| Author |
Message |
Randy (Rands5302)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 10:36 pm: | |
Headed out of town on Friday, I need suggestions on the best way to tow my 70 VW Bus behind my GMC we have a tow bar installed on the front of the VW but it follows great going straight but doesnt seem turn properly to the left turning right seems correct. We tried bungee cording the steering wheel at someones suggestion and it didnt help. Could the tow in be too far off?
Thanks for any ideas
Randy |
captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 10:44 pm: | |
Don't let TD do it |
Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 11:39 pm: | |
I used to have a bug and had a tow set up on it, so I know a bit about this.
My understanding is that the VW bus should tow in a similar nice fashion to the bug. What you're describing sounds a LOT like the front suspension of the VW needs having a serious lookover...possibly toe-in or camber, possibly screwed up springs on one side (and that might be at the rear vs. front for that matter). Worn kingpin(s?) if you're having a very bad day.
What you're describing is abnormal enough that without even talking about towing the thing, it's possibly unsafe to drive or at a minimum the handling will be screwy.
VW bus handling isn't very good to start with...I'd have this looked at even if you're not gonna tow it. |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 2:21 am: | |
Try adding (loading) some weight to the inside, rear, left side
of the VW bus... (check rear tire pressure also) |
Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:06 am: | |
John, that might work but given the age of most VW buses it's worth asking "what ELSE is going on with the suspension?" if it's behaving this way.
Lookit, VW aircooled suspensions are generally TOUGH. They're all descended from the "Kubelvagon"<sp?> of WW2, basically what the Germans used for a Jeep ('cept for the Superbeetle...). The plans and models for the civilian bug suspension/drivetrain/frame were lost during WW2; the post-war bugs used the civilian body on the military undercarriage...which is why people were able to build "Baja Bugs", they were basically "recovering" the original off-road utility that was there all along.
So if it's screwing up like this, something is way wrong. I would submit that playing with weight loadings may help but...'tain't safe. You could get away with it on the bug but the VW bus is taller and heavier. You get any sort of oscillation going during towing and you end up in the same boat Two Dogs was just in, which involves creeks, excrement and a lack of paddles... |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:29 am: | |
Come on guys, give ole' TD a break. He has 3 broken hearts to mend without you guys jerking his chain. |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 7:45 am: | |
Uhmm...
"it follows great going straight but doesn't seem turn properly to
the left turning right seems correct"
Doesn't sound like much wrong with the steering components,
since it doesn't "pull" normally. Wrong caster on one side could
be a problem, but that too would cause it to pull to one side
while going straight..
Too much weight on one side or the other in the rear of the
vehicle, would cause it to "drag" a bit on it's heaviest laden
side, making it follow easier on it's heavier side... Sooooo
adding weight to the side that's lighter should correct the problem..
Right?
Hell, we're all just adding thoughts to consider... Difficult to
fix what you can't see, ain't it? (I had a few VW bugs too,
and a lil' Gia.. neat cars!) |
Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 1:54 pm: | |
I found out with my truck it has a lot to do with speed when cornering 90's and if there is bumps.
If I take sharp right or left corners to fast My truck will try to go the wrong way then the oscalation will start and if I slow to almost a stop and restart if will be fine.
Now if a go easy around the corner until the truck and bus is almost straight It does fine . Only corners at a 90 is a problem.
High speed mtn pass corners it does fine.
I would also see if having the tow bar lower at the bus then the vw helps. I have saw a few vw bus being towed so I would think it can be done.
Brian 4905 Vanvouver WA |
R. Steve Nichol (N4rsn)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 6:00 pm: | |
Check the steering componants, steering knuckles, Ball-joints, Ect. If all is well install a steering damper. I towed a VW for years and I had to keep a good steering damper on all the time.
Just a thought
Steve |
Sojourner (Jjimage)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 8:14 pm: | |
Get front end check for upper & lower bushing wear. Very common back in 50's to early 70's.
After it tighten, add some trailing caster & straight vertical camber will have VW following you well but heavy steering result while drving VW.
Load VW's back end down so front end up will improve towing some because you increase trailing caster...like grocery cart works.
Someone else same problem;
http://www.woodalls.com/cforum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/15231169.cfm
Wish you well.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry |
R. Steve Nichol (N4rsn)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 10:34 pm: | |
NEED STEERING DAMPER!!!!!!!!!!
shock absorber for steering!! |
DMDave
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 6:35 pm: | |
Dont forget to make sure the steering box is not rusting off the frame. They have a habit of doing it and pulling out of alignment. |