by angib » Mon Sep 20, 2010 10:27 am
Three issues with doing this:
1) Weight. Even with the engine and transmission out, it won't be a light trailer, though for sure it will be a small trailer. That's no reason not to do it, as long as you're aware of what you will get.
Your username has jetta in it, so maybe you're thinking of doing this to a Jetta - older models had curb weights of 2800-3000 pounds, so it's likely the trailer will be over 1500 pounds unladen.
2) Balance. This one could be a problem. You want 10-15% of the trailer weight on the hitch for stability. More than that isn't a problem for the trailer, but it may be a problem for the tow vehicle, as you may exceed the hitch weight limit.
A typical car will give you maybe 30-40% hitch weight and if you are thinking of a Jetta, that's 500-700 pounds (laden) hitch weight. No problem for a big truck, but waay too much for another Jetta - which is the cool-looking combination.
3) Strength. To make an A-frame tongue stick out a decent length in front of the car will put a decent bending load on the attachment points on the car, so expect to have to run the tongue structure well under the front of the car.
I would try to use the sloping bulkheads at the front of the driver/passenger footwells as the rear tongue attachment point and the front suspension mounting points as the front tongue attachment point. Connecting to the grille area as well makes sense but I'm not convinced that would be strong enough to take the tongue loads on its own.
Remember that the tongue will stick out the front much further than a towbar sticks out the back, so don't think that you are just adding a towbar to the front.