Date:         Wed, 17 May 2000 19:16:33 EDT
Reply-To:     FrankGRUN@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: receiver hitch
Comments: To: wdavidson@thegrid.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

There is a fifth option to follow your numbering scheme. I used the heavy
duty hitch supplied by the Bus Depot. This requires slotting the base of the
bumper in the area of the hitch plate. Very strong. As to the fact that this
comes with a ball hitch that bolts to the hitch pad on the bumper, I had a
receiver welded onto a plate with the same bolt hole arrangement. The cost
for this was around $70 as I recall (its in the archives). For a little more,
my local welder would have cut off the hitch plate and directly welded on the
receiver coupling. This would have saved about 3 inches in length.

I have used this system extensively to haul 3 bicycles an a receiver-based
rack and my Honda 500 XL Motorcycle - 300 to 350 pounds. The motorcycle
mounts on a receiver rail that holds the cycle parallel to the back of the
Vanagon. Although the cross-section of the 2 inch receiver box and the
overall size and mass of the cycle mount, cycle, tie-down bars etc, etc would
appear to defy the third law, the whole setup is remarkably sturdy. 50 psi
rear, 40 psi front on BFG 27-8.50x14 tires is required for stability.

BTW, system is very safe! Virtually eliminates the all-too-frequent problem
of tailgaters! Also seriously increases the space between you and the next
guy on the random mountain road.

Frank Grunthaner