Date:         Fri, 14 May 1999 00:11:51 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <synergx@IBM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <synergx@IBM.NET>
Subject:      Bus Depot Trailer Hitch
Comments: cc: Ron Salmon / Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Well, the trailer hitch from Bus Depot arrived today.  It is amazing.  Ron
didn't do it justice in his description.  It weighs about 35 pounds (16
kg)!  If it weren't hidden inside the bumper it would have to be registered
as an offensive weapon.  The hitch culminates in a vertical flat plate with
two sets of holes, and the ball bolts (with a pair of M15 or M14 honking
great bolts and self-lock nuts) to either the upper or the lower set
(couple inches or so apart).  I haven't got the bumper apart yet so I don't
know how it all fits in, but I'm certainly impressed.

Unfortunately it didn't come with an installation sheet -- Ron, was that an
oversight? -- and I have already a couple of puzzles.  First is that I
don't see immediately any place for attaching safety chains.  Second is a
metal plate, about 75mm by 160mm by 3mm.  One end is semicircular, the
other is a rounded-off triangle.  Triangle end has a 15mm hole (fits the
hitch-mount bolts) and the other has a central 13mm hole surrounded by six
regularly spaced 5mm holes.  Somewhat toward the pointy end are a couple of
3mm holes.  Beats me what it is.  It would fit btw the hitch ball and its
mounting plate, but the other side would need to be shimmed to match.  It
won't fit behind the mounting plate b/c it fouls the reinforcing ribs back
there.  It doesn't look remotely stiff enough for safety chains if mounted
vertically, and I don't see anywhere to mount it horizontally.  Doesn't
look well suited to chains anyway...I'm stumped.  Ron?

And why is slipping into German my syntax?  Ah well... <g>.

david
David Beierl - dbeierl@ibm.net