OT: Volkswagen beetle with 5th wheel style camper trailer

[ryan roopnarine]

It's possible that this was a popular setup; I wouldn't know since it would have been before my time. At any rate, I wonder how long that tiny air cooled engine would last under this kind of load. (video is from the 70s). Neat seeing the driver being able to turn the car 360 degrees--under the trailer--while the latter stays stationary.

1974 Volkswagen Beetle & Camper - road test - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56XL0TysIn0&app=desktop)

[whiskychaser]

Not before my time :-) But I have never seen one before. It looks like it is only attached to the gutters. Not sure if having it mounted that high is a good idea. Nice find though!

[shogun]

Have not seen that version. I lived in Germany in that time and it was quite common that the old VW Kaefer = beetle was used to pull camping trailers. The # 1 holiday destination for the Germans in those days was sunny Italy, and to go there they had to drive the winding roads over the Alps, typical size at that time was like this
Oldtimerrundfahrt Neubrandenburg - VW Käfer mit Wohnwagen | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nb-fotos/7308206394/)
VW Käfer mit Wohnwagen, beim 3. Oldtimertreffen in - Fahrzeuge.startbilder.de (http://fahrzeuge.startbilder.de/name/einzelbild/number/209305/kategorie/PKW+Oldtimer~VW~Kafer.html)
Around the world trip VAU-MAX.de - Artikel - “Mein Luftgekühlter!“ 2011- der 2te Beitrag: Herbie mit Wohnwagen (http://www.vau-max.de/klassik/klassik_artikel/id=1955)

Here some more pics and a brochure of the old Westfalia camper with prices and sizes from 1960
Wohnwagen Westfalia 310-4 : Kaufberatung (http://bugfans.de/forum/kaufberatung/wohnwagen-westfalia-310-t1993.html)

Biggest problem from my memory was always the clutch. But changing a clutch on a beetle engine was quite easy. I also had one, the engine I could get out within 30 minutes, those were the easy wrenching days.

Even for the tiny BMW Isetta they built something to pull Camping-Oldtimer: historische Wohnwagen und Wohnmobile (http://www.trax.de/camping-oldtimer-historische-wohnwagen-und-wohnmobile/id_65527566/index)

[Ross]

Add lots of weight to the highest part of an already dodgy handling car with a flimsy connection, use tiny brakes to stop it all and have 60 blazing horsepower on tap to get rolling.
Cute maybe, but a deathtrap.
Having said this I'd love one to hook to a modern car.

[Bill R.]

I agree with Ross, I worked at a Vw/Porsche shop in 1974 and i don't remember every seeing one of these, and im sure i would remember.

[TechnoWeeny]

I've seen this video before and regardless of its feasibility I think it is a great idea, as much as I hate people towing caravans on the road. hatchet

[RandalLovelace]

My dad had a several Beetles during my childhood - and we had a VW Van (1972 with the 1600 - retro'd with a cooling blower - cause Texas = 120F in the summer).
The first beetle was a standard white 1200, no muss no fuss, no radio (VW actually made a black 'blank' to fit the space)... it it was wrecked (by my brother), my dad replace it with a 'SuperBeetle' which also had the better interior, and an AM / FM radio... yeah.
I was in middle school when my dad sent them both away for two weeks...
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They came back with red vinyl interior, grey carpet, grey door panels, and dash... and a very very custom black and grey paint with red penstripes... both the van and the beetle matched (black upper/grey lower with the red pen stripe at the color change.) - If I'd known then what I know now, I'd have found a way to get those cars. They are both still in mint condition (and being driven daily)... just not by me.

On topic (or more on topic) - we carried a converted F100 (circa 68) pickup bed for a trailer behind the van regularly - it pulled it with no issues - stopping I could tell by my dad's expression was not so good.