AE86 towbar and roofrack info

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sqznby
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AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby sqznby » Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:28 pm

I'm curious to know who tows with there AE86?
Also curious to know what the towbars looked like, I cant find images anywhere.
I'd like to know what they look like and the overall design.

I'm also interested in if anyone has made there own roof rack.
If so could post up some images and info?

Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks

sqznby
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby sqznby » Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:53 pm

Not one person has towed or knows of anyone who has towed with an AE86?

Not one person has ever made there own roof rack?



Huh, ok :|

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carbd7age
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby carbd7age » Tue Jun 04, 2013 8:27 pm

Not everybody has an engine from a pickup lolzz. My father in law used to tow his boat with his 4AC-powered 86 Nova 5-speed. Speaking of which, that thing needs a blacktop 20-valve...
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby GooGooMuck » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:16 am

Try the Aussies, they are crazy, I know I have seen a GTS pulling a caravan before...

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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby sqznby » Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:29 pm

carb,
what do you mean, its only a little 3tc ;)
Until I get my other ride, this has to do double duty.

I'll swing over to aeu86 and see what I can find.
Thanks

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Red
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby Red » Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:13 pm

If you are towing WITH an AE8x, what you need is the trailer hitch on your car. The towbar is what you attach to whatever you are towing, and it just drops onto the hitch.

The hitch bar or hitch mount is what you attach to your car.

There were a couple of hitch mounts for the AE86 but they are all way out of production. On was a plate, you unbolted the bumper mounting bolts, slid in the plate, bolted 'em back up, and an arm held the hitch under the center of the bumper. Another style bolted to the trunk floor then came back and across to join the sides. And HiddenHitch used to make something similar, might have bolted to the subframe rails, or the trunk floor, I don't know which. From what I'm told, they all required cutting the bumper skin under the license plate, except the HiddenHitch. None of the folks who used to make them has any old stock or old plans on file.

You're on you own to do it now, unless you can find some shop with real old stock sitting around.

Roof racks? Never were OEM permanently installed AFAIK. If you've got lots of money you can still buy the Thule racks. You'll need the "short roof" adapters, the gutterless mounts, the crossrails...probably $500-600 before you get started but at least it won't leak the way bolting something into the roof will. If you want to go skiing...wrong car, needs a fortune in Thule racks.

These cars don't do well for cargo hauling. IIRC the max payload is 750 pounds including the driver, and when you load it up all the way, you'll find you're spending a lot of time in 3rd gear instead of 5th.
-- Original owner, 1985 GT-S

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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby sqznby » Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:34 pm

Thank you for the clarification. I thought a tow bar was something you use to hook up a car to if you were to tow it without a dolly or trailer.
Huh, it is something I could do but am not sure I want to start mounting any more weight to my Hachi. I completely agree, these cars are certainly not tow pigs, hah. After hauling my spare 3tc and tranny and two ford 8.8s, its no fun at all.......

But, I am a little pleased to see that the parts for a roof rack are still and readily available :)

Thanks for the info Red, I appreciate your help and info.

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Red
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby Red » Tue Jul 02, 2013 6:24 pm

Back when cars had bumpers, structural metal bumpers, a tow bar was just that. You clamped it onto your rear bumper and then it either had a hitch, or arms, that could attach to whatever you were going to tow. Or, you clamped a tow bar onto your front bumper, and it had two bars that met like a big "V" with the point being socket to go onto a trailer hitch. But these days?

Yeah, not so easy. I'm just surprised that the hitch places all threw out their plans, so they can't just weld one up on demand.
-- Original owner, 1985 GT-S

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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby chocobot » Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:33 pm

I met up with someone in Gardena some time ago.. IIRC it was mad_86. He had something interesting sticking out below his bumper..
Image

Care to chime in buddy :)
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Red
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby Red » Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:39 pm

That's a hitch ball. So what? It bolts into a trailer hitch bracket, and those bolt into the car. They used to be made for it, to fit the mounting bolts that hold the bumper frame on. An L-shaped piece of metal, no big deal except if you need to custom make one and don't have a metal shop around.
-- Original owner, 1985 GT-S

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chocobot
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby chocobot » Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:24 pm

sqznby wrote:Not one person has towed or knows of anyone who has towed with an AE86?

this guy: mad_86
Maybe he'll chime in and tell his wonderful tales of towing with his AE86

Red- you really are a walking encyclopedia. You got knowledge drippin outta yer ears man :shock: Thanks for clarifying, ohh , anything and everthing m(_ _)m
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Red
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby Red » Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:07 pm

choco, do you have anything to even attempt contributing, or can I just assume you're a troll?

So you saw a guy who had a hitch ball. As I said, so what? They were made for the cars. Aren't made any more.

I know a guy pulling a boat with a Honda two-seater, S2000 with a factory tow rating of zero. Doesn't mean it can't be done, or that it is a good idea. At least the AE8x is rated as able to tow, if you can still find the parts.
-- Original owner, 1985 GT-S

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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby ae86xy » Thu Jul 25, 2013 3:50 am

On my first coupe I use a 1992/94 4runner that was made by Thule it clamps to the rain gutter it works, until my coupe got stolen n strip to death anyway hope it works out for you. Here's my coupe


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site ... 8ByK3pM%3A

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chocobot
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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby chocobot » Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:03 am

sqznby wrote:I'm curious to know who tows with there AE86?
Any info would be much appreciated..
..Not one person has towed or knows of anyone who has towed with an AE86?..
Thanks

I sold some stuff to some guys in Gardena about 1-2 years ago. One of them had a tow setup mounted on their AE86. I was curious, but didn't ask or take a closer look because I was starving. It was late after work and the Curry House was calling me out :mrgreen:
I mistakenly thought it was member: mad_86.
It was actually his friend who is no longer active on C4AG. You can try contacting member mad_86 to get to his friend.

Message history:

Re: ball hitch
Sent: Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:08 pm
by mad_86
Haha it's all good ! Lol no worrys yeah I don't think
he has a new club4ag account he has a red gts hatch

Re: ball hitch
Sent: Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:04 pm
by chocobot
Haha sorry man, my mistake! Who is your friend?
I sold him some metal oem window visors.

Re: ball hitch
Sent: Wed Jul 24, 2013 5:03 pm
by mad_86
Hahah wth that wasn't me , it was my friend and he used
It to flat tow his rolling chassis
to a local paint shop but he lives
In Gardena .... Throwing me under a bus there lol

Re: ball hitch
Sent: Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:34 pm
by chocobot
hey was this you?
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5232




Red wrote:..do you have anything to even attempt contributing..
..So you saw a guy who had a hitch ball. As I said, so what? ..
Red - Pardon my confusing response. I was off my meds-- I did have contact with someone who had a tow setup installed! And I'm steering our friend here in the right direction.
Again, thanks for your clarification and spec info. domo arigatou - bows again--> m(_ _)m
Your skill in reading has increased by one point.

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Re: AE86 towbar and roofrack info

Postby asbage » Fri Aug 30, 2013 5:28 am

i agree with it