Flat towing the teener Options

[DanT]

Any suggestions on attachment to vehicle.
Where did you attach the tow bar and how does it work?
Where did you get the actual tow bar, or did you make yourself?
Wiring of lights...magnetic rear lights or wire into 914 tail and turn signal lights?
Pics would be helpful.
Thanks in advance

By the way, had the $2k car up on the lift today...passed rust inspection with flying colors.
Now for the suspension.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif)

[john rogers]

There's two ways to flat tow one. First is with a front wheel dolly such as the U-Haul type. The second is with a home made tow bar and hitch. I have one from the previous owner who flat towed the 914 race car for 20 years. You have to pull the front bumper and you'll see four bolt holes where the tow bar gets bolted to. Mine is made from 4 inch steel square tube with a pair of "L" shaped ends welded on. There are holes drilled so it bolts to the car. The hitch assy looks like the "A" section from the front of a trailer except it bolts to some tabs welded to the bar. All hardware is grade 8 and the car is safety chained to the tow vehicle. The lights were tapped into the light harness at the rear of the car with a plug, which I have since removed as I use a trailer now. The CHP told me that to flat tow it you need a permit each time so a trailer becomes less of a hassle especially if you have damage where it can not be towed.

[McMark]

PM Matt Plasket (plas76targa), he used one to tow from CA to the east coast. He might want to sell it. All you had to do was unbolt the front valence which takes 5 minutes.

[Mueller]

if you do a search, there are a few threads with pictures on the subject (1 started by me (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) )

Like John mentioned, in order to have all 4 wheels on the street, the car must be currently registered or you need the proper permit (limited time to use it)

I have no pictures, but the bar I am borrowing from Jon Watts needs to have the front bumper removed and uses the thru holes for mounting of the tow bar. I have not used it yet to see how well it works.

[richardL]

Here's the one I have

R

[nebreitling]

with my 75, i had the bumper shocks tig'd up, reinforced with some nice tubing, and brackets welded on. holes in the fiberglass bumper.

the best part is that the mounting brackets bolt out -- so i'm not carrying any extra wait around on track...

n

[andys]

QUOTE (nebreitling @ Jul 25 2005, 12:28 PM)

with my 75, i had the bumper shocks tig'd up, reinforced with some nice tubing, and brackets welded on. holes in the fiberglass bumper. the best part is that the mounting brackets bolt out -- so i'm not carrying any extra wait around on track... n

Did a similar thing with my '75........

Andy

[KenH]

I assume you will be at TH on the 6th. You can look at mine.

John Beck had a guy make a good system when he had the 914 - you might give him a call.

Ken

[DanT]

Yes Ken,
John's set up is exactly what I was thinking about. I believe he used a reinforced bar that attached to the torsion bar mounting points.
He uses a similar system to tow his 911. He has had no issues in over 10+ years of towing this way.
See you at TH.
The mods for the car will begin in a week or two.
first is suspension
Ken,
do you have any 4 bolt wheels from your 914, since I know you now have 5s?
I am looking for a set for race tires.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Joe Bob]

For the Rocket....I had a plate that bolted onto the front t-bars.....it then had two slip joints where a generic A frame type tow bar with a 2 inch ball. The plate was custom made by someone else back from the 80s....prolly been thru 3-4 owners.

Manfred, has a 1.5 inch box tubing that goes thru the 916 style bumper into the front trunk, welded to the side rails. T's on the front use slip joints with the same type hitch.

For lights I went with the magnetic UHaul tow lights, they sit on top of the engine bay. I tie down the steering wheel and it tows fine.

[94teener]

A picture of someone's tenner & tow, don't know who.

Anyway, I bought a new tow rig on ebay for an unbelieveable $24.00. Haven't gotton around
to installing yet.

Phil

[94teener]

Not mine:

[94teener]

This is my $24.00 part (tow bar).

[Joe Bob]

Looks like the one I got from Howard...

[Eric_Shea]

I have a question for the Rich's and Cap'ns of the world...

What effect might this have on the tranny. Not simply short distances but towing across the country in neutral?

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

[jhadler]

Not that I know for certain, but as long as your car doesn't have super loose shift linkage, I'd think it'd be fine.

My only concern when flat towing was the shifter flopping around and gears bouncing off partial engagement. But that's pretty unlikely (I think). Still, I bungied the shift lever to make sure it would stay in neutral. This was when I was using a tow dolly. Didn't like the dolly though as it required removing the air dam every time I towed the car.

I did try towing it backwards a few times (rear wheels on the dolly), and suffered some unfortunate body damage as a result... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

Anyway, I figure long distance flat towing is fine for the tranny.

My logic was this...After all, the R&P is still spinning, and throwing oil around the transaxle, and while the mainshaft (going to the motor) isn't being driven, the output shaft (going to the R&P) (Did I get those names right?) is being driven by the road wheels and is spinning in the oil. This, of course, requires having oil in the tranny...

I have recently set my car up very similar to the cream colored car pictred above. With the tow bar mounts inside the foglight wells. I haven't tested it out though yet...

-Josh2

[KenH]

Sorry no 4 Bolt wheels - but I bet there are some available on this WEB site.

Ken

[Porsche Rescue]

Dan, I recently sold John Beck's old 914 with the flat tow set up.
Therefore I can't post or take any pics. I think the bar he used is ready-made and used for towing vw dune buggies. He bolted brackets to the front trunk floor just inside the torsion bar mounts. He had a flat steel backing plate on the inside and a bracket outside in an "L" shape. The bar attached to the vertical "L" with pins. Very easy to use. He also wired the lights with a standard 4-plug flat connector. Turn, stop and tail worked just like a trailer. I towed it from Livermore, CA to Portland when I bought it. The tow bar and brackets were loose in the trunk of the car when delivered to the buyer. It is possible he might sell the set-up if he is not going to use it. I would have to get his name and contact info from Craig at Camp 914 since he sold the car for me.

[DanT]

Had you bought John's car from Joe Spinelli or did you act as a broker?
If I could get the set up already to go that would be great.
Other wise I am going to check John's current car (911) that is very similar to the 914, and make a copy.
thanks

[plas76targa]

Dan, I'd lend the bracket I have to you but shipping it from Maryland might be pricey. Some young guy up in Napa fabbed it for me, for a good price. I'd tell you his name but it will cost you in hamburgers if you know what I mean. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

I flat towed the 914 3000 miles in five days. I have a picture of the tow bar and bracket somewhere - at work I think. Do a search on Tow bars or even my name, you'll find several examples, including photo's Eric took when I stopped in SLC.

The Yellow car in the photo's above is howards set up. there were posts on his last summer (04).

The tow bar I have is standard HF issue. Found it on Craigs list for $60. Could have paid less if I'd shopped around. Ebay has them for 25 and up, but add $35 or so for shipping.

The fab'd bracket was simple angle iron, welded like a wide double T. "TT". Holes cut in it allowed the bracket to be bolted to the outer bolts of the front torsion tubes. Then the U tabs that came with the tow bar were bolted directly to this bracket. I dig for the photo tomorrow at work.

Mark - still have that photo of the bracket?