Reply to "Modifying tow bar for my Vintage Speedster..."

DEEREDRIVER * 2004 IM, CB 2110, RYE, NH

Hello Jim,

Great design for the tow bar and lights. My question is about your surfboard rack. I have been hanging them flat with a piece of rope between two hooks (2 sets per board). It takes up a lot of horizontal space. I don't have the height you have but still this would be a better way for surf and also paddle boards. Most of them are hung under an exterior deck at our house. In any event could you send a photo or description of what you used for the hanger. Thanks and regards, John Loftus, Rye, NH

Originally Posted by MusbJim - '95 VS SoCal:

The topic of tow bars comes up on occasion, so i thought I would post this pictorial tip on how I built the tow-bar for my Vintage Speedster. I will also put this in the 'Knowledge' section.

1. I started with a standard Empi tow-bar I bought at the local VW shop for $75. I don't know how to weld, so I took it to a local welding shop and gave the dimensions shown in the pic below...

2. Here is a pic of the tow-bar on flat surface. The rise for the hitch-ball is 10" to mate the Speedster to our SUV tow-vehicle (with 4" drop hitch to level tow-bar)...

...and attached to tow vehicle (with 4" ground clearance,which hasn't been a problem)...

3. Here is the light-bar set-up I use while towing our VS...

...and attached to our VS luggage rack while in tow...

4. Here is a modification to use if you don't have a luggage rack (this is the set-up I used to tow Ted Pierson's Speedster)...

...attached in the following manner...

...and then....

...then lower MacGuyver-thingie down to snug position against rear bulkhead (sorry for the the distracting cluttered-garage backdrop in this pic)...

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