914 For Towing, What would it take? |
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914 For Towing, What would it take? |
McMark |
Aug 20 2003, 11:51 PM
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#1
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914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
Recently I've been pondering my need for a vehicle to tow my projects around and I got to wondering what it would take to make a 914 into a tow vehicle. All I could come up with was a big torquey engine and a hitch which would probably have to be attached at the firewall since there's not much back at the end of the cars. Stiffer springs? Regeared transmission? Hopefully some of you with some tow capability experience can lend me some knowledge. Let's play with the idea. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
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EdwardBlume |
Aug 20 2003, 11:56 PM
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#2
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 12,338 Joined: 2-January 03 From: SLO Member No.: 81 Region Association: Central California |
What and how much weight are you towing? I've seen a couple of AX trailers towed by a 914 - one by a custom bolt on hitch (where the rear bumper was), or by attaching a hitch to four points underneath the car.
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McMark |
Aug 21 2003, 12:01 AM
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#3
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914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
I was thinking a full trailer for putting a car up on as well as the car itself (of course). But could you make a seriously heavy duty tow vehicle out of a 914? VW busses are supposed to be able to tow large loads.
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VegasRacer |
Aug 21 2003, 12:13 AM
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#4
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ELVIRA Group: Benefactors Posts: 8,511 Joined: 27-March 03 From: Between Scylla and Charybdis Member No.: 481 Region Association: None |
All you need to tow with a 914 is to relocate the mirrors to the front fender.
Attached image(s) |
EdwardBlume |
Aug 21 2003, 12:37 AM
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#5
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 12,338 Joined: 2-January 03 From: SLO Member No.: 81 Region Association: Central California |
I'm sure it can be done, but you're going for a swim in untested waters. Would it be worth blowing a motor, twisting a frame, or the prep needed to make it work?
IMO.Nice idea. Buy an old chevy. |
seanery |
Aug 21 2003, 06:46 AM
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#6
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waiting to rebuild whitey! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 15,852 Joined: 7-January 03 From: Indy Member No.: 100 Region Association: None |
look at the passenger front tire.
It's almost lifting! |
Curvie Roadlover |
Aug 21 2003, 06:51 AM
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#7
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Two trunks are better than one! Group: Members Posts: 2,025 Joined: 29-December 02 From: Southeast Michigan Member No.: 42 |
QUOTE(seanery @ Aug 21 2003, 04:46 AM) look at the passenger front tire. It's almost lifting! Better put some sang bags in the front trunk if you want to be able to steer while going down the highway (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) |
seanery |
Aug 21 2003, 06:54 AM
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#8
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waiting to rebuild whitey! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 15,852 Joined: 7-January 03 From: Indy Member No.: 100 Region Association: None |
I hauled an Olds 455 engine in the back of my 1980 VW Truck once.
It was hilarious, every expansion joint on the freeway caused the front (drive) wheels to lift! To be young and stupid again! |
JWest |
Aug 21 2003, 06:55 AM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,662 Joined: 6-January 03 From: Fort Worth, TX Member No.: 97 Region Association: None |
I'm not too experienced at towing stuff, but aren't there some guidelines about the weight of the tow vehicle vs. what is being towed?
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Curvie Roadlover |
Aug 21 2003, 07:59 AM
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#10
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Two trunks are better than one! Group: Members Posts: 2,025 Joined: 29-December 02 From: Southeast Michigan Member No.: 42 |
QUOTE(James Adams @ Aug 21 2003, 04:55 AM) I'm not too experienced at towing stuff, but aren't there some guidelines about the weight of the tow vehicle vs. what is being towed? If so, what would URY914's car be able to tow (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) |
ArtechnikA |
Aug 21 2003, 08:06 AM
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#11
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rich herzog Group: Members Posts: 7,390 Joined: 4-April 03 From: Salted Roads, PA Member No.: 513 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(Curvie Roadlover @ Aug 21 2003, 05:59 AM) QUOTE(James Adams @ Aug 21 2003, 04:55 AM) I'm not too experienced at towing stuff, but aren't there some guidelines about the weight of the tow vehicle vs. what is being towed? If so, what would URY914's car be able to tow (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) helium balloons - and just a few ... |
cha914 |
Aug 21 2003, 08:46 AM
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#12
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MUSR 8 - 5lug conversion done wed - drive 500miles thrus Group: Members Posts: 739 Joined: 31-December 02 From: Austin, TX Member No.: 63 |
I don't think there is any way you are towing a car with a 914...sure you could do it, but you would end up with a 914 that looked like a truck, sounded like a truck, and drove like a truck. Cause you would need a v8, a heavy duty tranny (maybe a vw Bus tranny would work?) and a lift with stiff springs, and then you would have to add huge tires, wheels, brakes, and reinforce the whole rear of the car.
It could be a fun project, but I would suggest starting with a basket case, or one that has been hit in the rear, cause you are going to have to redo that whole end anyway. It would be much easier to start with some american iron, or maybe a big merc (if you wanna stick with a german car) for a tow vehicle... good luck, Tony |
boxstr |
Aug 21 2003, 08:59 AM
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#13
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MEMBER:PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION Group: Members Posts: 7,522 Joined: 25-December 02 From: OREGON Member No.: 12 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
By removing the rear bumper on a 75-76 914 you are looking at a built in tow assembly. Just bolt on a tow bar and take a test drive to make sure those bumper shocks don't pop out and there you go.
CCLINUHAULTOWN Attached image(s) |
McMark |
Aug 21 2003, 09:01 AM
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#14
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914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
It would just be too funny to have a meaty tow sports car. If I did it someday I'd make a tow only 914 and do all the crazy stuff to it. It'd be a fun project and the results would be hilarious. I'd love to see a 914 that's been lifted with big knobby tires. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol2.gif) But I think I could get away with a stock engine and stock transmission (different gears). You'd never look at a 914 the same way after seeing the 914 tow truck.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) |
Curvie Roadlover |
Aug 21 2003, 09:04 AM
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#15
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Two trunks are better than one! Group: Members Posts: 2,025 Joined: 29-December 02 From: Southeast Michigan Member No.: 42 |
I'm not so sure that's a good idea, CC. Those 5 mph shocks are designed to take a "push" not a "pull" load. Seems like asking for trouble to attach anything but the rear bumper to those.
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boxstr |
Aug 21 2003, 09:05 AM
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#16
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MEMBER:PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION Group: Members Posts: 7,522 Joined: 25-December 02 From: OREGON Member No.: 12 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
This is a 914 for towing, or is that for towing 914.
CCLINTOWDOLLYTOWN Attached image(s) |
Curvie Roadlover |
Aug 21 2003, 09:07 AM
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#17
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Two trunks are better than one! Group: Members Posts: 2,025 Joined: 29-December 02 From: Southeast Michigan Member No.: 42 |
So are you suggesting that to tow a jeep you should attach it to your front tires and tow it in reverse?
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boxstr |
Aug 21 2003, 09:09 AM
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#18
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MEMBER:PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION Group: Members Posts: 7,522 Joined: 25-December 02 From: OREGON Member No.: 12 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
You may be correct on the "push pull" thing. There was a post on the list sometime back and a 914 owner was going to install the 75-76 shocks on the front so he could pull his car. Like I wrote, road test first and see if it works?? If not secure the shocks so they stay in placemeaning no "push pull". Seems like a pretty beefy area to secure to.
CCLINUHAULVILE |
boxstr |
Aug 21 2003, 09:10 AM
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#19
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MEMBER:PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION Group: Members Posts: 7,522 Joined: 25-December 02 From: OREGON Member No.: 12 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Better gear ratio and torque from the 914.
CCLINSPEEDSTOWING |
Lawrence |
Aug 21 2003, 10:13 AM
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#20
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Senior Member Group: Benefactors Posts: 1,661 Joined: 5-February 03 Member No.: 244 Region Association: None |
Mike Z had a tow hitch fabbed into the Rocket, once upon a time. Maybe he'll chime in.
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