I would not recommend carrying a 350 lb bike on the back of the van. I also would not rely on the original bumper bracket mounting to hold any type of an extended load. The bumper brackets are bolted through sheet metal. The hanging load will loosen and stretch the metal out and eventually tear off. Seen it.

I sell a hitch that extends into the frame helping to distribute the load. If interested, send me an e-mail asking for more information. I have a Word file with information and pictures. I'll only e-mail those interested so I don't clog every ones in boxes.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Gary Lee Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 3:56 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: re.class 2 hitch, motorcycle carrier

---------- original message --------- I was wondering about getting a hitch installed on my 82 vanagon so that I could pull a trailer or use one of those moto-tote type motorcycle carriers (bike weighs about 350 lbs).

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I've always wanted a class 2 hitch for my vanagon. I also want to keep my stock bumper in the original location.

Some of the class 2 "bolt on" hitches for the vanagon may be class 2, but they are Not good enough to carry a 300 lb motorcycle on a "motojack rack" http://www.motojackrack.com . The hitch will flex and the bike will bounce around back there.

I don't know about the South African OEM hitch, but the German OEM hitch is not good enough to carry a 300 lb. motorcycle with a receiver type carrier.

I think that if I removed the stock bumper and welded a custom made motorcycle carrier directly to the two bumper brackets it would be stiff enough.

I've got a trailer for now, works fine for my Honda XR600R and Suzuki DR350SE

Gary http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/motorcycle.htm