914 towing

[CoryB]

I need to get my 914 form my front yard to my backyard. It doesnt run so I'll have to tow it, and it involves going up a hill. I have experience with towing my mazda with my fathers truck, we just hook it up with chains and I attach it to the tow rings under the front of the car. With my 914 I cannot see anything to hook a chain to, is it possible to rig the tow chain around my axle? it will only be getting towed around the block and up a little hill, would that break anything, or has someone used something else under the car that is more stable? Thanks Cory

[TimW]

The 914 does actually have a tow hook/eye that screws into the bumper. Like everyone else’s 914 yours may be long gone, but that would be a proper way to do the tow. Check out the Haynes manual, it will describe it.

Tim

[CoryB]

Is there a Haynes manual online?

[TimW]

No, but maybe someone could scan and email that page while you wait for your copy in the mail . It really is a useful manual. The page just shows a few pictures though. Sorry, I can’t do the scan; no scaner drivers for XP RC2 yet .

Tim
'73 914 2.0L

[B Komar]

Some may cringe at the suggestion, But I have done it many times: The triangulation point of the A arms can be used to place the hook of a tow strap. If you are very careful and take it slow without big bangs or tugs and keep the strap taught you should have no problem. I towed one of my cars over 2000 miles from Seattle Wa to north central Kansas by using a bumper hitch with the chains attached bilaterally to the A-arms and I had no problem and there was no damage to the suspension. I think that the tow loop under the front trunk just feels too flimsy to be very good plus it is difficult to get a tow strap or chain hook to seat well on that loop. Good luck, Brian

[Eat-um-up]

Now i wonder, was there ever a tow bar made for the 914?? like they did for bugs?

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Sweet Blue 72' 914
Check it out at
http://www.geocities.com/eat_um_up/914.html

[John Rogers]

If you look under the front, there is a circular ring in the middle of the area under the trunk. On many cars it is pressed up against the sheet metal and you can bend it down. You can also put a rope around the a-arm on either side or you can put a rope in the small gap where the front torsion bar mount is bolted up. Good luck.

[odie]

If you have a 75-76, you can remove the 2 little bumper pads from the front bumper and mount tow bar brackets. I've towed mine from San Fransisco to Mississippi.

[3D914]

Cory,

I would go with the ring that John mentioned. It is welded onto the underbody and will be much safer than trying the A-arms. The ring should be just the ticket for a short tug around the block.

As a note for long-distance towing, U-haul makes a dolly that is suitable to the 914. I used one to tow my 74 from CA to AZ. The only limitation is that you must have rear shocks that are in good condition so that the tail (which is dragging - relative to the front) does not actually drag on the pavement.

Regards,


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Gerard
74-914 2.0L
3D914
rodrigos6@juno.com

[DDS]

What John said.