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Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657
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slackin' at work
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 8:22 am    Post subject: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

so Im looking for a light weight, cheap hitch solution to eventually get a small pull behind for camping.
I have an 85 westy which is pretty tall at stock height (17") and 16" wheels.

I can't decide on Curt 11656 which is listed for 2wd vanagons and has the ball tab on the
top of the bar or the Curt 11657 which is for syncros and has the tab on the bottom of the bar.
Im assuming due to the stock height of the syncro.

I don't have a trailer yet, so Im at odds to which to get.
Im leaning towards the syncro version since Im on the tall-ish side.

anyone with more experience on hitches have any thoughts/ideas.

-chris
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 9:05 am    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

They are both rated at 1500#s. How heavy of a camper do you plan to tow? I generally use the 90% rule, that is i stay 90% of what ever manufacturer weight ratings are to be on the safe side. So, I would look for a camper under 1300#s to be safe. You also have to figure what you load in that camper, gear water etc..., you probably have already factored this Im sure.
Cant go wrong woth Curt though, they build quality stuff

Edit:
You would not need the syncro style unless your motor is hung lower like syncros are. That is the reason for the difference. You would need to stick with the one set up for 2wd, ground clearance is not factor here.
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slackin' at work
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 9:29 am    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

thanks for the reply!

I should have been more clear on what I meant by pull behind.
I mean for gear and whatnot. like a small enclosed travel trailer… and not a camper.

why would engine height have to do with the trailer hitch on a syncro?
is that really the reason it's lower?
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 1:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

slackin' at work wrote:
thanks for the reply!

I should have been more clear on what I meant by pull behind.
I mean for gear and whatnot. like a small enclosed travel trailer… and not a camper.

why would engine height have to do with the trailer hitch on a syncro?
is that really the reason it's lower?


Syncro engines sit about 2 inches lower than 2wd. They use a modified mustache bar to accomodate this, plus different muff brackets. Therefore the hitch needs to be modified to accomadate this difference since part of it mounts to the moutacha bar. Your ground clearance makes no difference on this. You would still need to use a 2wd version hitch, unless you have a syncro motor and trans installed. Hope that explains it better. I modified a 2wd hitch to work on my syncro. Not a big deal.
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 2:20 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

candyman wrote:
Syncro engines sit about 2 inches lower than 2wd. They use a modified mustache bar to accomodate this, plus different muff brackets. Therefore the hitch needs to be modified to accomadate this difference since part of it mounts to the moutacha bar.


Question

CURT ball tow hitch bars mount to the rear tow loops without any additional support, so the engine "mustache" bar has nothing to do with the difference:
https://www.curtmfg.com/masterlibrary/11657/installsheet/CM_11657_INS.PDF
https://www.curtmfg.com/masterlibrary/11656/installsheet/CM_11656_INS.PDF

If anything, the 657 is simply making up for the height difference between a 2WD and 4WD. A 2WD would want to use the 656 because the 657 would drop the hitch ball too low, I would think.

My 2WD came with a CURT bar (656 version), which I promptly sold because I replaced it with a receiver hitch, which does use a support that mounts to the "mustache" bar.
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 2:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

kamzcab86 wrote:
candyman wrote:
Syncro engines sit about 2 inches lower than 2wd. They use a modified mustache bar to accomodate this, plus different muff brackets. Therefore the hitch needs to be modified to accomadate this difference since part of it mounts to the moutacha bar.


Question

CURT ball tow hitch bars mount to the rear tow loops without any additional support, so the engine "mustache" bar has nothing to do with the difference:
https://www.curtmfg.com/masterlibrary/11657/installsheet/CM_11657_INS.PDF
https://www.curtmfg.com/masterlibrary/11656/installsheet/CM_11656_INS.PDF

If anything, the 657 is simply making up for the height difference between a 2WD and 4WD. A 2WD would want to use the 656 because the 657 would drop the hitch ball too low, I would think.

My 2WD came with a CURT bar (656 version), which I promptly sold because I replaced it with a receiver hitch, which does use a support that mounts to the "mustache" bar.


I was wrongly presuming it mounted to the moustache bar like other hitches ive used in the past. Regardless the differences in 2wd and syncro hitch mounting when using the moustache bar is still a factor but not for the OP in this case
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 4:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

Honestly, I'd spend a few more coins and get the reciever hitch, much more versatile.

Dave
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 5:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

to be honest… I don't like how you need to cut the bumper.
considering Ive got about 300 into a new triple chrome bumper and
new bump strip I'd rather not if I don't have to.

I'd rather eat the 120 on the curt if I ever outgrow it.
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 6:29 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

slackin' at work wrote:
to be honest… I don't like how you need to cut the bumper.

I'd rather eat the 120 on the curt if I ever outgrow it.


This receiver hitch (the one I and others have) mounts like the CURT: http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1093_159/under-bumper-tow-bar-hitch-with-2-receiver.html .
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slackin' at work
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 6:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

kamzcab86 wrote:
slackin' at work wrote:
to be honest… I don't like how you need to cut the bumper.

I'd rather eat the 120 on the curt if I ever outgrow it.


This receiver hitch (the one I and others have) mounts like the CURT: http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1093_159/under-bumper-tow-bar-hitch-with-2-receiver.html .


thanks. but I have a conversion… so no go for me.
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 7:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

slackin' at work wrote:
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1093_159/under-bumper-tow-bar-hitch-with-2-receiver.html
thanks. but I have a conversion… so no go for me.

I would still get this hitch.

It mounts exactly like the Curt ones, the extra bar is an optional bolt on reinforcement and does not have to be used. It is at least as strong as the Curt ones but has other advantages. You could still use it with a receiver bike rack or other accessories, just don't load it as much. (It might flex (but nothing is ever going to break). You could probably figure out a way to bend up a steel bar and attach it somewhere if you really want to reinforce it later.

Or just stick a ball into the receiver and use it like the Curt ones. I don't see any downside to it gives you more options. And it is built a little stouter too.
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PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2016 12:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

so I ended up going with the 11657… the one for the syncro.
will update once I get it on.

then picked up this little fellow today.
needs some [a lot of] love but is all there with solid frame.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2016 6:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

slackin' at work wrote:
so I ended up going with the 11657… the one for the syncro.
will update once I get it on.

then picked up this little fellow today.
needs some [a lot of] love but is all there with solid frame.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Great score on the trailer! I have driven by that dozens of times each time thinking I should stop. Usually they were closed. Post an after photo of it.
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PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2016 6:34 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

Popsvan wrote:

Great score on the trailer! I have driven by that dozens of times each time thinking I should stop. Usually they were closed. Post an after photo of it.


ha! its been there forever!

finally in the market and decided to go take a look at it.
they're never open but he was willing to come meet me.
a decent price on it too.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

Old thread, I know.
Eating my own words from years ago.

VanCafe's hitch that Kam references is a dead link now.

I ordered a $400 Burley but just received a call that I need to tack on over $100 of shipping and over size charges.

Hmmm ..... $500 + For a hitch?

I'm only towing a small utility trailer.
For now I'm going cheap and ordered the Curt 11656 that only accepts a ball.
$170 including tax delivered.

If I find this is inadequate and I want a Burley, on my next trip to Oregon I'll detour and pick one up.

Dave
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

I just stumbled upon GoWesty's hitch $250.

https://www.gowesty.com/product/made-in-usa/2582/trailer-hitch-with-2-receiver-?v=

Oh well ........ I try the Curt, see how it is.

Dave
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:24 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

You could probably take it to a local welder and have them build you a solid 2" box hitch for less than all that online stuff.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

Zeitgeist 13 wrote:
You could probably take it to a local welder and have them build you a solid 2" box hitch for less than all that online stuff.


^^This
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

Not a bad Idea, buy a 2” tube, tack it on as I want it with my rudimentary skills and then take it to be properly welded and reinforced.

Someone recently did this very thing, I'll see if I can find the thread.

Dave
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Curt hitch: 11656 or 11657 Reply with quote

I can’t say enough good about this one. It’s super stout. It’s not cheap though.

https://www.vancafe.com/RMW-HH1-p/rmw-hh1.htm
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