Author |
Message |
///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
|
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:51 am Post subject: Reproduction Westfalia hitch installed! |
|
|
Thanks to Thom Fitzpatrick of Vintagebus.com, I got an early birthday present – one of his reproduction Westy hitches! I was going to buy one anyway, but this was even better.
First off, my Singlecab had some issues with bending of the transmission carrier – it looked as if at some point in its life someone had chained up to that area and dragged something or the bus had been forcibly dragged backwards by the carrier. Thankfully, some heat and a bigass pair of Channellocks took care of the bending.
After that, the install was fairly straight forward – mount up the bumper bracket side mounts, hang the hitch, install the U-bolts over the torsion tube, tighten everything up a bit, drill 4 holes for the carrier mounting points, tighten more, finally drill two holes for the bumper mount and cinch everything up tight. Took about an hour after fixing the bent carrier.
The hitch is built like a brick sh#thouse – I’m sure it’s capable of towing more than the bus could handle. And comparing the repro hitch to Thom’s original, I’m sure it’s stronger since the hitch ball section is solid instead of hollow and the main runners are made of box tubing rather than C-channel.
All in all, it’s a nice piece. I’d been looking for a long time for an original one, but they never seemed to come up for sale. This is the next best thing (and in some ways better).
Here are a few pics of the install:
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19672 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
|
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
Looks good! Are you gonna reseal your rxd boxes while your in there? LOL _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
|
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
crofty wrote: |
Looks good! Are you gonna reseal your rxd boxes while your in there? LOL |
LOL...I was wondering how long it would take someone to mention that! Yes, it's on my to-do list. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19672 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
|
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
///Mink wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
Looks good! Are you gonna reseal your rxd boxes while your in there? LOL |
LOL...I was wondering how long it would take someone to mention that! Yes, it's on my to-do list. |
LOL!
It was my one year wedding anniversary on Monday so if he or anyone else wants to gift me a hitch, PM me! _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
thom Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2000 Posts: 5943 Location: Sacramento
|
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
crofty wrote: |
It was my one year wedding anniversary on Monday so if he or anyone else wants to gift me a hitch, PM me! |
Looks like you are already hitched, for better or for worse.
In a few years, when she starts to fill out, you'll need one of these to tow her around _________________ -Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type |
|
Back to top |
|
|
crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19672 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
|
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
thom wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
It was my one year wedding anniversary on Monday so if he or anyone else wants to gift me a hitch, PM me! |
Looks like you are already hitched, for better or for worse.
In a few years, when she starts to fill out, you'll need one of these to tow her around |
LOL She'll need it for me, more than likely! _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|