Date:         Fri, 18 Jan 2002 21:47:47 -0800
Reply-To:     Myron Lind <mdlind@RICA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Myron Lind <mdlind@RICA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Towing with A-frame attached to front bumper mount?
Comments: To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>

Hi Andrew, I recently towed one 100 miles or so doing something
similar. This bumper mount had 4 threaded inserts to hold the
bumper on. I just cut and welded a a piece of rectangular pipe to
follow the curve of the bumper mount, then mounted this to the van
using the 4 horizontal bumper mounting bolts. The A shaped tow bar
attached to this rectangular pipe. Drove carefully, it seemed
pretty "rock solid" for that one trip. As long as the bolts are
tight and can't slip and slop around I think you would be fine.

Myron Lind
81 Westy
82 Diesel Westy getting a "mechanical TDI"


> Anyone know whether the front bumper mount is strong enough to
use
> for an attachment point for towing, using an A-frame?
>
> I need to bring my Caravelle 365km to Dunedin from Christchurch,
> where it's been stored.
>
> The buular was attached to the bumper mount by 2 long 12mm bolts
run
> vertically through the bumper mount bulge. The metal there
appears
> thick enough to carry the load. Any ideas?
>
> What I was thinking of doing was making an A-frame mount out of
2
> bent box-section U-shapes, which fit over the bumper mount and
bolt
> on via 2x12mm bolts run vertically through the mount and spaced
about
> 1090mm (~4ft) apart; these would have a horizontal tube welded
> between them as a stay.
>
> Will the bumper mount sheetmetal bear the load and will 12mm
bolts
> hold? If the bumper mount's too thin I'm screwed, as there is
nowhere
> to attacvh an A-frame elsewhere. Of course I could use 3 or 4
bolts
> for attachment, but then I have to take the bumper mount
curvature
> into consideration, and I don't have the van here to measure...
guess
> the U-parts could be made one length and I could take a hacksaw
along
> to shorten them on the spot. But I'll need to use a cordless
drill
> for all this, and the battery may not be up to it!
> >