vwbug drop

[groys02]

Maybe this is doing things the hard way?? How about chopping the front off, and moving the body to the rear a foot or so (both for better balance and a more "balanced" look), then moving the fender sheetmetal forward, kind of like this:



The new tongue could be tied into the old "tunnel", and the rear suspension left alone. Seems like you'd be fabricating from the back of the existing pan rearwards anyway---foot space below and galley above, like most teardrops?

Anyway, my thoughts/rambling....

But But But ~~~~~~~~

The hood area would make the ultimate tongue box ! :rofl2:

Yes, I agree... it's a built-in tongue box. If it were me, tho, I'd still truncate the front, just to have a more compact package... and put a trunk of some sort in that front area (on top of the tongue) if I really needed the extra room. We've only camped with our tear a couple times, but now that we don't have our compact car full of tents & tarps & sleeping bags & galley stuff... it seems there's plenty of room in the car for clothing and miscelaney.

Another minor point... I drove bugs for years, and I've caught the back of my head any number of times on that hooked-beak front lid--it just doesn't go up real high when open.

To each his/her own...

[vrodjason]

Why not use a tow bar? People use the all the time with the big rv's. Just a thought.

[fenderpbass]

Could you possibly remove the front end like the sketch shows and also remove the engine, tranny, and running gear? Replace it with the front axel after a little welding to keep the wheels from turning. This could save a lot of weight and let you haul more in the bug. I have worked in the engineering field too manys years. Get to thinking when I read about stuff like this. Just a thought.

[groys02]

Could you possibly remove the front end like the sketch shows and also remove the engine, tranny, and running gear? Replace it with the front axel after a little welding to keep the wheels from turning. This could save a lot of weight and let you haul more in the bug. I have worked in the engineering field too manys years. Get to thinking when I read about stuff like this. Just a thought.

If you used the pan from a 70 or later bug (and I think 69's with the semi-automatic), you'd have IRS and so would have a nice stable rear suspension with engine and transaxle and such removed. Then you could focus on fabbing a new floor/galley/etc without concerns about dialing in a fabricated suspension---and you'd still have that OEM backbone up the middle to anchor a tongue to. Just my thought... plenty of fabricating still required, but with a few foundational pieces undisturbed.

[rebapuck]

Without the front end, would there be room to stretch out? That footwell has got to be good for 18" or so.

[Wild Bill]

I happen to own a 1974 Superbeetle and have gone to many shows related to Cars and VW'S I cannot seem to find any of the pictures that I have taken of a bug conversion. The one I remember was from a beetle and slept only one. two would be very cramped. I spoke with the builder and he said it was very tongue heavy and not a lot of room for the overall weight of it. Conversion of a Van would be much better and have more room for the weight. The Rear opens with side door access. Still with the rear wheels in the factory position. most of the weight would be on the tongue. A regular tow bar is made for the front beams of the older standard beetles, I still hate to see anything chopped and destroyed unless it is a last resort and on its way to the junk yard. A novel idea for car shows but not very good for long range travel, Possibly some rejection in some of the fancy campgrounds with the "That's not an RV" Attitude. Just my opinion.

[Ageless]

First off: lose all the glass and replace with 5/32 lexan/polycarbonate. that will take off poundage. Remove all the inner metal from the doors and do a foam core.

[vantexan]

Maybe not as cool as a VW, but a Honda Element already has a flat floor. Remove everything but the electrical system, would be a heck of a camper!