Date:         Sun, 29 Jul 2007 23:16:55 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      bumpers
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

No, not THAT thread....

I'm in the rare position of being able to compare the South African
towing hitch bumper bracket (no longer available) to the original
European version. There are similarities and there are differences.

Both consist of a large tube, with long tangs welded on that extend
into the rails of the Vanagon frame. On the European version the nuts
are welded to the tangs and are the same size as the standard bumper
brackets use. There are 3 on each side (6 total.) On the South
African, the nuts are held captive in a cage, are nylock nuts and are
one size smaller than the standard bumper brackets use.

On the European bracket, there is a base with 4 holes that the tow
ball attaches. The tow ball bracket uses all 4 bolt holes. The South
African has 4 holes as well, but the tow ball only uses two of the
holes.

The bumper attaches to a welded on portion no the European version.

On the South African version the bumper is attached to a separate
part that is in turn bolted to the end of the tube. There are (were)
different brackets for steel versus fiberglass. I'm not sure the
European version supported a fiberglass rear bumper.