 miles.
bobbyhill925
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- Aug 28, 2005
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would a hitch mounted carrier be more practical?
rmc_olderthandirt
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- Apr 18, 2006
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I used to drive VW bugs of that vintage and I am familiar with Frazeir Park,Goman, the Grapevine, I-5, etc.
The older VW bugs had a hard time getting themselves up and over those hills. Depending on the route you take you are talking a minimum of 6% grade and could be as high as 8% grade.
A full size MX bike weights about 225 Lbs, dry, so two would be 450 Lbs. A 6 gallon gas can (full) would weigh ~40 lbs. The trailer itself would weigh about $200.
If you are hauling two bikes then I assume you have a passenger, so you are already at 50% of the typical passenger load for a VW. With all the riding gear, tools, spare parts, and the above trailer you would easily get to the 1000 Lbs mark.
That is quite a load to put on a 36 year old car that was marginal in the first place.
Adding a trailer hitch to a VW is not so easy. I strongly advise against attaching anything to the bumper, they are way too flimsy. I have seen trailer hitches added to VWs that extended up to a point where they could attach to the frame. Keep in mind that anything you put under the engine will need to be removable if/when you need to remove the engine.
As for a hitch mounted carrier: If you mounted ~300 Lbs off the rear bumper you might get your little bug to pop a wheelie! You'll certainly make it squat pretty bad.
VW bugs were very light cars. They were a great car in their day, but I would not recommend using them as a tow vehicle.
Rod
As for a hitch mounted rack:
The older VW bugs had a hard time getting themselves up and over those hills. Depending on the route you take you are talking a minimum of 6% grade and could be as high as 8% grade.
A full size MX bike weights about 225 Lbs, dry, so two would be 450 Lbs. A 6 gallon gas can (full) would weigh ~40 lbs. The trailer itself would weigh about $200.
If you are hauling two bikes then I assume you have a passenger, so you are already at 50% of the typical passenger load for a VW. With all the riding gear, tools, spare parts, and the above trailer you would easily get to the 1000 Lbs mark.
That is quite a load to put on a 36 year old car that was marginal in the first place.
Adding a trailer hitch to a VW is not so easy. I strongly advise against attaching anything to the bumper, they are way too flimsy. I have seen trailer hitches added to VWs that extended up to a point where they could attach to the frame. Keep in mind that anything you put under the engine will need to be removable if/when you need to remove the engine.
As for a hitch mounted carrier: If you mounted ~300 Lbs off the rear bumper you might get your little bug to pop a wheelie! You'll certainly make it squat pretty bad.
VW bugs were very light cars. They were a great car in their day, but I would not recommend using them as a tow vehicle.
Rod
As for a hitch mounted rack:
2-Strokes 4-ever
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- Nov 22, 2000
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Put one of these in it: :cool:
rmc is correct about the hitch. You can't just bolt a ball to your bumper. You'll need a custom made hitch made out of heavy steel stock. Here's one that bolts to your lower engine/trans mount bolts and wedges behind the stock bumper:
rmc is correct about the hitch. You can't just bolt a ball to your bumper. You'll need a custom made hitch made out of heavy steel stock. Here's one that bolts to your lower engine/trans mount bolts and wedges behind the stock bumper:
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