Tow bar attachment for towing a Z...

[280z1975]

Well I have an idea I want to run past you guys. I have searched the archives and have read that one or two people have done this idea, but no one seems to have documented it to well.

I just bought a universal tow bar (http://www.uneedtools.com/adjustable-tow-bar-p-919.html) was around 70 bucks after shipping.

I just helped tow my brothers jeep back from Colorado and thought why not my Z when I am taking it to the painters or the mechanics (I am having the engine taken out for painting). Those several tips would run me 50 bucks a pop at least for a tower and 25 each for local U-haul service. I will also be moving and have my Z in tow and that is 125 for the tow dolly or 250 for the full trailer.

Now I want to fabricate an mount for the Z to which I can mount the tow bar to. My idea was use the existing holes for the front bumper attachments and mount it from there. When the car is complete I only need to take off the horns, front grill and maybe the lights to get access to them.

My other area I have thought was the front tie down hook area, but to make that work after I have my front air dam on my Z won't happen to easy. So I think it's the front bumper mounts.

I have also thought about just bolting an attachment to the front bumper mounts like the existing bumper, but I don't think they were durable enough for towing. If someone know's otherwise let me know.

I have attached a photo of the front bumper mounts for referance of where I want to make my attachemtn.

Once this is all done I will post a little article on how to make this work. Hopefully it will help some of the Z lovers out there save some money when the go get a Z and hopefully make saving some of the Z's out there a bit easier!

Thanks for the help in advance.

[ggarrard]

Gregg - Many moons ago ('81) my brother and I towed his '71 back from Vancouver with a homemade tow bar. The tow bar was bolted to the bumper mount points (ie -remove your bumper shocks in the picture and bolt the tow bar there). Remember to allow the tow bar to pivot otherwise you'll torque the front-end... And use safety chains...at both ends.

Regards

GWGarrard

[280z1975]

Gregg - Many moons ago ('81) my brother and I towed his '71 back from Vancouver with a homemade tow bar. The tow bar was bolted to the bumper mount points (ie -remove your bumper shocks in the picture and bolt the tow bar there). Remember to allow the tow bar to pivot otherwise you'll torque the front-end... And use safety chains...at both ends.

Regards

GWGarrard

Cool, glad to hear someone else has done this. The towing unit won't be a direct link to the ball, but use a univeral towing bar attached to a homemade "bumper" that is attached using the bumper shock holes. I figure this will be the best way to go.

Also, my Z will be making the trip to Canada, Hamilton in Ontario. It's a long way from Houston, Texas!

[V8-240Z]

I have one on my 71 240Z. Its permently bolted to the bottom of the radiator core support. There are 2 bar attachment points just below the front valance. My experience in towing Z's with this setup is that they don't tow well at all with out a engine in them. If the z is complete they tow well.

[ggarrard]

Gregg - Another consideration - especially for the long tow between Houston and Hamilton - disconnect and remove your half-shafts. Although it will not hurt the manual transmission if you don't, it will minimise the risk of something that is packed in the car accidently banging the shifter into gear at highway speeds. A friend experienced that situation with his car once when he hit a bump and the racing tires loaded in the hatch shifted...