Towing with an A frame

[hitlers revenge]

Please comment about towing a Type 3 with an A frame.

I want to tow a vehicle 1000 kms with the frame, but the car in question has no Floor pan.

Is this advisable or not.

I was thinking of getting cross members welded in by somebody before leaving town.

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

WE HAVE TOWED KOMBI'S AND A BEETLE FROM JNB AND BLOEM TO DBN WITH AN A-FRAME NO PROBLEMS.
HERMAN TOWS WITH AN A-FRAME AT QUITE A SPEED.
CAN'T SPEAK FOR A TYPE 3 BUT I IMAGINE THAT IF EVERYTHING IS GOOD WITH THE SUSPENSION AND WHEELS YOU'LL BE GOOD.

MARK

[bugspray]

Cross sections might be a good idea. There may be a bit of twist without the floorpans, me thinks. Like Cyndi said, IF THE SUSPENSION AND WHEELS ARE GOOD haha. Keep the speeds decent and regular checks will make it easier.

[retrovan]

Hi Dave,

Towed the Fugly, as Marks said correctly, at 120 -140 for over 1000KM, now i do not say you should do this, but make sure your A-Frame has plenty cross bracing, as well as if it has a goose neck, make sure it has a guzzle,

The type 3 "a-frames" better then the other VW aircooled, as it has such a nice front suspension.

Towed it behind the Fugly , and did not even feel it behind me.

Make sure the a-frame is fixed to the beam, and not the bumper brackets, as that is a sure way to loose a car, and maybe a life.

Good luck, and keep the speed down.

Herman

[hendriks]

Hi.

I have towed several busses with an A-frame with no issues.

The only thing to look out for is worn tyres or tyres that are hot after a long stretch of road.
Aframe must be secured properly
If a wheel bearing seezes you gonna have difficulty
Dont trty to drive to fast
Do not lock the steering wheel in any position. It miust be free.

It is always better to use a trailer if you not sure of the vehicles condition.

[Barry]

I A-framed my roadster to Speedweek the first year I took it (and my 41 Ford truck - we went TWICE in 2013) behind a VW Transporter - was a breeze.(and regularly found ourselves having to back off as the speed crept up to 150+)

I used a trailer for some reason last year - won't do that again....

If everything looks in good shape repack the wheel bearings (or fit new ones) before you set off, and as said watch the tyre wear/heat. My roadster tends to scrub the fronts a bit and this year I will fit sacrificial tyres for the trip.
Also - not sure how it is on aircooleds - but I disconnect the propshaft even with the manual box, as there is insufficient oiling when running in neutral on most manual boxes.