Date:         Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:53:04 -0700
Reply-To:     jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: Motorcycle Hitch for 1985
Comments: To: "Gary Lee, Vanagon Racks" <gary2a@TELUS.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <003101c515e9$c6de7c40$e10cfea9@9100d>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

I have the fastforward.ca heavy rear bumper.  I also donšt like the swivel
of the carrier.  Did some testing last fall with a couple supports going
from the bumper to the carrier.  They worked.  Now trying to get what I need
to weld up some permanent brackets on the carrier.  Basically some metal
stock bars going from the carrier to the top of the bumper with rubber
mounts to absorb vibration.
Jimt

> If I were going to do it again, I would make a dedicated carrier which
> replaces the bumper.
> I personally do not like the motorcycle carriers which plug into a hitch
> receiver, at least not on a vanagon.
> http://www.motojackrack.com/
> 
> My idea was as follows;
> Remove the bumper.  Remove the old bumper mount brackets.  Use new longer
> mounting brackets which go 2 1/2 times deeper into the body of the van,
> using three bolts each instead of two.  Build a tray carrier upon the TWO
> brackets sticking out of the van.
> This would be far more stable than a single center mounting point, as with a
> hitch carrier.
> The downside is that you cannot remove the carrier quickly and you don't
> really have a bumper.  There are also valid issues with hanging weight on
> the back of the van which is another topic.  But, I would have confidence in
> the motorcycle carrier itself, if built that way.
> See this page for bumper brackets:
> http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/bumper/bumper.htm
> 
> When I last had a motorcycle, I was using a trailer behind the vanagon and
> was happy with that.
> I think the original poster was looking into carrying a lightweight moped,
> which would be easier than a heavy motorcycle.
> 
> Gary Lee
>