| Author | Message | ||
| mel 4104
Rating: N/A |
has any one ever towed an 1985 VW Golf with a manual tranny??? if so how did you find it? also haw did you go about mounting the tow brackets to the VW? thanks for any help mel 4104 | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Rating: N/A |
__. Well, Mel, I'm off by about 17 years but I tow my 2002 VW behind my bus. It works just fine (but you should check on the oil circulation in transmission in neutral thing on the '85). The towbar manufacturers make brackets to fit cars and I don't think I'd trust anything not made by them. I went pretty far in on the $$$ in buying the towbar, bracket, etc but I wanted this to be reliable. | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
We tow an 82 gas Rabbit and have to look to see its there. No reduction of fuel milage and no problem stopping the wee one with out aux brakes. At only 2200lbs or so it is too low a weight to legally require independant brakes in almost all states. And where ever we park "downtown" it's always there when we come back. FAST FRED | ||
| Jerry75Crown Rating: N/A |
Fred, Do you tow with the front wheels down or on a dolly. I'm trying to figure out if I want all those bearings turning. Jerry '81 VW Diesel pickup | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A |
I used to tow a lightweight honda toad that was front wheel drive, but I did it kinda weird, I welded up a pair of sockets about 3/4 the way back under the toad, and then welded up a towbar out of heavy 2x3 that looked like a big "vee" that plugged into those sockets and simply had a jack and bumper hitch on the front end. I'd plug the towbar into the car, secure the bar into the sockets with 1/2" hitch pins, raise the car's front end off the ground with the jack and stick it on the ball. Front two wheels off the ground, half the weight of the car on the ball, away I went. Granted it takes a strong hitch to hold that kind of weight and you need a light weight toad, but it worked famously well, got rid of the "ruining the tranny" issues, and was quick and easy to hook up. The toad was so small that I couldn't see or feel it behind the bus, so I put an 8' whip antenna with a little light at the top on the toad that I could see in the rear view mirror. Got to know where the light "should be" so if there was trouble I'd know. This worked too when a rear tire blew, the light changed position and I saw it immediately... saved the rims... | ||
| R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A |
FF...I ditto Jerry's post...I have an 88 Cabriolet, gas. Gary...seems like a PIA to me....jack on....and... ahem... off.  Thanx RCB | ||
| mel 4104
Rating: N/A |
FF your 82 rabbit must be the same frame that the 85 gulf has, so how did you hook the tow bar to the front off the vec as this one that we have is all stamped sheet metal about 10 ga.there are 2 bolts under the shock for the front bumper and nothing else that looks like you can hook anything to the front end. and yes Fred it is just wheels that if we have to we can leave it in the scrap yard if need be as we towed a 89 mazda B2200 pickup for years but the wife says that i fill up the box to full of bus parts so no pick up this year. | ||
| Johnny Rating: N/A |
Fred: BEWARE! Some states require brakes on anything over 1000 or 2000lbs. The old motorhomes towed (and still tow) a 1981 VW pickup...the bus will tow a stake-bed Toyota dually. | ||
| Phil Dumpster2 Rating: N/A |
That's for trailers, not cars. The Rabbit transaxle (actually an Audi design) is a very simple machine. When in neutral and being towed, only the differential and the countershaft turn, which circulates the gear oil throughout the innerds of the case just fine. You can attach the tow bar directly to the front bumper. Being a unibody car, there is no frame to speak of. The bumper and mounts are very stout for a 2000lb car, and there are steel loops provided from the factory under each bumper mount to attach your safety chains. | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
The tow package is OTS (off the shelf) and we tow 4 down with no effort. If there is extra wear , it hasnt been a hassle yet. WE also have as backup Diesel 80 Rabbit , so if the gasser dies the tow package trailer hitch, fresh tires and Sony will get transfered in a day of wrenching. There has been a long term argument over weather towing a car is towing a trailer in some States view. Cars can usually be towed with OUT tags (license plates), yet trailers can't be. Who knows , I'm hoping the Commerce clause and reciprocity will help if ever (not yet) stopped. FAST FRED | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
Rating: N/A |
My '81 VW Rabbit Diesel has the same type of mill and tranny as your '85 Golf. It has a '82 Golf diesel mill. I actually purchased the car from a motorhome owner who towed it 4 down forever and he was getting a newer toad. A VW natuarally. Do not worry about it. | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Rating: N/A |
Phil I would definitely not suggest attaching anything directly to the bumper only. I have salvaged a few Jetta's with some having had the bumper section ripped off during the accident. Using the bumper brackets as a place for attachment should work quite fine, or alternatively a seperate plate being held in place by the bolts coming in from the bottem. Those would have to be a half inch longer than the original. Joe. | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Rating: N/A |
Mel I sent you an email tonite, i donot check my mail as regular as some. Joe |