New here

ebbingnl · 12 June 2008, 13:30

Hi im new here.
Its nice ther is a place like this with just automatic info.
Have to say i never had anyproblems with mine "73, 1303 a/s.
Never restoured, original state, and still running.

See this link for some pictures.

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=Z3BCHWYL

Bookwus · 13 June 2008, 08:12

Hiya ebb,

Welcome to the forum!

Great pictures. Tell us more (MUCH more) about the trailer you are towing in your last picture. A tent trailer? How does your car perform while towing a trailer? Any problems with the transmission overheating?

ebbingnl · 14 June 2008, 14:48

Hi,
yes, it is a Holtkamper cocoon tenttrailer what we are towing around.
it is a smal trailer with maxximum total weight of 750 Kg.

The beetle has no problem towing it, specially not here in the netherlands, no hills etc.
We dont have problems with the transmission at all.

Dont have to try to keep up with modern traffic in the mountains, it isnt that fast.
On the highway's i can drive easely 80 till 100 km/h for long distances.

Last year we went vor vacation in to the Swiss alps, even there no problems.
There were a few climbs i was afraid too overhead the torqconvertor(dont know if my warning light works), but it didnt happen i think.
Fluid inside is still like new, no leaks etc., so he survived i guess.

ebbingnl · 14 June 2008, 14:59

Ohh yess,

I added few pictures of tent, and for more information about the tenttrailer here is a website www.Holtkamper.com

Bookwus · 29 June 2008, 20:44

Hiya ebb,

So................using the data from Holtkamper (the Cocoon weighs 220 kg) that works out to about 500 lbs.

To be honest, I had thought the trailer towing capacity of the AutoStick would be just about nil. This is very interesting! Especially motoring around in the Swiss Alps.

Looks like I'm going to have go back and do some more reading about AutoStick basics.

ebbingnl · 01 July 2008, 21:42

Towing capacity nil?? the car got almost a agricultere tractor clutch/transmision combination;D, lots of torq with low engine rev's thats ideal for towing i think.
I my opinion, and as i told its my experience too, its doing pretty fine job towing, ok maybe a trailer with 2 horses, a cow and some chickens will be maybe bit to much

.
According papers of my car, maxximum weight of trailer towing is 850 Kg, that's about 1870 or 1900 lbs if im right

You should really build a towbar behind your autostick, a tent trailer or a small caravan behind it and its a realy great vacation vehicle.

hercdriver · 01 April 2009, 01:38

I was reading the owners manual for my 1973 and remembered this thread. The manual states.....

"It is possible to tow a trailer with your Volkswagen. The total weight of a trailer (without brakes) should not exceed 882 lbs. The trailer tongue load should be 55 to 88 lbs.

Distribute the load in the trailer evenly. And remember: the additional trailer weight affects the braking of your car so that a longer distance is needed to bring the car and trailer to a stop. Test the brakes before starting out on a trip with a trailer."

It goes on to say...

"VW Automatic Stick Shift
If you plan to tow a trailer with the VW Automatic Stick Shift, have an ATF warning light installed on the dashboard by your authorized VW Dealer.
When towing a trailer, start out in the low driving range. Always shift to a lower range when driving up or down steep hills."

I just noticed my speedometer does not have an ATF warning light. I guess VW felt that it wasn't needed and went without it in the 70's.

ebbingnl · 05 May 2009, 00:01

The trailer we tow has brakes, and then were allowed to tow more, i told before that its about 850 kilo/1900 lbs, but its less for my beetle, about 650 kilo/1450 lbs.
Its hard here in the netherlands what legal to tow, the maxximum weight can be different from what car manufacture gives as advice.
Has to do with what kind of towbar there is bolted on to the car.

In my 73' 1303 is no warning light in speedo too, but there is one on the leftside of the front of the dashboard.
To be honest i dont know if its works, but if u use transmision with a little sense then need no light.

With trailer, shift down early, try to keep rpm's bit higher.
after an stop always back to first gear(or low) then shift up to second and third like a manual transmision.
Also in trafficjams or slow traffic, try to use lowest gear as possible, so that the torq-converter has fore sure a "lock-up" and is not "slipping"
And make sure that level of ATF fluid is ok.

(excuses for my poor (technical) english)

Gerwin

68automaticFoVay · 06 May 2009, 12:29

I Do not know if this is an Auto Stick or not but this is the trailer I want! HAHA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56XL0TysIn0

that my friends is what Bugs can do no other car can not! HAHA
I love that trailer ponders humn if I could fit all my tools in that and food and still remain under the weight limit I could sell the house and everything else and travel across the whole continent humn... retire early... see America.... Dreams will never stop....

ebbingnl · 15 January 2010, 00:18

Added some new pics here,

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=Z3BCHWYL

Bookwus · 15 January 2010, 01:04

Hiya ebb,

Thanks for the pictures!

That really looks like a wonderful tent trailer!

ebbingnl · 15 January 2010, 21:02

Look here for more information about the tentrailer,

http://www.holtkamper.com/en/cocoon/

Bookwus · 16 January 2010, 02:05

Hiya ebb,

I wish they were available here in the States (which that apparently are not!).

A question for you.............. In looking at your pictures it appears that you also have the kitchen module. Could you tell us about that? perhaps a close-up picture?