Anyone ever use a VW Beetle ??

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by CA Streamer

That is so cool! I wonder how many 360's the TV can do before the wiring binds?

I suppose they could have incorporated a sliding connection like in a steering wheel.

[Aage]

Originally Posted by overlander63

I had factory air on my '72 bus. Clicking the "on" switch was like tossing out a giant anchor, but it did cool pretty well, as long as you didn't mind not going anywhere in a hurry.

Here in Toronto (where I lived back then) I owned a '68 Beetle, and it wasn't AC that was important: it was heat!

Even though I knew that the gas heater in mine didn't work, I would pull the little lever to see the green light in the dash come on, hoping that it would help me warm up a little bit. Of course, it didn't, but despite cursing that light many times, I would always turn it on, in winter.

My wife's '61, which she had when we met, didn't even pretend to have a heater. Warm during the daylight in winter, we once froze coming home on a longish trip with my cousin and his wife. Last time we did that!

I don't remember ever seeing my Beetle sitting that low on the rear wheels though, as in the film clip. They need a roof-mounted Hensley!

[ommuel]

here's our camper, it's a 68 Eriba Puck. We have a 74 bug, but no hitch on it and it needs a new wiring harness..but man I'd love to find that yellow one- very nice! I assume fiberglass?

[Journalist]

Originally Posted by GreatPumpkin

WOW! What a cool idea. Judging by the speakers attire, it's an old commercial/news story reel that someone dredged up.

It's pretty neat. I especially liked the manuverability of the combo, yet it obviously failed to survive the market. I wonder what became of the company and what it's downfall was? Have any of you ever seen (or even heard of?) one of these trailers or the hitch? Nah, I didn't think so.

Actually, I've seen photos of a number of them. Of course, I'm a huge VW/Audi fanatic and have researched VW related stuff more than the average joe.
I have to admit it would be kind of cool behind (or maybe on top of?) the wife's Beetle turbo.

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by ommuel

here's our camper, it's a 68 Eriba Puck. We have a 74 bug, but no hitch on it and it needs a new wiring harness..but man I'd love to find that yellow one- very nice! I assume fiberglass?

Hey - that's cool! Does it weigh much?

[Mexray]

I have also had several VW's over the years...

Now, tell me how that rig is going to get up the next hill it encounters...

If it hits a headwind, it will be 'dead in the water', so to speak, to say nothing of a cross-wind...

...I wonder if they knew how to spell, "underpowered"!

[balrgn]

Saw a new bug towing a camper at the Vintage Rally, what a hoot!

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by balrgn

Saw a new bug towing a camper at the Vintage Rally, what a hoot!

For sure! That highly praised short rear overhang is golden and makes for a positive wheelbase to overhang ratio. Stable TV's can come in all shapes and sizes.

[Silverhobby]

If my memory serves me correctly, the camper was named Shadow Cruiser. There were several models available and there were larger campers for the full sized American car market. All were "5th" wheels, but were towable by a coupe or sedan automobile.

[Ken J]

Yea now I remember the A/C thing - doing 60 down the road, flip on the ol A/C and it was better than pulling on the emergency brake - slowed you right down....

Ken J.

[ommuel]

Originally Posted by Janet

Does it weigh much?

in 1958, they weighed about 500lbs, the '68 is about 700 wet. The current Eribas are getting pretty heavy, but probably still under 2000lbs

oh- that was me at the Vintage Jam

[Journalist]

The only downside to towing with a New Beetle is the fact that the hitches available in the US are pretty flimsy. Most are rated to 1500 pounds and bolt to the tow hook and the spare tire well.
Westfalia makes hitches for european VWs that replace the rear bumper core and are completely hidden when the ball is removed. The rating on those is 3000 pounds with a 200 pound tongue weight. They are expesive and difficult to get your hands on, but that's stout enough to pull some of the small vintage Airstreams!
The funky metric hitch ball would be another issue since euro hitch balls are welded in place and don't come in different sizes.

[balrgn]

Originally Posted by ommuel

in 1958, they weighed about 500lbs, the '68 is about 700 wet. The current Eribas are getting pretty heavy, but probably still under 2000lbs

oh- that was me at the Vintage Jam

That was really a cool set up! We were parked right accross from you