towing a caravan on my bug

brains · 02-07-2009, 09:45 PM

i have a 1600 1955 slammed oval and im considering towing a caravan behind it. im unsure how heavy the caravan can be, i no one of them teardrop caravans are only 180kg but im not spendin3grand on a a van, im spendin 150quid!!!!!!!! so is 600kg too heavy for the bug? how heavy is a eirba puck? im in a right pickle guys and any advice would help as im fuckin sick of tents and i cant afford a camper van that is as cool as my bug

Mr Self Destruct · 03-07-2009, 06:30 AM

I think 600kg is too heavy for a bug, but apart from that, you'll have a problem towing anything with a slammed car. All the decent tow bars for bugs reach under the engine and gearbox, so if ground clearance is minimal you're best sticking with a tent.

There's always Ratty Black Bug Dude's solution! (blatantly nicked from Orange912's photobucket!)

Or mine if you raise your car a bit:

Combi-camp trailer tents are just the best things ever! Ours is an Easy, which is so light (350kg)I can tow it with my bug, and it doesn't need brakes fitted. Best thing is, you undo one clip, fold out the top and you're ready to get a brew on before everyone else has got their tents out their bags! (ok, the awning takes a bit longer but you don't need that really)

They're on ebay for anything between £100 and £500 depending on age and spec.

Chris.t · 03-07-2009, 08:38 AM

if you go for an unbraked caravan/trailer it can't weigh more than 50% of what your bug weighs, that means you can't tow more than about 400kg.

If it is braked then you can tow more but your engine might not be able to cope.

Tricky · 03-07-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Self Destruct

Did I not frame the inside of the glass yet

sorry dude - I'll try and remember

Mr Self Destruct · 03-07-2009, 09:49 AM

I've only just noticed myself!

Don't worry mate, there's not enough room to swing a cat at the moment, but I'll sort it later on when my red 1303 is sold.

flat4fanatic · 03-07-2009, 11:23 AM

As above - you probably won't be able to tow anything behind a slammed bug if you want to use a safe towbar (with tie bar going under the car). I had one on mine a few years back and it scraped occasionally & that was stock height.. Most go under the engine so significantly reduce the ground clearance.

Be careful about exhausts too - most towbars won't fit anything other than a stock exhaust

brains · 03-07-2009, 05:09 PM

cheers guys, id sooner chop me cock off than have the bug stock height,

i love the trailer tent but i was lookin at the tow hitches that come off the bumper mounts, if that ant gona b strong enuf ill have to get used to me tent. to b honest its a shite, caught between the devil n the deap blue sea, me oval is the cats B.O. n the only thing id want more is a slammed split panel. so its shitty nights kip in me quick draw tent at bug jam. the ratty black bug i seen in earlsdon on the road were one of my family live, i love it, its harder than big daddy.thanks again guys for all the help

danfromtheseventies · 03-07-2009, 10:01 PM

...............on the subject.... what do you guys recon is the best tow bar?

mine bolts thru the bumper mounts then thru various mounts on the inner arch, seems ok.....

Mr Self Destruct · 04-07-2009, 10:49 AM

I have two. The best one is I think the only VW OEM one. It bolts to the torsion bar tubes, goes under the gearbox, bolts onto the frame horns and then the bumper brackets. Its like a huge letter A. Not got any pics unfortunately.
I also have one that bolts to the bottom of the bumper itself, then under the engine onto the gearbox mount cradle like this:

This isn't so good for caravans and stuff, but I'd trust it with a small unbraked box trailer.

wingnut1574 · 11-07-2009, 11:41 PM

cheeky question ? are you selling the vw one (huge letter A) ,as I'm looking to build a teardrop

cheers