Date:         Wed, 3 Apr 2002 20:01:20 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Trailer hitch group buy
In-Reply-To:  <023101c1db70$bc64d770$055a5a5a@joe2>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> Over on the EV group there was a hitch buy through www.hitch-web.com
> recently. If enough  members want a vanagon hitch someone could
> contact them and set it up. As I recall we each saved around thirty
dollars on class
> three hitches with 2" recievers. Last I heard around twenty people bought
> them and cleaned out the manufacturer's stock and more were made
> to fill the orders.


Yes, but they don't have anything for Vanagons that is even remotely like
that Eurovan hitch.  Just the low-end class 1 hitch that mounts to the
towhooks. (Which is no surprise, as this is all I've found through normal
sources for Vanagons; that's why I have to import my heavy duty one from
South Africa.)  Check the archives on that hitch; it's been reported on
before.  It's a very light-duty hitch, useful for only the smallest of
trailers, as it uses only the tow hooks for support.  If you got the same
13% savings you got on the Eurovan hitch with the group buy, it would still
be $130.  For about $170 my Genuine VW hitch from South Africa is infinately
more heavy duty.  It mounts deep into the frame and its capacity is limited
only by the Vanagon's own maximum towing capacity. (Also it can be modified
to a receiver style for about another $60-70 according to listmember
reports.)  So even if you were to get a break on it, it wouldn't be worth
bothering with.   (Too bad they don't have a comparable Class 3 hitch for
the Vanagon or I'd be buying them myself!)

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

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