Front Spyder tow points

NICE!

Thanks Molleur.

I'll post up when I get them installed. Then I can fab up a tow bar.

I was wondering what others do for towing or tie downs.

I was also thinking of a spoiler that uses the tow points for attachment that can easily be removed before towing.

CG

Nice work! 

Great idea!  Be sure to use high strength bolts --- not those off shelf at HD/Lowes.  You want auto grade bolts that don't stretch/break easily. 

for that application Id make sure the bolts are grade 8, not grade 2

Great Idea indeed!!!

My VS is going to be 'flatbedded' on and off a couple of times in the near future. I'd certainly anti-up for set of these...if Carlos realized a lucrative sideline existed for fabricating such kits. 

Nicely done , grade 8 bolts.

Carlos,

If you don't want to make these and sell them, I had some ideas for attachments and could laser cut some out and powder coat them.

Those are very nice and a great idea, if you plan to attach a tow bar to it. 

I think there is a need for some type of hooks on the front suspension for emergency towing should the need arise. In the least if you could screw in an eye hook or two,  aka, vw etc. it would save you from damaging the vehicle.  I face that same issue and we managed to use a soft tow flat cloth cable via the A (I mean the Canadian) members on the 911 suspension I have.  

Thanks all.

I'll use the grade 8 bolts for sure.

I'm waiting for the spacers, that are being made by a local machine shop, before I install them. I might have to go rattle his chain again to see what's taking so long. I was just going to use washers, but it'd be a more solid connection with the spacers that fit the shape of the 2" frame tubing.

I might drill another smaller hole behind the 1/2" hole for a quick link for a safety chain that is connected to the tow bar. I'm not sure if this state requires them, but it'd be easy enough to drill them now.

With these tow points, a shackle can be attached with a tow strap for short tows or tying down. This would minimize and chance of damaging body work, just as long the angle of the tow strap is monitored. I would never use the suspension arms to tow or tie down. I carry a tow strap and shackles, among other things, in the car at all times. Some padded hooks that could hook into the wheels could be another idea for tying down a vehicle as light as ours.

@ Carl

Cutting the 1/4 inch angle is not too easy, at least with the tools I have. When I get hold of the machine shop guy, I'll ask him what it'll cost to cut out a couple with the spacers included. Or if Daniel wants to cut some out, that'd be cool too. Laser cut would look real nice. 

CG

Carlos, here's a thought on 'penny-pinching' possibilities:

Perhaps it's practical for your source to laser cut and drill the pieces to your specifications (and the unique spacers) and leave it to the SOC purchasers to 'finish' the preparation for painting, powder coating, etc...Most of us have access to a grinding wheel to camber smooth the edges...and I believe all of us think your tow points are a terrific idea. 

Carlos G posted:

When my car got towed during my Oil spraying event, I noticed that the Spyder does not have any attachment points for towing or securing on a flatbed in the front of the car. So I wanted to share an idea that I was going to do for mine and get some feedback before I attached them.

 

I cut them out of 1/4" angle iron. I figured it'd be stout enough for towing up a flatbed, tying it down,  and attaching a tow bar. I could also use them as front jacking points.

Here is a shot of them cut out in need of some more sanding and the 3/8" holes drilled.

 

Here is a shot of what they might look like on the car. The fancy ones are shown, but I'm going with the ones shown above. They also might be a little small, scale wise, in the picture. There'll be about 3.75"clearance under them.

 

CG

 

Looks like a great idea, but I'm wondering how they did get your car on the flat bed and how did they secure it?  In other words,  are they really necessary or would they just make it a little more convenient? 

We tow these things all the time. They're not really that hard. Tire straps is how we always secure them. Just got to take it slow getting it onto the loading ramp. We use axle straps to the front lower control arms to load it onto the bed. Never scratches anything or rubs. 

These tow hooks gave me some ideas. We've been talking about making ones for the front and rear for a long time but have never gotten around to it. I have some ideas for quick release pins on them. 

@ Troy

It was winched onto the flatbed backwards. The tow strap was attached to the frame, which is very accessible on the Spyder. He didn't have any tire straps or the such, so the front end wasn't secured. He was able to use a strap, from the rear, to the front to prevent it moving back and forth, but the front end could still move left to right if the enough force was used. This wasn't ideal, but we took it very easy on the way to the house. I guess we could've used some straps, as per Daniel's idea, to secure the front by the control arms, but I wasn't so hip on the idea at the time.

I had gotten a ride home before the tow truck arrived and came back with my truck with a couple of 2x10s to aid in the loading onto the ramp.

This event got me thinking. So this is my solution. They'll be used for tying down, towing, and possibly jacking. With a tow bar, I could possibly even make it to one of the events to meet some of the gang.

CG

Well I installed the towpoints, but I don't have a picture of them, cause the spoiler that I made that mounts to them, covers them.

I took it out for a spin, I got my starter back, and the bracket that holds the spoiler to the towpoints did contact the ground in a very tight rough turn. Did I mention that the back roads are rough in places around here. I rub the front tires on the fenders pretty regularly. The road didn't contact the tow point or the spoiler so all's good. The bracket did hang down 3/8" lower than the towpoint, not anymore, at least on my side.

CG

Here is a shot that shows it better.

Hello,

I have mounted a tow hook before on a Beck Spyder. I used those available for aircooled VWs.

The yrae mounted to the lower axle tube.

cal