Towing a trailer
Moderators: kamzcab86, CalAltaDubber
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CR500Rider
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:09 pm
- What year is your cabby?: 1990
- Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Towing a trailer
Not sure which section this goes in so I apologize in advance. I would like to pull a small Harbor Freight 4x8 trailer loaded with one dirt bike. The trailer weighs around 300lbs with the decking. The bike weighs 235 (good thing I don't ride 4 strokes!). I'll have no more than 600 pounds behind the car. We pulled bike trailers more heavy duty than this one and with more bikes in the 70's with a 73' Dodge Colt 4 banger. Anyone see any issues?
1990 VW Cabriolet, 1.8L automatic.
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CalAltaDubber
- Frozen Guy in the Northern Country
- Posts: 2012
- Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:10 pm
- What year is your cabby?: 1987
- Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Towing a trailer
That's a really good question. It's also one I can't really answer except to say that I have seen a cabriolet used to pull a huge camper. That looked awkward. But the owner said it worked.
The only other trailer thing I've seen was when I bought Posh Bunny, someone had welded a couple of plates to the rear frame for a hitch. There were no mounting holes drilled into the plates, and no evidence that the "hitch" was ever mounted. I am confident because there was no hacked wiring in the rear of the car.
My guess is when you find a hitch for the car, there should be some kind of spec. for towing applications. What you have mentioned seems to be fairly small, and is probably OK.
But then, that's only my two cents worth.
The only other trailer thing I've seen was when I bought Posh Bunny, someone had welded a couple of plates to the rear frame for a hitch. There were no mounting holes drilled into the plates, and no evidence that the "hitch" was ever mounted. I am confident because there was no hacked wiring in the rear of the car.
My guess is when you find a hitch for the car, there should be some kind of spec. for towing applications. What you have mentioned seems to be fairly small, and is probably OK.
But then, that's only my two cents worth.
Phil
'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)
'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)
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CR500Rider
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:09 pm
- What year is your cabby?: 1990
- Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Re: Towing a trailer
It had a hitch bolted on and a wiring harness in the trunk when I bought it so someone was brave enough to drag something behind it 
1990 VW Cabriolet, 1.8L automatic.
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kamzcab86
- Queen and Popette of Cabbydom
- Posts: 1277
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- Location: Arizona
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Re: Towing a trailer
http://www.cabby-info.com/specs.htm#Towing
Be sure the car's brakes are in excellent condition.
Bumper-mounted hitches aren't the best (safest) things in the world to use for towing. Be careful.
Be sure the car's brakes are in excellent condition.
Bumper-mounted hitches aren't the best (safest) things in the world to use for towing. Be careful.
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CalAltaDubber
- Frozen Guy in the Northern Country
- Posts: 2012
- Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:10 pm
- What year is your cabby?: 1987
- Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Towing a trailer
Sure enough, Kamz to the rescue!kamzcab86 wrote:http://www.cabby-info.com/specs.htm#Towing
Be sure the car's brakes are in excellent condition.
Bumper-mounted hitches aren't the best (safest) things in the world to use for towing. Be careful.
I didn't even think to mention that.
Phil
'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)
'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)
-
CR500Rider
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:09 pm
- What year is your cabby?: 1990
- Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Re: Towing a trailer
I had seen that on Kamz site. Great site btw. I guess I'll be the one that says "hold my beer and watch this".
1990 VW Cabriolet, 1.8L automatic.
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CalAltaDubber
- Frozen Guy in the Northern Country
- Posts: 2012
- Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:10 pm
- What year is your cabby?: 1987
- Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Towing a trailer
Looks like it all worked out for you. Your set up looks good.
Phil
'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)
'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)
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E30blitz
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:19 pm
- What year is your cabby?: 1992
- Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Re: Towing a trailer
I would be like ermmmm
How much strain on my clutch and gears and engine and so on
Plus the age
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How much strain on my clutch and gears and engine and so on
Plus the age
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk