Towing a sailboat with my NBC - Photo

[DriveMeCrazy]

Hey all! In case anyone was wondering, the 2.5 New Beetle is a very capable towing car. I had always wanted a sailboat and I recently had a chance to rescue a wooden, 1962 Windmill from a barn where it had sat for about 15 years (needs painted). The old farmer that owned it said he never used it, so it's probably been a long time since it's been in the water. I purchased a Drawtite hitch locally and the wiring harness from etrailers.com (has a short circuit protector built in). Installation was rather easy but did require me to drill two holes in the floor pan of the trunk, which I sealed up with silicon. The boat is just over 15' long, so it's not large by any means but does have some weight to it. The bug does well getting up to speed and stops easily, I couldn't be happier!

[bugsy98nb]

Nice ! I had a 04 NBC I pulled a 1965 apache tent camper behind it .

[dnyed]

I'll bet you got a lot of smiles during the drive home!

[LucysCougar]

This is very strange, I just this AM removed my drawtite and wire harness from my 03 Vert (2.0) (SOLD) So I can put it on my 06 vert I just picked up with the (2.5) in it. It is the same color combo as yours! I love it. My other one was ALL Black on Black.
Going to miss it but going love having the 2.5 engine now.
Jeff

[kelleygraves2]

I can't wait to show this to my husband! He likes to pick on my little car and was making fun of my trailer hitch and said "whats your little car need that for"

Oh, and congrats on a very pretty little bug!

[LucysCougar]

I will post a pic one day , pulling our 67 beetle behind the 06 Beetle both are RED *lol*

[DriveMeCrazy]

Originally Posted by LucysCougar

This is very strange, I just this AM removed my drawtite and wire harness from my 03 Vert (2.0) (SOLD) So I can put it on my 06 vert I just picked up with the (2.5) in it. It is the same color combo as yours! I love it. My other one was ALL Black on Black.
Going to miss it but going love having the 2.5 engine now.
Jeff

We've got an 04 vert as well... night and day difference between the two! The 2.0L is just so sluggish and the whole car just feels a bit lazy. I'm a huge fan of the 2.5L, such a versatile engine. There is actually another red/tan 2.5 with a trailer hitch here where I live... I wonder if they pull anything with it or if it's just for a bike rack?

[LucysCougar]

Is yours an 06? Does it have 17 inch tires and if so what size is the spare? I was wondering if the tire is the same size in the spare holder. I do not pick the new 06 up until tomorrow.
I no that my 03 had the same size in spare as the rest (16 inch)
Thanks,
Jeff

[kelleygraves2]

Originally Posted by LucysCougar

Is yours an 06? Does it have 17 inch tires and if so what size is the spare? I was wondering if the tire is the same size in the spare holder. I do not pick the new 06 up until tomorrow.
I no that my 03 had the same size in spare as the rest (16 inch)
Thanks,
Jeff

I have the same size spare as the rest of my tires in my '06 and i have the 17 inch tires. Not sure if that is a standard thing, but that's what I have!

[DriveMeCrazy]

Congrats on your new purchase! Yes, the spare is the same size as the other wheels on the car and it's tricky to get it out of there; you have to sort of flip it in or out of the trunk.

[LucysCougar]

Just got it today and see that the spares in both of our NB 2006 and our 2010 are in fact 16 inch , even though the tires and rims on both are 17 inch. I do not think that you could fit a 17 in that wheel well. I also noticed that on my 03 Vert had flaps that opened and closed when opening and closing the top. but the the 06 vert has no flaps in the rear , are they missing? or what year did they remove that feature?
thanks!!
Jeff

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by LucysCougar

Just got it today and see that the spares in both of our NB 2006 and our 2010 are in fact 16 inch , even though the tires and rims on both are 17 inch. I do not think that you could fit a 17 in that wheel well. I also noticed that on my 03 Vert had flaps that opened and closed when opening and closing the top. but the the 06 vert has no flaps in the rear , are they missing? or what year did they remove that feature?
thanks!!
Jeff

Totally off topic, but...

Flaps were removed during/after '04 MY.

As to 16" v. 17". Diameter is determined by a number of factors, not especially the rim size diameter (16", 17" etc), such as tire width, aspect ratio, etc. Within any given rim size, outside tire diameter can vary 4" or more. So yes, certain 17' tires will fit in the spare tire well of a car that came with 16" wheels.

MORAV

[LucysCougar]

Thanks for the info, So why wouldn't they put a 17 inch tire in the tire well if a 17 can fit ?

I was talking tire size off the side of the tire (#'s) that I see when looking in the wheel well compared to what the size says on the car now even with our newer 2010 ?

Glad they got rid of the flaps , less to break

Back on topic, should have pics to post pulling the 67 Beetle soon !
Thanks,
Jeff

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by LucysCougar

Thanks for the info, So why wouldn't they put a 17 inch tire in the tire well if a 17 can fit ?

I'm going to take a stab at the reason, from what I've read, and from logic. Full size spares are not necessarily mounted on the wheels that come on the car (although that may be a factory option). Spares are mounted on a "steelie", much more cost effective AND way less inventory to maintain. Also, during the vehicle assembly process the packing of the spare is probably done at a totally different place on the line. Same spare goes in every vehicle (idiot proof - no "thought" process involved).

M.

[LucysCougar]

take a looksy
Towing a Beetle with my New Beetle