trailers

On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 02:24:17 GMT, "paul horvath" ran around screaming and yelling:

you won't find a car trailer that wieghs 500 pounds...i suggest a nice hitch receiver that mounts to the frame..for the s10 should run around

75 bucks and install in a half hour....much better/safer choice in my opinion....then again i used a small mazda pickup to pull pull my very stout(thickwall tubing/angle) utility trailer(700 pounds) loaded heavy all the time with a bumper mount ball...the bumper was rated the same as yours...2000 pounds and i beleive 200 tongue wieght...i ignored it... JT

Class II with load distributing hitch receiver (350 maximum tongue weight) Trailer Weight 2WD 3,500 lbs.

Ok. So, never having towed anything before, I'm I all set to tow the bug with this set up ? I really don't have to go too far but sure don't want to loose Betty half way there, or tear the rear end of my SUV out LOL !!

Thanks, Susan

74 Std Betty

If you are unsure about, or are uncomfortable with, your towing setup, it might be worthwhile just to have the Bug flatbedded both ways. It is a lot less costly to have the vehicle moved for you than to have an "incident" while towing for the first time.

On the other hand, if you already have the hitch installed and the tow bar purchased. It might not be a bad idea to try towing the bug around the block a couple of times just to see how it goes. Make sure your brakes are up to the task. Remember, you will be stopping for two.

Good luck. :)

Tim

Susan S. wrote:

Umm Paul, can your present vehicle be fitted with a trailer hitch? Please understand, I'm not trying to be a smartass here but is there some reason why a standard towbar wouldn't work? Unless you need to transport a swing-axle Bug that is missing it's tranny or a later model that's missing it's front axle, (and you're not trying to pull it with a Geo Metro or some such) there's not much of an easier or cheaper way to pull it than with the good ol' standard towbar. They're available for Superbeetles too.

Now I'm not saying don't buy the S-10. I've pulled several different Bugs using a towbar for untold miles with a 4 cylinder Nissan PU without any problems and my GMC acts like nothing is back there when I'm pulling one. I ran into a guy at a show in Ohio a couple years ago that was pulling his drag Bug via a towbar with his Jetta TDI. Said it pulled it fine with no problems.

There are always valid reasons to have a truck(try moving a refrigerator without one) and even a trailer but a towbar is easier to store than a trailer and you don't have to buy a tag and registraton and all that stuff every year. Some areas may require you to have brakes on the trailer which will add even more to the cost.

Oh yeah, one last thing to think about if you do buy a truck and trailer: every aquaintance you've ever known that has your phone number will call you every time they need to move-trust me, I've BTDT, got the T-shirt, worn it out, and now use it for a grease rag...

Snuffy

67 VW Bug- "lil' Red" 70 VW " -"Rusty" 71 VW " -"ol' Yeller" 86 VW Quantum Syncro Wagon- "Sassy" 87 VW QSW-parts? 6X12 utility trailer 88 Ford/New Holland 1920 4WD tractor-"Clem" 91 GMC Sierra 1500- "Big Blue" (designated tow vehicle for all the above)

Its not hard to tow you bug . just remember to unlock steering and out of gear. I find its easier to turn 90 degree corners at 10+ mph. You can do it.

On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 02:21:35 -0400, "Greg Smith" ran around screaming and yelling:

i agree with everything Greg posted, *especially* this part...hehe...it is 100% correct... JT(who has also worn out that t-shirt)

I had a bumpersticker on my full-size F-150 pickup (recently sold) that read:

"Yes, this is my truck. No, I won't help you move."

Almost any pickup truck owner gave a knowing chuckle when they saw it.

Back on topic - I would recommend having a Class III hitch receiver installed on the S-10 if it has a V-6, or using a tow bar behind the truck if it has a 4 cylinder. Also, find out what engine is in the truck. A general guide to the towing capacities would be something like this:

4-cylinder - 2,000 lb./200 hitch weight 2.8L V6 - 3,000 lb./300 hitch weight 4.3L V6 - 4,500 lb./450 hitch weight

These aren't based on specific information I found on the web, and you should consult the truck's owners manual for more specific information, but these should serve as a general guideline. My wife has a Chevy Astro minivan (based on the S-10 chassis) with the 4.3L V6 and it is tow rated at

5,500lb./500 hitch weight. However, it does have a "Tow/Haul" mode on the tranny and additional cooling systems.

If the truck is a 2.8L engine, I would tend to shy away from it. The 2.8L was a somewhat trouble-prone engine. The 4.3L is literally 3/4ths of the venerable chevy 5.7L (350 cid) V-8 engine and is considerably stouter. The typical 4-banger in those days was the good ol' "Iron Duke" 2.5L engine, also a pretty stout piece.

I used my old F-150's step bumper hitch ball to pull a 1500 lb. flatbed trailer with several hundred pounds of household goods without incident the last time we moved. I was probably pushing 3000 lb. on a couple of trips and the last 1/2 mile to our house has a pretty steep grade. Still, I climbed that hill each time with my fingers crossed, hoping the trailer wouldn't rip the bumper off the truck.

I've towed a lot all over and I agree with all that has been said. If it is just a bumper with a tow rating stamped on it, check the bolts to the frame underneith. Make sure your lights are working well and drive

5 mph or more less to allow for tow movement and slow down half a block earlier to allow for extra stopping weight. I would use a tow bar set up unless the S-10 had a factory tow pkg installed. Just my opinion of course.

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thanks for all the input.i was concidering a car dolly on the s-10 but wanted to get the whole car off the ground. i have a restored 50 beetle i'm pretty anal about so wanted to go with the trailer. i'll have to find out about the engine.

On Sat, 24 Jul 2004 02:14:29 GMT, "paul horvath" ran around screaming and yelling:

don't blame ya there Paul...one thing you might want to check into is with the highway patrol or equivalent....the towing laws vary from state to state and country to country....not sure where you are... JT

You don't mention how much you plan to tow your beloved Beetle. In any case Paul, I think you'll be happier towing with something larger than an S-10. And it will really help a lot if the trailer has brakes. It's not so much the pulling you have to worry about, it's the stopping.