How do tow bars work?
 

I know that might sound dumb, but I am considering towing an old VW bug back from my parents in a few weeks. I think the bug is too narrow to fit on a Uhaul dolley or car trailer. I was thinking I could get one of those tow bars and flat tow it back here. My question is thought how do they work, do they attach just to the bumper? Seems like it might rip the bumper off if that is the case. Also do you have to tie the steering wheel off so the car doesn't drift? I've never used just a tow bar before.

All this stems from I was watching the show Payback on Speed last night, where celebrities take new cars trick them out and give them to parents or other people who supported them. I can't do a new car but I can do my parents old VW that his been sitting for the past few years. I figure I will restore and upgrade it and then give it back to them ready to hit the road. But I have to get it from NC up here. I thought a tow bar might be a good option. I mean the tires are fine and it shifts in the gears so it can be put into neutral.

In the old days with good 'ol heavy metal bumpers, tow bars worked quite well. If you towed from the front, the steering wheel would be left unlocked, and the car would track well behind the tow vehicle. With an older Bug, I would presume that as long as the bumper was not rusting through, you could attach the tow bar as close as possible to the frame mounting points of the bumper. Some tow bars are also customizable to attach to the frame brackets, temporarily replacing the bumper.

If the car is a manual tranny, leaving in neutral should be fine. But if automatic, there might be some concern flat towing long distance at highway speeds. IIRC, best to disconnect the driveshaft so the wheels can't turn the tranny/motor.

IMHO, I think the best option for a long trip is to beg/borrow/rent a trailer and/or tow vehicle. I can't believe the car is "too" narrow to fit on a trailer.

Buy a VW tow bar
 

They are inexpensive (~$75) and clip onto the front beam rather than the bumper. They have been the standard for years and are readily available online.

John

Used one of the $75 tow bars to tow a VW thing to PA. OK up to 60mph then got some wiggle. Not bad. Use care and don't be in a hurry.
ARF

Ryan, I have one of the VW specific tow bars. Like John said it mounts to the front axle beam and is a standard ball coupler for the tow vehicle. You would leave the key in the ignition to allow the VW wheels to turn. I've only used mine twice and that was years ago. My main advice is to make sure the hitch on the tow vehicle is low. In addition, you will have to avoid any abrupt ups or downs (driveway aprons, etc.). I was towing a roommate's Bug in college with my full size Bronco. Between the tall hitch point on my Bronco and the steep downhill to our street, I actually lifted the front wheels off the ground on the Bug when the tow bar raised up into the front sheet metal. No real damage was done and the Bug was a beater so no harm, no foul.

You are welcome to use the bar if you don't mind trekking to NoVA.

It would be towed with a stock height Jeep Liberty so the hitch mount is pretty low. Well low considering how big a full size Bronco one would be.

So I don't have to tie the wheels off huh.

I take it I am leaving the key in to keep the steering wheel from doing that lock thing it does right?

Hmmm...I'll have to look into one of the tow bars.

Redroc I sent you a PM about yours.

I see a lot of cars towed behind RVs with tow bars when I'm Arizona for work. I figure they're mostly automatics, since the RVing demographic in Arizona is mostly grayhairs.