A 914 owner approached me about producing a bolt on trailer hitch receiver for his car to help transport his small autocross trailer. I've produced a beta test version that I will run around with for the next few weeks before passing it on to him for testing with a 4 cylinder car. (my cars are all V8s)

The receiver is a bolt on with the only modification necessary is to the lower rear valance. If you are a serious racer you leave the rear valance off for cooling assistance. If you use this on a street car, it is necessary to cut a square out of your valance for the draw bar to pass through.

How many of you would have some interest in this? I am trying to gauge if this should be a regular stock item or just do a short run of about 10.

Feedback requested.

Just to head off one of the comments/questions that I will get......No, the rear of the 914 is not strong enough to take the moment imposed when using a product such as the Miata "tire tail" is used . It would be cool it it was.......

I know....I know.....but I am not going to post pictures of this one.....yet.

Thank you in advance for your feedback.......Even the Captn's comments are welcomed. (gotcha.....)

I would consider one if these, depending of course on how it works/fits/costs.


Jeff

I also would concider this..

I say a run of about 20 would cover the amount of prospect buyers..

Andrew

I would be interested to see one as well

Not until you're done with the GT front light brackets..

CC# on file

Sounds interesting.

What does the bracket bolt onto?

I have plastic bumpers with no rear valence.




Will you include a trailer also?


..

Bolts through bumper mount holes and to rear tranny mount area. Trailers always available...........$$$

I like the idea as well. I also have glass bumpers and no rear valance. I do have a factory sport muffler hanging out back there though...

No problem. Just cut a square hole thru the sport muffler like the guys have to do for their rear valance.

..

Hmmmmmmmmmm better flow...

I like the Da’Lan BMW hitch idea where it faces downward and everything is hidden under the bumper when not in use.

I had a hitch on my 1.7 for many years. I used it to pull a 30 foot long sailplane trailer, about 1300 lbs total weight. It pulled the trailer so well that I had to keep reminding myself that it was back there. The 914 pulled the trailer much easier than my vans did. Of course I had electric brakes on the trailer. I made the hitch from 1/2 inch by 2 inch steel. Bent the main piece so that it would go just below the bumper (cut a slot in the rear valence), over the mufler, and had two bolts through the trunk floor, somewhere near the middle. I then had a U shaped piece that went below the previusly mentioned piece that was sticking out below the bumper. I drilled through the bumper and bolted it through into the inside of the trunk (with a reinforcement bar going along the inside of the rear of the trunk. Not in the best inerest of keeping the car pristine, but it was a perfect way to stucturaly tie the hitch to the car, which was my main need at that time. As I get my car restored, I may reinstall it with a receiver end, to use with a bracket that I envision to use to carry two kayaks. Plan to have a front portion of the carrier bolted onto the rear roof bar, similar to the bike racks I have seen recently. Then support the rear of the kayaks almost horozontally via the trailer hitch type location. But, first things first, Back to welding in floorpans, etc. Joe O

I have a Da’Lan on my Jetta. Those are better hidden than the "Hidden Hitch" which, BTW, isn't really hidden in all the units I've seen.

That's a lot of abuse on the flywheel, clutch, trans and cv's.

Observation.

I think its a great idea for anyone with a converted 914 which can handle the abuse of the extra load on the drive. It would also work on those stock cars if the trailer and load would be kept to a minimum. If all of you like the idea, then I might design an extra light 914 trailer to pull misc. stuff around. Let me know if the idea sticks and email me if interested.

I aprove on the retrohitch/trailer deal!

Sounds great. Would it work the same on a 76. I don't really know how much of a difference there is between the older and newer setup. I would like to get one for the race bike.

Since this is a light duty application, you might also consider making the receiver a flat-bar style to minimize the size (or even have it hang below the rear valence).

What kind of glider did you have? My dad was a Schemp-Hirt (sp) dealer when I was a kid. He owned a SHK and then a standard Cirrus.

Click to view attachment what hitch???

I didn't do the welding work, 914ltd (aka Brad Mayeur) shop did it. Having a trailer to carry all my AX crap is great. Quick and easy, takes 2 min to hook up and go. Remember you should have a place for safety chains to hook to also. Looking forward to seeing your setup.

Garold: I really like the Black strips on the rear trunk. When did you do that?
Dave

Over the winter, just some black vynil

Click to view attachment

This is the look I was going for.

Any update on this?

Did you produce a few of them?

Thanks

He has them for sale at http://www.rennenmetal.com/. They're the "tow bara brackets" that bolt on to your car, then you use a cheap $50 tow bar used for VW's, available at any of the VW shops or web sites. They work great, best (cheapest, easiest, quickest, simplest) way I've found to pull the thing around.

thats how you tow the CAR....

these guys want to tow a trailer with the 914

That is for towing the 914.
This topic is about a Tow Hitch for a 914 to tow a trailer.

Rich

Doh!