Towing a Manx

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:46 pm

Quick Question--- Planning to attend the Manx on the Banx. Thought I'd tow the buggy with a tow bar. Now a friend was over and said you'll ruin the tranny, no oil getting to the gears, needs to be trailered. So I'm thinking that if Bruce made the Tow'd for the purpose of towing it to the dunes, what's the difference? Has anyone towed their buggy with a tow bar a long distance?

Thanks in advance,
Jon 1020

Ed-Chenal · Post by **Ed-Chenal** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:17 pm

Jon,
I've flat towed my buggy over thousands of miles in the last ten years. I have towed it twice from SoCal to Moab, Utah. No problem.
I inflate the tires on the buggy to 30+ pounds so it will roll easy.
When I make a pit stop and I'm away from the buggy, I check to make sure the tranny is still in neutral and the e-brake is off before getting back on the road.
If you haven't flat towed before, remember you can't back up unless someone holds the buggy's steering wheel for you.

Have a good trip.

towd-dude · Post by **towd-dude** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:56 pm

Towing tyranny issues only apply to automatics the planetary doesn't rotate to lube the trans. Destroys the transmission. You must remove the driveshaft to tow them. As Ed's says, Tow until your heart's content....
Enjoy the run, wish I could make it.

Bob

5150bossman · Post by **5150bossman** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 11:40 am

Since the buggy wheels are on the ground and rolling, just be sure to keep an extra eye on it as you go down the road. While the transaxle is not an issue, a seized bearing could cause you some havoc. A wheel or two has been known to fall off and pass it's owner as they travel down the road. In addition to the tow bar, I double safety chain the buggy to the bar, and the bar to the tow vehicle. We did have a nut fall off a tow ball once, so double check that it is tight. I also wired in the tow lights to the buggy lighting system, but you could just as easily use temporary lights of some kind. All issues that are easily solved.

Have fun!

manx1111pla · Post by **manx1111pla** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:47 pm

I used to flat tow our buggy without any issues but i damaged the steering box once on a run and if i didn't have a trailer available (thanks Mike) it would have been a nightmare to get it home so now we trailer it.

Ed-Chenal · Post by **Ed-Chenal** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 4:37 am

Funny thing.....
I've heard more stories about people having problems towing IRS vehicles than swing axle vehicles.
In fact, I nearly had a catastrophe with my Baja when I flat towed it to Escalante, Utah a couple of years ago. Kevin Daxon noticed that the R/R wheel was making some squeaky noises as I slowly pulled out of a gas station after we arrived in Utah. I grabbed R/R wheel and attempted to rock it back and forth. Everything felt tight so, I thought it was just some brake shoe noise and continued the trip. We spent several days in Escalante and I towed the Baja home. After I was back for a couple of days, I looked at the R/R wheel of the Baja and noticed that the top of the tire was leaning in about one inch. I jacked up the rear and discovered that the R/R wheel was loose. I replaced the spacers etc. I was fortunate.

Here is good product I used on the recent Mammoth Trip. It keeps your hitch from rattling. It's nice to have on a long towing trip.
http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessori ... M-061.html

AZAIRCOOLED · Post by **AZAIRCOOLED** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 6:06 am

I have towed with a tow bar many times over the years without problems. I have also had problems, wheels coming loose, flat tires, breaking something on a run making towing back impossible. If you have the option of using a trailer you eliminate potential problems. A trailer has very few moving parts and can prevent wear and tear on your buggy.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:04 pm

I have flat towed for 1000's of miles and decades ( to date myself)
the only problem I have ever had was a flat tire 2 years ago
No other issues but I like it with no tongue weight

1856 · Post by **1856** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:57 pm

AZAIRCOOLED wrote:A trailer has very few moving parts and can prevent wear and tear on your buggy....

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 8:14 pm

Just depends on how much stuff you want to haul
Flat towing is just the bare minimum next to driving the buggy

Ed-Chenal · Post by **Ed-Chenal** » Fri May 30, 2014 1:30 am

Ed Chenal While it's more common with IRS suspension, double check the torque on your axle nuts. Just because the cotter pin is there doesn't mean the spacers etc haven't mushroomed and created unwanted clearances between the various parts on the axle assembly. Despite hundreds of carefree miles flat towing my swing axle buggy, on my last return trip from Moab, my R/R axle assembly became loose. Fortunately, I was able to tighten it up and limp home. I was towing it behind my suv and noticed some odd movement. Had I been towing it behind the motorhome, I may not have been aware of a problem until the wheel assembly fell off. Who knows? Trailering is safer as long as the bearings and tires hold up on your trailer.

9 hrs · Like
RemoveEd Chenal IRS axle assembly.

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Fri May 30, 2014 11:17 am

At one time there were towing hubs being made and sold for buggies. This was in the 1970s.
One of the magazines even had a tech article on making your own set using a set of wheel adapters and stock spindles and drums.
This was at a time that swing axle buggies out numbered IRS buggies.
One thing that does create problems is the wider and more offset wheels being used. This creates extra stress that VW never expected when they design the suspension.
I do recommend using the aftermarket stronger axle spacers for either the swing axle or IRS suspension.

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