No favor goes unpunished........

My appologies to Danny P. .....The tow bar system you developed worked very well......Sorry I stole the Award from you.....Maybe next year...... ;-)

Got a picture?

Bill, Lenny showed me his and Danny's and I made a point of taking a few pictures before we left Carlisle. I'll put them on tonight if no one else does.

Thanks Danny, Lenny and Leon and whoever else...

One more...

OK, what's the difference between this and a standard beetle tow bar ? ~Alan

^^x2

This is DAN's

A Standard beetle Tow Bar would belong to someone else.

Danny was talking about it last year - I think the standard Beetle bar wouldn't work for him because the car was too low. He had to have the Beetle bar modified to work.

I could be completely making this up. There was a lot more beer last year.

I modified the stock one with a second bolt on both sides . and some additional mods..

It will now work on any vw including the Super. and it folds up and will just barley lay behind the seats in the D

You guys are way behind. SORRY ...

On a Spyder, frame tubes run inside the shock towers on the front beam. So a stock bug towbar is about 3 inches too wide. I bought a Super bar also which is narrower.I combined the two bars to make one, and had a fabricator do the welding. The pieces that attach to the beam also need to be taller, along with the bar needing to be longer to clear the bodywork. So, 3" narrower, 1.5" more height to attach to the car, and about 10-12" longer. You'd have to measure your Speedster to see what it needs, but a stock one will work as long as everything clears.

Tnx. Danny, ~ Alan

Sorry to be so late getting back.....Had to get on the "Honey DO" list for a while.......Danny's frame (Vintage) and mine (Beck) are slightly different....I had to move the uprights inboard a total of 6 inches, and raise them about an additional 1/4 inch.....I would assume that this is a trial and error situation from other things I've done with the car. The photos posted give a pretty good idea of whats required.......

I too started with a stock VW tow bar to which I had to lengthen both bottom tubes about 8 inches. Then everything fit perfect. It does ride really low and requires a deep drop hitch and careful driving.

Then I widened the front beam and added lower beam support arms. That removed a lot of available space for tow bar clamping. So now I have a choice - either replace the zerk fittings in the lower beam (displaced by the arm supports) or save the space for the tow bar - cannot do both.

I'm curious if Danny's design would work on a Beck Speedster. The front of the frame is probably closer to that of a Spyder than a pan-based Speedster.

Lane......Do a visual of the frame and beam.....If the frame tubes are inside the uprights, you're probably close to the Spyder.....I'll measure fibre glass clearances and get back to you.....I think it could be made to work....

The frame tubes are just inside the uprights. The panel between them can be made removable as it's just riveted in place. That would allow several attachment options.

Where'd you add 8", the hitch end?

Bill - added 8 inches to the two parallel tubes that run forwad from the lower beam. Required to clear the nose of the speedster before the kick-up in the tow bar. Guess we are a tad longer in front than a stock VW?

I just checked the Beetle tow bar, at least 8" plus needs to be added to clear a speedster, probably how I'll haul the blue VS speedster back from Ct. next weekend. ~Alan

That would mean the tow bar I have made should fit a spider as is. You just don't have to open it all the way and I'd have to drill one more hole for a J lock to catch in A small reconfig at best.

I have pulled a Bus with it. so it's plenty strong..

Now just hook me up with a manufacturer and I can retire.. HA HA HA!!

Take a look at this folding tow bar from Harbor Freight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94696
Needs some mods for axle connection.

Opinions?

Dave

This won't work as it is straight and needs to have the axle connection point lower than the coupler. ~Alan

I would reccomend about 18 inches or more between towed and towing vehicles......This gives some added protection during "Hard Turn" situations......Just remember, You can't back up with this system....Not to well anyway.....

Alan is that the one in New Preston Ct.

Yes it is, do you know the car?

In 1967 I flat towed a 62 Corvette (driveshaft removed) from Detroit to San Diego behind a 65 Impala 4 speed using a rented bumper hitch. Spent ten days visiting all the national parks enroute. Got trapped several times trying to make U-turns. The towed vehicle wheels cramped over and locked up. I ran back and steered the towed vehicle thru the side window, while my wife completed driving through the turn. Happened right in front of a state trooper once. Never said a word, just waved at us. Backing up was definitely a two person operation also.

I would think flat-towed speedsters would have the same issues.

Did I mention that my shifter lost capability to get into reverse gear about halfway? Memorable trip on several levels.

Lesson learned: When your tow vehicle has a clutch and a carbuerated engine - NEVER stop on an uphill slope above 8000 feet elevation to take pictures!

Alan I was going to look at it. snooze you lose,It looks like a clean car.

Is this " Dr. no more speedsters for me Clock"? That didn't last long.

" No more builds" was the quote, acquiring one now and then is the plan

That's right "no more builds"... I misrembered. Good luck, and Heidi said thanks for the Snirnoff in the freezer trick .

Good to meet you and Heidi....enjoy those crisp cold Smirnoffs!