Date:         Thu, 24 Feb 2000 08:59:44 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Subject:      Re: trailer hitches
In-Reply-To:  <38B52AE1.ED7D8081@online.no>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> > What does the list think? What is
> > the BEST design to install? Where is it available?

> I believe Bus Depot has hitches


Yes, about 5 left at this point with no more coming soon.  These are genuine
Volkswagen hitches that are a dealer-installed option on South African
Vanagons. They are the only genuine VW hitch made for the Vanagon, and I'm
the only one in the U.S. who has them. They mount into existing holes in the
frame (where the bumper brackets go, but these extend much deeper into the
frame, almost becoming part of the frame itself) and replace the bumper
brackets. Work with both metal and plastic bumpers. They come with a 2"
ball.  Since the hitch uses a European style ball-to-hitch mount, use of
U.S. hitch balls of other sizes is not possible. However, several list
members have had local hitch places weld a receiver hitch to the unit, at a
cost of about $70.  Unlike most Vanagon hitches, which are far too
lightweight to handle a heavy trailer, this hitch is INCREDIBLY heavy duty,
and would be well suited to modification to receiver-style if a 2" ball did
not suffice for you.  It is safe to say that with this hitch, the limiting
factor will be your Vanagon's towing capacity, not the hitch.

Price is $179 plus shipping, part # S121 on website (or you can order by
phone or email).  They are now backordered in South Africa, so once these
five are gone I won't see more for quite some time.  (Lead times from South
Africa are incredibly long even without a backorder; with one they can
approach an eternity.)

 - Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW