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netforest
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2006
Posts: 20
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 Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:55 pm Post subject: Gowesty Trailer Hitch for 1984 Vanagon |
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I have a Thule bike rack on my Toyota Rav4 and would like to connect it to my 1984 Vanagon. Has anyone had experience with using this hitch on their vanagon for their bike rack.
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3406
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty Trailer Hitch for 1984 Vanagon |
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I used a GoWesty hitch for a few years to carry two mtn bikes. The rack weighs something like 60 lbs and each bike was about 30. The hitch worked fine enough but I wanted a higher clearance and more elegant solution for the long term and eventually upgraded to a Burley.
You should be fine.
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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netforest
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2006
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty Trailer Hitch for 1984 Vanagon |
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| SCM wrote: |
I used a GoWesty hitch for a few years to carry two mtn bikes. The rack weighs something like 60 lbs and each bike was about 30. The hitch worked fine enough but I wanted a higher clearance and more elegant solution for the long term and eventually upgraded to a Burley.
You should be fine. |
Not familiar with the Burley, was that a hitch or bike rack? |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10243
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty Trailer Hitch for 1984 Vanagon |
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I use one for my bike rack - seems plenty solid even with a heavyish e bike.
I also use a carrier with it. The carrier had an extension which I omitted to get the load closer to the rear of the van. This is just for light but bulky gear.
For some reason I don't have any pics of the rack and bikes. |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3406
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty Trailer Hitch for 1984 Vanagon |
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| netforest wrote: |
| SCM wrote: |
I used a GoWesty hitch for a few years to carry two mtn bikes. The rack weighs something like 60 lbs and each bike was about 30. The hitch worked fine enough but I wanted a higher clearance and more elegant solution for the long term and eventually upgraded to a Burley.
You should be fine. |
Not familiar with the Burley, was that a hitch or bike rack? |
A different type of 2” receiver hitch. Gains clearance and is WAY more stout than GoWesty’s hitch.
The price appears to have increased since I bought mine,
https://burleymotorsports.net/product/heavy-duty-high-clearance-trailer-hitch-for-fiberglass-bumper/
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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netforest
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2006
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty Trailer Hitch for 1984 Vanagon |
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| SCM wrote: |
| netforest wrote: |
| SCM wrote: |
I used a GoWesty hitch for a few years to carry two mtn bikes. The rack weighs something like 60 lbs and each bike was about 30. The hitch worked fine enough but I wanted a higher clearance and more elegant solution for the long term and eventually upgraded to a Burley.
You should be fine. |
Not familiar with the Burley, was that a hitch or bike rack? |
A different type of 2” receiver hitch. Gains clearance and is WAY more stout than GoWesty’s hitch.
The price appears to have increased since I bought mine,
https://burleymotorsports.net/product/heavy-duty-high-clearance-trailer-hitch-for-fiberglass-bumper/ |
Might be overkill, since I just need to attach a gravel bike that weighs 30lbs. |
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dart330
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2004
Posts: 473
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty Trailer Hitch for 1984 Vanagon |
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The Van Cafe hitch is not much more than the Go Westy hitch with shipping and is a lot more stout. The higher clearance is nice, but you do have to cut a hole in your bumper.
https://vancafe.com/hidden-hitch/
I had the Go Westy hitch before the Van Cafe hitch and it would scrape more often than you would expect.
_________________
Driving a 90 Carat since 2014
Previous Buses: 59 Westy, 60 Westy, 74 Bus, 82 Westy, 85 Westy, 87 Syncro
Checkout my Syncro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JSWhLS7jLY |
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Andymon
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 409
Location: Medford, OR
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 4:55 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty Trailer Hitch for 1984 Vanagon |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
I use one for my bike rack - seems plenty solid even with a heavyish e bike.
I also use a carrier with it. The carrier had an extension which I omitted to get the load closer to the rear of the van. This is just for light but bulky gear.
For some reason I don't have any pics of the rack and bikes. |
I have the same hitch. The one I have also bolts to the engine mount and adds addition support. Some I've seen only bolt to the two tow hooks. I had a basket for a while but ended up never using it. I bought a bike rack from Harbor Freight that seems to work just fine for my e-bike.
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"Blanch" '85 Westy
"Too many freaks and not enough circuses". |
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