Date:         Fri, 1 Sep 2000 16:27:33 PDT
Reply-To:     Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: trailer hitch for sale...
Comments: To: ron@NETCARRIER.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

hey what do these look like once installed? I have the carat fiberglass
plastic bumpers... Is it aesthetically nice looking once installed? Or is it
barbaric looking??? Price is? Do you file out that notch??? What sort of
tool would you use????


>From: The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
>
> > Ron... what is the load capacity of the hitch you sell... load and
>tongue
> > weights please.  And for the list... how much can a vanagon reasonably
> > tow... I know the big issue is brakes, but is there a towing load rating
> > somewhere?
>
>
>The hitch is genuine VW/South Africa, and designed specifically for the
>Vanagon.  It replaces the stock bumper brackets and pushes deep into the
>frame of the vehicle. Included are two sets of bumper brackets, one for
>metal bumpers and one for Wolfsburg plastic bumpers. It is neccessary to
>bend (metal bumper) or notch (plastic bumper) the bottom of the bumper just
>slightly to clear the hitch, but the minor modification would be underneath
>the bumper where it is invisible once installed.  (Interestingly, the
>plastic Wolfsburg bumpers actually have a little mark around where the
>notch
>should be; perhaps the German version of this hitch required the identical
>notch.)  The hitch comes with a 1-7/8" ball.  While the ball does fit U.S.
>spec trailers, the way it mounts to the hitch European spec, meaning that
>you would not be able to buy another sized ball here in the U.S. if 1-7/8
>didn't meet your needs.  However, some customers/listmembers have reported
>that they had a receiver hitch mount fabricated for it for about $75 at
>trailer or welding places, after which you could use any size you wanted.
>Volkswagen did not see fit to include a load rating for the hitch, but
>anyone who has seen it would agree that it is a monstrous unit, very heavy
>duty.  This is not at all like the lightweight one that has been sold
>aftermarket in the U.S., which has only about a 100-150 lb. tongue weight
>and can only support the smallest of utility trailers.  It is a safe bet
>that the hitch could probably handle more of a load than the Vanagon could.
>Regarding the Vanagon's towing load rating, I don't recall what it is but I
>believe it is listed in the owners manual.
>
>As I said, these hitches are currently backordered and will not be in stock
>for about 8 weeks.  Part number is S121.
>
>- Ron Salmon
>   The Bus Depot? Inc.
>   www.busdepot.com
>   (215) 234-VWVW
>
>    _______________________________________________
>      ORDER BY PART # TOLL FREE:  1-888-819-DEPOT

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