marvins_dad's 2002 TDI CGCC#002

[marvins_dad]

Finally got a weekend to put my trailer together. Took about 4 hours to assemble the trailer and an hour or two to get the car carrier attached.

Got the trailer at Harbor Freight, it's a US General model w/ 12" wheels.
The car carrier was a Craigslist find for $50ish...not bad!

Marvin will like this much more than that huge Uhaul from last summer!

All worked find except for the lights...guessing it's the ground, but I followed the instructions and guess I will have to try connecting a wire directly to the car to see if that allows it to work.

Pinstripe and hopefully paint to follow...though, might not happen before the TOD. Just trying to get it roadworthy by then.

[scarabY2k]

I like it mang! Functional as well as cool looking. Kinda flows with the trailing end of Marvin, espcially with the spoiler. That's gonna look choice with a cool paint scheme too!

[MichelleRoze]

Glad to see Marvin has a skid plate. Probie just got a defender steel skid plate as well. Makes me feel MUCH safer now, especially being low. What is the little square hole for? I know one is for the oil drain plug, what's the other?

Is your bra a perfect fit crawler style? Looks different than mine. Just curious. Maybe that would explain why yours looks like it fits better haha!

Hope to see Marvin at ToD still. Auto tranny should hold up fine! Mine has.... and I'm at 145K now.

[mybugrocks]

Lookin' good

Fiona says Hi

[dnyed]

Can't wait to see what you do with the trailer!

[marvins_dad]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

Glad to see Marvin has a skid plate. Probie just got a defender steel skid plate as well. Makes me feel MUCH safer now, especially being low. What is the little square hole for? I know one is for the oil drain plug, what's the other?

Is your bra a perfect fit crawler style? Looks different than mine. Just curious. Maybe that would explain why yours looks like it fits better haha!

Hope to see Marvin at ToD still. Auto tranny should hold up fine! Mine has.... and I'm at 145K now.

I think my Panzer plate had a knock out for accessing the fuel filter (but, of course we don't need that on a TDI) - not sure if that is the same cut outs you would have in yours or not. Since I extract my oil from the top of the engine I didn't do any knock outs.

Love that I don't have to worry anymore about bottoming out and doing major damage. Taken on a couple speed bumps since installation.

Yeah, it's a Perfect Fit - there is a trick...you have to get the tabs put in the right little notches in the body panels. I took a ton of photos last time, I guess I need to post them somewhere at some point.

Looking forward to the TOD trip...had a AC scare on the way home...just think that it was more of it being really hot outside and hadn't caught up. I feel like I am a Hypochondriac when it comes to Marvin since we are getting ready to take our longest trip in him.

[marvins_dad]

Originally Posted by dnyed

Can't wait to see what you do with the trailer!

Started the trailer striping this weekend...but then stepped back and the scallops looked way to "fat" so I hope I have enough striping to try again this weekend.

[Abbie2007Beetle]

Marvin is a very nice beetle

[Herbie3Rivers]

I'm liking that trailer. Not that I'd ever put a hitch or anything on Elwood. I could still see getting a lot of use out of it.

[marvins_dad]

Yeah, told myself I would take it off after Roswell...but just too much work to do so. Trailer becomes a necessity if you plan on showing your car and traveling with someone in the back seat...especially a kiddo.

The total for the build was pretty cheap too. About $325 for the trailer as a kit from Harbor Freight and picked up the cargo car topper for $50 off Craigslist...normally they run around $250-400 new.

The Sears logo on the back has already been pulled off.

[marvins_dad]

Originally Posted by dnyed

Can't wait to see what you do with the trailer!

Here's the Result!

[dnyed]

Love it!

[marvins_dad]

Here are a couple shots of the garage cleaned up and new resting place of the trailer and Aiden's Dune!

[MichelleRoze]

Nice, so I take it you don't run the engine cover the driver side door panel all the time? lol

BTW, I'll let you know how the swap goes. Talked with Jimbote on the TDIclub. He can do a swap in 1.5 days by himself, 1 day if he has help. Will need about a week to source the parts. So, in case Marvin ever needs a swap in the future. I'll of course post pics once it's done to Probie. Should be a fairly clean install and he has some work arounds so you can keep the axles, guage face, ecu and all that jazz. He's done enough of them now! lol

[marvins_dad]

I had the engine cover with me, but never pulled it out and put it on the car at the ToD. The door panels area always like that. The interior stuff is vinyl...but I installed it 3 years or so ago.

I wondered about the gauge with the swap. I would guess you could just bypass the indicators...or basically turn them off. Maybe by the time mine starts giving me problems they will have the 6 speed figured out.

[MichelleRoze]

lol yeah that'd be pretty sweet. Then you could buy a Turbo S shift knob. Thought about it...but I figured I might get confused and actually TRY to go into 6th gear! lol

I'll let you know how it goes. Jim is super fast with it. Plus you won't even need manual axles! And he said he would just turn the indicators off and reprogram the ECU to manual. which is good cause I was kinda worried about the odometer reading and all..

Be prepared. I'm 200 miles from 150K and it's going fast! When the auto dies...it dies fast and hard. I think putting mine in non-adaptation mode and setting it to Economy mode has probably prolonged it's life a little. Don't put it in sport mode only...I heard from Beej that it'll kill it faster!

[EvilinaDM101]

Saw this and thought of you!! It's made by StudioCakes.

[marvins_dad]

I think I see my 40th birthday cake...got a few years to figure out who will make it

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by marvins_dad

Here is his latest mod...Isotta Steering wheel cover.

How did you extend your air vents Please

[windie809]

that's a pretty cute cake! but how in the would would you cut and serve it?