Frank, How heavy is that bike? If you have enough weight behind the van to make the level an issue than you need to be concerned about the weight you are also lifting off the front axle. Not only are you putting that load on the hitch but since the bike has some size you are also levering it putting the weight way behind the rear axle. You should have the van axle weighed with this load in place to make sure you are overloading the rear. Also, adding springs to the rear to raise the level defeats the rear proportioning valve function which uses the level to adjust pressure to the rear brakes as weight is removed or added. Thank you for the comment on the hitch. Dennis
-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Frank Condelli Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 7:11 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Vanagon Westfalia motorcycle carrier Folks, I now have the Kawasaki 250 Super Sherpa acquired from Buddy Boy Benny Boy hooked up on my Westy. A used Dennis Haynes frame mounted receiver hitch from Ryan in Cali, THANKS ! Awesome hitch Dennis ! Motorcycle is held by the Ultimate MX Hauler > _Click here: UltimateMXHauler_ (http://ultimatemxhauler.com/) , bought used also. Now looks like I will have to add Air Lift 1000 air bags to the rear springs to level out the load. They are on their way ! Other than that all looks solid. Testing being done this weekend on Wine tour & Camping trip to Prince Edward County with the Ottawa VW Club, _CCVWC_ (http://www.ccvwc.ca/) _http://picasaweb.google.ca/FCondelli/VanagonWesfaliaWithMotorcycleCarrier#_ (http://picasaweb.google.ca/FCondelli/VanagonWesfaliaWithMotorcycleCarrier#)
Cheers, Frank Condelli Almonte, Ontario, Canada '87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_ (http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm) ) _Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://frankcondelli.com/busindex.html) - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley _Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_ (http://frankcondelli.com/exhaust.htm) _BusFusion_ (http://www.busfusion.com/) a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2010 |
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