60s VW Beetle towed vehicles

I also read info on this subject on the VW site...SAMBA...and a big recommendation was to put weight...sand bags...over the gas tank. Makes sense.

A lot of references to the steering wheel bungee but still not sure how it's attached...up and down...side to side...and to what.

wolfe10 wrote:
Yes, you do have a steering dampner:

=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[PHP_SESSION_ID]=clk0jl6v9eftt2agengfd3qr66]http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=900534&parttype=7412&ck[ID]=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[PHP_SESSION_ID]=clk0jl6v9eftt2agengfd3qr66

I just never noticed it.

Big Katuna wrote:
67 was arguably the best year. First year of 12 volt, last year of baby buggy bumpers. last year of painted, no-plastic dash, 1500cc.

I agree.

And, looking back we did some really scary things with a 1967. It really would peg the 90 MPH speedometer-- the only stock beetle to do so. Of course a 3 MPH cross wind would have made that suicidal. There was so little weight on the front that factory recommended tire pressure was below 20 PSI!

67 was arguably the best year. First year of 12 volt, last year of baby buggy bumpers. last year of painted, no-plastic dash, 1500cc.

I towed bugs a lot. I recommend bungies on the steering wheel to help prevent wobble.

I also put a street ell in the trans fill hole to get another inch of oil in there but I dont think its required.

Old VWs are going through the roof, esp vans. Restored window vans are going for $50k and more.

Yes, you do have a steering dampner:

=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[PHP_SESSION_ID]=clk0jl6v9eftt2agengfd3qr66]http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=900534&parttype=7412&ck[ID]=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[PHP_SESSION_ID]=clk0jl6v9eftt2agengfd3qr66

I learn how to pass in a 36 HP beetle... you lay back and when you think there's a hole coming up, you get a running start and turn off the AC IF it had one. I still use this technique and in the MH and I do not turn the AC off and it's a lot easier to see what's coming up. You run the bungee to the seat because the VW is so lite on the front.
A tow bar is only $100 and pins to the front axle lower torsion bar. I would be afraid of trying to put a "normal" tow bar that folds up as there is very little structure in the front of a beetle.

We towed our 71 Super Beetle 2 years around the country using a low- cost JC Whitney tow bar and had zero towing problems. I did require several sand bags (150 lbs) in the front compartment to keep the front wheels tracking properly. I also used a bungy cord to make sure the transmission didn't jump into gear after a bump.

The bug was a real attention getter in campgrounds as many would stop and reminisce about their first-love car. Received several offers to sell it.

Still have the car but shifted to a jeep toad because I didn't feel safe on side trips on western freeways with high speed traffic. Also loading my generation folks in the backseat is a nightmare.

The only toad cooler than a VW Beetle is a VW Micro bus. :C

Seniorfirsttimer wrote:
Tom, your 70 was a generation up from mine and I'm not familiar with the Baja but it sounds like you had a keeper.

two kids learned to drive on it, both used it to commute to collage, I commuted to work with it. In 600,000 miles I think the only thing I didn't change was the VIN.

I never needed the bungee. maybe because it was jacked up, 6", The tow bar was a simple "A" that attached to the front axel. no stabilizer nothing, it was steady as it could be.