Tow bar

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I needed to drag an old vw rabbit home today. For some reason I have a soft spot for rusty rabbits. A tow bar has been on the list for a while... so today I whipped one out. I didn't take very many build pictures. The weld on hitch was purchased from Napa and the tubing is 1.25" black pipe. I used (should I say abused) my conduit bender to put the 30 degree bends in the pipe. This turned out very sturdy. Much sturdier than other tow bars I've borrowed in the past. Still need to put on the safety chains.After all this I went to change the flat tires on the rabbit and they were corroded (alloy wheels) to the hubs. No amount of persuasion would free the flats. Maybe tomorrow I'll have an action photo if I can get the tires changed. Attached Images
Reply:Dude, you the dawg at fabrication (my sorta stuff anyways)I made a towbar for my old Dodge, which I hook to the tractor, the Dodge, and an old Hesston 1014 swather.  All three units going down the highway at once  Tractor in the lead, swather next, Dodge on behind.  (hitch on swather is another story)Only thing I did different with my towbar was to use a Bulldog hitch with positive ball lock.  You probably know the type.  My greatest concern was braking.  Would a standard hitch resist uplift as the towed vehicles slowed down and began pushing against the bar.  But I was also looking at a vehicle/equipment combination in the 12.000 range. (truck and swather)The locals don't like me too much during hay season"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:That looks real good, strong enough to drag a dead rabbit home. No offense intended. Those bends make it look real professional. Are there already holes in the subframe on the rabbit to bolt to or do you have to drill them?                               MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:how wide are the attaching points?  I like it.  It looks simple and clean.  You are right about flimsy retail tow bars.  I nearly choked on my coffee when I saw what was being used between a travel trailer and H2 hummer.  Yep, it was one of those flimsy bolt on dumajiggies that weighs less than a happy meal.  The owner said it makes it easy for one person to install and use.  yep.  I chose another route home.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammDude, you the dawg at fabrication (my sorta stuff anyways)I made a towbar for my old Dodge, which I hook to the tractor, the Dodge, and an old Hesston 1014 swather.  All three units going down the highway at once  Tractor in the lead, swather next, Dodge on behind.  (hitch on swather is another story)Only thing I did different with my towbar was to use a Bulldog hitch with positive ball lock.  You probably know the type.  My greatest concern was braking.  Would a standard hitch resist uplift as the towed vehicles slowed down and began pushing against the bar.  But I was also looking at a vehicle/equipment combination in the 12.000 range. (truck and swather)The locals don't like me too much during hay season
Reply:Originally Posted by mla2ofusThat looks real good, strong enough to drag a dead rabbit home. No offense intended. Those bends make it look real professional. Are there already holes in the subframe on the rabbit to bolt to or do you have to drill them?                               Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by Scott Younghow wide are the attaching points?  I like it.  It looks simple and clean.  You are right about flimsy retail tow bars.  I nearly choked on my coffee when I saw what was being used between a travel trailer and H2 hummer.  Yep, it was one of those flimsy bolt on dumajiggies that weighs less than a happy meal.  The owner said it makes it easy for one person to install and use.  yep.  I chose another route home.
Reply:The rabbit is home! Pumped up the tires and they both leaked but held enough to make it here. I'll deal with the stuck wheels later. It tracked well. The mount wasn't exactly ideal but I had to have the car removed today. Attached Images
Reply:Like the hitch, forhire, think you might get a kick out of this "tow bar". Attached Imagesaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireThe rabbit is home! Pumped up the tires and they both leaked but held enough to make it here. I'll deal with the stuck wheels later. It tracked well. The mount wasn't exactly ideal but I had to have the car removed today.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyOkay, so now you have this uhmmm "rabbit" home .. What is it you do with these rabbits?
Reply:Hey Forhire..I've got an '82 rabbit I'd like to tow now & then as far as 500-1500 miles.Do I need an oil cooler pump assembly for it? It's a 5 speed manual diesel. Thanks in advance for your reply.~ myspen
Reply:Originally Posted by myspenHey Forhire..I've got an '82 rabbit I'd like to tow now & then as far as 500-1500 miles.Do I need an oil cooler pump assembly for it? It's a 5 speed manual diesel.
Reply:that buss towbar is a poor mans tru hitch.     Probably one of the better ways to tow something really heavy.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:when the wheels mare stuck ..I have loosened the lug nuts and drove around in circles. works great for front but not sure of rearMiller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Love the rabbit!  I had an 84, and now have an 81 Caddy
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualiethat buss towbar is a poor mans tru hitch.     Probably one of the better ways to tow something really heavy.
Reply:I know what U mean, every time I see a big rabbit I just want to jump out there and grab it up and bning it homeI'm glad U asked Sandy>> Hasenpfeffer    (German stewed rabbit)Hasenpfeffer is German for "hare-pepper," or peppered hare, and is a famous game dish in Germany. Serve it with spätzle dumplings or with boiled or mashed potatoes and blaukraut (braised red cabbage).Ingredients•Rabbit, dressed and cut into serving pieces -- 3 pounds•Salt and pepper -- to taste•Flour -- 1/2 cup•Bacon, diced -- 1/3 pound•Shallots or onion, diced -- 5 shallots or 1 onion•Garlic, minced -- 2 or 3 cloves•Cognac or brandy -- 1/4 cup•Beef broth -- 1 1/2 cups•Red wine -- 1 cup•Lemon, sliced 1/4-inch rounds -- 1•Fresh thyme -- 1 sprig•Fresh rosemary -- 1 small sprig•Whole allspice berries -- 4•Juniper berries -- 3•Whole cloves -- 2•Bay leaf -- 1•Salt and pepper -- to taste•Currant or grape jelly -- 1 tablespoon•Butter -- 2 tablespoons•Flour -- 1/4 cupMethod1.Season the rabbit with salt and pepper. Put the flour in a large bowl and add the rabbit to the bowl, tossing the pieces to coat them with the flour. Shake off the excess flour and set the floured rabbit pieces aside.2.Add the bacon to a large pot over medium-high heat and sauté to render its fat, 3-4 minutes. Add the shallots or onion and garlic and sauté until translucent and cooked through but not browned. Remove the bacon and shallots or onions to a bowl and set aside. Reserve some of the bacon fat in the pot.3.Add more oil to the pot if necessary and return the pot to medium-high flame. Brown the rabbit a few pieces at a time on all sides and set aside.4.Reduce heat to medium, and carefully add the cognac or brandy (it may flame up). Cook until its volume is reduced by about half.5.Return the rabbit pieces to the pot and add the broth, wine, lemons, thyme, rosemary, allspice, juniper berries, cloves, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.6.While rabbit is cooking, knead the butter and flour together with your fingers to form a smooth dough. You will use this to thicken the sauce.7.When the rabbit is cooked through and tender, remove it to a serving dish. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve, discarding the solids. Stir the reserved bacon and shallots or onion back into the sauce. Add more stock or water if necessary to make about 2 cups.8.Return sauce to a simmer on the stove and whisk a small piece of the butter and flour mixture into the sauce and return to a simmer. Keep whisking pieces into the sauce until it reaches a nice consistency. Adjust seasoning, pour the sauce over the rabbit and serveIt was lunchtime here... and I been thinkin' FOOD for an hour or so, Nice car Forhire, enjoy Bret Attached ImagesLast edited by PapaLion; 08-29-2011 at 04:25 PM.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyOkay, so now you have this uhmmm "rabbit" home .. What is it you do with these rabbits?
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireAfter all this I went to change the flat tires on the rabbit and they were corroded (alloy wheels) to the hubs. No amount of persuasion would free the flats.