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View Full Version : New beetle towbar fitting - step by step

neil76
15th August 2006, 22:58
(Not sure which section this should go in - will stick it here and leave it to the mods to sort out!)

Not your standard 'mod' but after lots of dragging our caravan around with the old beetle cabrio we have finally decided to use the TDi power of the new beetle and fit a towbar. I investigated them in detail and discovered that the VW towbar with detatchable neck is actually just a rebranded item by a manufacturer called 'Brink'. VW price £350 www.towequipe.co.uk price £220 ::)

Here's the caravan in question - a 1970s Eriba Puck

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/neilmiles/Newbeetle%20TDi/lowres22.jpg

The kit:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/neilmiles/Newbeetle%20TDi/DSC00977.jpg
It came with an electrics but I have previously sourced some VW plug in electrics via ebay (NOS) so I will be using that instead of soldering and splicing (ebay price £25 - VW price £85!)

Beginning:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/neilmiles/Newbeetle%20TDi/DSC00978.jpg
Yes I have a crap single drive - long but narrow :(

Off with the archliners:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/neilmiles/Newbeetle%20TDi/DSC00980.jpg
These were wet from today's rain and yesterday's driving through cow crap - not nice!!!

They aren't that effective at keeping the arches clean either!
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/neilmiles/Newbeetle%20TDi/DSC00983.jpg

'Action' shot:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/neilmiles/Newbeetle%20TDi/DSC00979.jpg

The essential tools:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/neilmiles/Newbeetle%20TDi/DSC00981.jpg
Haynes, brown envelopes labelled with all of the screws for each section, and hob nobs!

Tonight I got as far as getting the bumper unbolted and half the wings - but my hands have failed me. Going to invest in some torx bits for my wrench tomorrow as a screwdriver is not giving me enough 'welly'.

Difficult bits so far:
- rear lights, I can't get them out - but have disconected them so I will just leave them in the unit.
- petrol cap lid - I am guessing I will have to remove the cable to take the bumper off - but can't for the life of me work out how at the moment (have left it for now!)
- screws - sheer number of tork bolts and also the fact that they seem to have loctite on them holding them in makes them very difficult to shift.

More tomorrow :)
Shamrockez
15th August 2006, 23:28
The fuel cable thingy wotsit has a little metal block which holds the cable in place, then there's a screwholding it in.... then sorta tilt and pull! That's what Robbies was like anyways.

Plunger's supposed to work on the rear lights, as does a screw driver (in tape or card) prized between the light and the body.

And screws - yeah tell me about it! Thousands!
neil76
15th August 2006, 23:32
The fuel cable thingy wotsit has a little metal block which holds the cable in place, then there's a screwholding it in.... then sorta tilt and pull! That's what Robbies was like anyways.

Plunger's supposed to work on the rear lights, as does a screw driver (in tape or card) prized between the light and the body.

And screws - yeah tell me about it! Thousands!


Re fuel cable, do you get at the metal bit from underneath or through the boot where you get to the light 'screw'?

Lights don't bother me going to leave them there I have disconnected the wires so I will get it free.

Screws - my hands are killing going to get some torx bolt adaptors tomorrow for my socket set which should hopefully do the trick!

2 nights to go til I need to be towing!!
Shamrockez
15th August 2006, 23:36
Careful of rounding them off - once you slip once it seems to kill it! :(

The metal bit is as you open the fuel door - look at the cap, then look towards the 'rear' of the car - you should be able to see the little cable which locks the door into place. On top of this is the metal clip thing - use a flat head screwdriver to prize it off. Then undo the cap and pull the rubber over the filler neck :)
antix_v2
16th August 2006, 12:07
We supply/fit towbars. Anyone not brave enough let me know and I'll see if I can whip up a deal for you.... All done on site at home/work.
neil76
16th August 2006, 12:12
We supply/fit towbars. Anyone not brave enough let me know and I'll see if I can whip up a deal for you.... All done on site at home/work.

You gave me a quote that was reasonable a few months back - but i'd rather fit it myself (I may regret this statement shortly!!)
Doodlebug
16th August 2006, 12:24
Looks like ur having fun mate, and a brilliant "how-to" as well :)
Ali
16th August 2006, 23:44
We supply/fit towbars. Anyone not brave enough let me know and I'll see if I can whip up a deal for you.... All done on site at home/work.

really???? i would love one on my bug!!! how much do they cost fitted?

thanks!!
neil76
16th August 2006, 23:45
Hmm where do I start - no new pictures anyway - I can't be arsed.

Got home tonight full of enthusiasm. Armed with new tork socket set i got the rear end off in half an hour. Unpacked the towbar and it looked OK - not as good as I had hoped but useable. Then I realised it wasn't 'straight'. I tried to fit it and use the bolts to 'pull' it into place but nothing I can only get different combinations fo three of the four bolts on to it at any one time - which is no good.

That and I am struggling to make head or tail of the supposedly easy to attach wiring loom is meaning I have a) run out of time for VFW, b) I am crap at electrics and so I biught the expensive plug in jobbie to mean I didn't have to splice the wires and this has proved useless - it still isn't straight forward and most annoyingly c) the product I have bought (mail order) is faulty and so i will now have to try and send it back and argue with them over whether it is faulty so that I can get my money back.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr :(
Ali
17th August 2006, 00:25
oh no! how frustrating for you. i really hope you can get a refund. See this is why i dont like doing stuff to my car myself....its a bit disappointing i always find. but well done for trying!!!! chin up.... :-?
Shamrockez
17th August 2006, 06:36
Oh dear :( that's not good! I thought things like this only happened to me!
neil76
17th August 2006, 08:54
The bar is 'twisted' so i can't get the bolts to line up and it is too well made to 'pull' back into shape and anyway it is not like it was cheap!

I always knew the electrics were going to be a challenge but the 'kit' just isn't right on so many levels.

I did this myself though so that I knew shortcuts wouldn't be taken - I am sure a garage would have just cut and spliced the electrics which i don't want happening and heated and hammered the towbar into shape and once the rear end was back on I would have known no different.

I'll update you all later - going to be a race tonight to get the old cabrio towbar fitted and wired up now in time for tomorrow (at least I have done that one before) for VFW - the new bug will just have to stay here with no wings or bumper until I can rebuild it next week :-/
Shamrockez
17th August 2006, 08:59
aww, sat in disgrace :(

I think I would have thrown the towbar at the wall or something!

Good job you still have the cab then!
neil76
17th August 2006, 09:17
Just phoned them - said that they have to reshape them on a daily basis :o Use heat and a big vice and it will be OK - brilliant - for a brand new piece of metal - I may as well have welded one myself and saved £200 ::)

Hey offered me another one (or my one dropped on the floor which the technical department suggested!!) but I demanded a refund which they have agreed to.

No anyone want to buy a set of VW towbar electrics - they're great - honest!!

Lucy - yes good job I still have it - and yes before you say it I am sure it is a sign - another one :o
Shamrockez
17th August 2006, 09:21
A SIGN :D

I don't see why people don't make them straight in the first place... would save a lot of messing about!!!
Shamrockez
21st August 2006, 13:50
Neil - let one of us know when you need to update this and we'll unlock it for you.