Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 12:19:47 -0500
Reply-To: "maxjoyce@ipa.net" <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "maxjoyce@ipa.net" <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Subject: Re: Towing with A-frame attached to front bumper mount?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Andrew: I towed an 87 GL at highway speeds and on curvy 21 lane roads last summerby removing the front bumper and mounting an aftermarket super beetle tow bar setup on top of the metal yuou speak of. Drilled 4 3/8" holes and used like 5" bolts for the plate part of the towbar and then the clevis pins slid right in and I was on the road. Locally the tow bar set up is about $75, not sure if they're still available in the outback. Yes, the front metal is more than adequate to handel towing loads.
DM&FS
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Dan Snow dieselvanagon@HOTMAIL.COM
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 23:31:02 -0800
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Towing with A-frame attached to front bumper mount?
I was faced with the same predicament, but I only had to transport the van
about 15 miles. I futzed around for a while with the front bumper, and
finally decided to take off the rear bumper and attach it to the rear bumper
mounts. They are strong enough. I towed it backward, with the steering
locked straight ahead, and I never exceeded 20mph. It was a dynamic
mess--tires screeching when I went around turns, etc. But it got the job
done, with no apparent ill effects to the driveline. I wouldn't recommend it
unless it is an emergency...
>From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
>Reply-To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Towing with A-frame attached to front bumper mount?
>Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 19:15:57 +1200
>
>Anyone know whether the front bumper mount is strong enough to use
>for an attachment point for towing, using an A-frame?
>
>I need to bring my Caravelle 365km to Dunedin from Christchurch,
>where it's been stored.
>
>The buular was attached to the bumper mount by 2 long 12mm bolts run
>vertically through the bumper mount bulge. The metal there appears
>thick enough to carry the load. Any ideas?
>
>What I was thinking of doing was making an A-frame mount out of 2
>bent box-section U-shapes, which fit over the bumper mount and bolt
>on via 2x12mm bolts run vertically through the mount and spaced about
>1090mm (~4ft) apart; these would have a horizontal tube welded
>between them as a stay.
>
>Will the bumper mount sheetmetal bear the load and will 12mm bolts
>hold? If the bumper mount's too thin I'm screwed, as there is nowhere
>to attacvh an A-frame elsewhere. Of course I could use 3 or 4 bolts
>for attachment, but then I have to take the bumper mount curvature
>into consideration, and I don't have the van here to measure... guess
>the U-parts could be made one length and I could take a hacksaw along
>to shorten them on the spot. But I'll need to use a cordless drill
>for all this, and the battery may not be up to it!
>
>Thicker bolts than 12mm are of course feasible.
>--
>Andrew Grebneff
>165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
><andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
>Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
>Friends don't let friends do Windows
Daniel Snow
'82 Vanagon Diesel
'78 Puch Maxi Luxe Moped
'01 Xootr Scooter
http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/snow/vanagon/vanagon.htmh
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