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Added a tow hitch this weekend
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t'sunamibus
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PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2015 3:55 pm    Post subject: Added a tow hitch this weekend Reply with quote

I don't like using my Westy as a truck so I decided to add a hitch and get a small trailer.
I went with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-37042-Multi-F...eese+hitch

I mocked it up using my original bumper brackets which will be replaced by either thick steel plate, tube etc.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Then cut my bumper to clear the hitch
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Its a bit overkill for the bus and my needs. I got a quote a few weekends ago to rent a u haul to haul some stuff to the dump and it was about the cost of this hitch. Now to buy a lightweight trailer.
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Phishman068
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PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2015 7:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awesome! Did you just weld that to the stock bumper brackets? It was a perfect fit out of the box?
Great find!
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t'sunamibus
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2015 3:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Phishman068 wrote:
Awesome! Did you just weld that to the stock bumper brackets? It was a perfect fit out of the box?
Great find!


Its just bolted up to the original brackets for now. I had to do some cutting to make it fit behind the bumper.Now that it fits I can use the modified brackets as a template for something stronger, then ill weld it all up.
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benandmj
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2015 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bookmarking this. I don't plan to tow anything but this looks perfect for my bike rack!
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2015 11:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would be cautious to how loaded and leveraged a bike rack would be in regards to twisting the hitch frame or stresses on the bolts. maybe bump them to grade8s
a bike rack with 2-4 bikes leveraged far out can put tremendous twist forces into the hitch add in a bumping/rocky/washboard road and you could get a sudden clear rearview of someones bikes skidding across the road.

but looks good for basic and general hitch use.
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2015 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Funny, I've acquired this hitch from an old Toyota Pickup. The mounting ears rusted away and it fell off this winter in a snow bank, only found it as the snow melted.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Anyway, I was going to mount it in a manner similar to the hitch sold by GoWesty onto the tie down loops and a steel plate to the engine hanger.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


But after seeing this post the thought of a direct mount to the bumper brackets has a huge appeal. It is Up higher, I think its quite strong, especially if welded to the brackets, without the support bar.

Definitely worth considering. I understand the cantilevered weight issue for bikes or a hitch basket.
I would use it for a basket so need to consider if any additional support would be required.
If not a bar to the engine hanger, maybe a strap up?
Anyway...... Watching with interest.

I've been watching this thread as inspiration.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=224315&highlight=hitch

Dave
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geo_tonz
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2015 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm a little gunshy on the hitches that attach to the Moustache bar. Wouldn't take much impact (back into a cement curb too fast) to bend the bar and possibly mess up your motor/tranny alignment. I say this looking at the bow in my GW-style square-tube hitch from some activities of the PO.

I also have one that was a tube welded between the bumper mounts with a bar that went down to the moustashe bar. it was heavy duty but still made me nervous.
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j_dirge
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2015 3:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

djkeev wrote:
Funny, I've acquired this hitch from an old Toyota Pickup. The mounting ears rusted away and it fell off this winter in a snow bank, only found it as the snow melted.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.






YIKES! My gosh.. Was that Toyota parked in a tidal marsh!?

Not to be a Debbie Downer.. but seeing THAT much rust literally melt away the plate steel that acted as a hanger, makes me wonder what lurks inside that cross member tube... or at the welds that hold the receiver in place.
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those are straight line runs with light weight race cars for only 1/4mile at a time..
not pushing a loaded brick up a mountain pass with a family of 4+ inside expecting to have an event free vacation..
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madspaniard
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2015 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

geo_tonz wrote:
I'm a little gunshy on the hitches that attach to the Moustache bar. Wouldn't take much impact (back into a cement curb too fast) to bend the bar and possibly mess up your motor/tranny alignment. I say this looking at the bow in my GW-style square-tube hitch from some activities of the PO.


This is why I went from the GoWesty hitch system to the Burley one that has 3 bolt attachments per side to the subframe.
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2015 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

j_dirge wrote:
djkeev wrote:
Funny, I've acquired this hitch from an old Toyota Pickup. The mounting ears rusted away and it fell off this winter in a snow bank, only found it as the snow melted.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.






YIKES! My gosh.. Was that Toyota parked in a tidal marsh!?

Not to be a Debbie Downer.. but seeing THAT much rust literally melt away the plate steel that acted as a hanger, makes me wonder what lurks inside that cross member tube... or at the welds that hold the receiver in place.


Welcome to East Coast! That was Only 5/16” steel plate. The use of aggressive Deicers throughout long hard winters......... Add Summer rain......
It seeps into seams and does it's evil work all year long. Just add moisture!

The hitch itself has only surface rust, no concerns about using it.

Dave
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t'sunamibus
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 4:12 pm    Post subject: added a lightweight trailer Reply with quote

I went with a 4 x 8 Harbor Freight trailer. Capacity iirc is 1680 lbs. Between sale price and an online 25% off coupon I picked it up along with lumber and stake pockets pretty reasonably. Im about $600.00 for everything including the hitch. Considering what sits at home rusts pretty quickly and my anticipated usage I did pretty well. If I was a trailer enthusiast I would have to have the Burly hitch set up and a better trailer, but this suits my needs.

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Kombi///M3
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good find. A guy by my area selling this one.. Original westfalia hitch.
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Wolfram
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did you buy the Westfalia hitch?
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IdahoDoug
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 5:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The bummer with the west hitch is that you can't use it for anything but a trailer. I use a tray, a bike rack, and have trailers, plus use the receiver for a recovery point. I've always wondered at the European system (which the pictured one is) which is incredibly limited. Can't even use a different size ball. I have a hitch half built that will give me a 2" receiver for a variety of general uses that suits my needs. I also like the added crash protection of more steel back there that any hitch provides.
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Kombi///M3
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wolfram wrote:
Did you buy the Westfalia hitch?


Not yet.. I
went looked at it.. It's hefty, like Doug was saying
Only good for towing (2000 lbs cap), I have the 2" receiver from gowesty hitch
On my van and have bike rack, basket for it.
Looking one for my syncro.
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ragnarhairybreeks
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My aluminum bumper, 2" receiver is part of a steel substructure that goes into the stock bumper mounts, extended for three bolts like you find in other set ups. Hitch is high, which I like. Vertical high pin, recovery points and high have been painted since pic taken.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Alistair
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bosco53
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:14 pm    Post subject: Re: added a tow hitch this weekend Reply with quote

I see it was mentioned but have you had any experience with the leverage a bike rack would put on that mounting setup? Fantastic idea and I want to do it but curious about the leverage holding up on a 3 bike rack setup? Thanks!!
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 4:57 am    Post subject: Re: added a tow hitch this weekend Reply with quote

If the leverage that a cantilevered load places on the hitch concerns you, it isn't hard to run a support iron down to the engine carrier from the Receiver tube end.

Straps running from the load up to the rear lid roof junction will do give tremendous support too.

Dave
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morymob
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:26 am    Post subject: Re: added a tow hitch this weekend Reply with quote

After a tree ran out in the way while backing up i had heavy sq tube welded to orig brackets,added bar 4 ball & eyelets 4 safety chain, towed several bugs,ditchwitch,stump grinder etc. Looking at the collection of different colors of paint left glad i left it on to protect corners of the van. Not pretty but gets ' r done.
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 10:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kombi///M3 wrote:
Good find. A guy by my area selling this one.. Original westfalia hitch.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I modified one of these into a receiver hitch. Just bought a 2" receiver tube from Harbor Freight, ground out the dong and made a pocket for the reciever to set. Welded the receiver in place. Results are very similar to the hidden hitch from RMW or Burley.
-d
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