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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7468 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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Hopebo wrote: |
I am new here and would appreciate some help with this topic. I have a 86 Vanagon and am thinking of adding a cargo deck either to the front or rear mount.
Not thinking of adding a lot of weight to the carrier, maybe cooler, chairs, etc. Just to make more room for my dogs while travelling.
Thought that the rear is already heavy.
ANY advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Hope |
‘86 Vanagon. Is it a tin top or pop-top of some sort?
It sounds like you want to get some gear outside the van? If that’s the case, you can put it on the roof, in front, in back or leave it at home.
Do you have a receiver hitch in the front or rear?
Do you have any roof-top racks?
An ‘86 Vanagon isn’t set-up to carry any gear outside of the van unless it’s a Westy which has the luggage rack in front of the pop-top. Do you have a photo of your bus?
I might start with a roof rack since they can carry more than hitch mounted racks and can easily be sold to non-vanagon owners. A front or rear rack requires a $400 receiver as a starting point unless you can weld or bolt something together. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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mtnride1 Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2011 Posts: 194 Location: la quinta, CA
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 9:09 pm Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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This is my front receiver
_________________ 87 westy 2wd (NED) |
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Hopebo Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2015 Posts: 3 Location: Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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I am new here and would appreciate some help with this topic. I have a 86 Vanagon and am thinking of adding a cargo deck either to the front or rear mount.
Not thinking of adding a lot of weight to the carrier, maybe cooler, chairs, etc. Just to make more room for my dogs while travelling.
Thought that the rear is already heavy.
ANY advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Hope |
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avernon82 Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2015 Posts: 292 Location: Richmond,CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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I read your thread, I think mounting something above the bumper (a la gowesty)is more appealing to me, and no loss of ground clearance. I've had a couple of moments when that underneath the bumper hitch would have dug itself into the ground.
Also seems like less work to just weld/bolt a hitch receiver to the top of the bumper.
I'll try to remember to take pictures... |
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jberger Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2003 Posts: 2476
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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I made one for mine... carry bikes and other items.. No ill effects to engine temp when carrying small motos.. currently a KTM 65 which does a good job at covering the entire grill.. Note: pic is of a smaller bike.
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DwarfVader Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2015 Posts: 646 Location: Missoula, MT
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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I really like the idea a lot... glad to hear that putting a mini-bike on a front hitch didn't interfere with your cooling system. (though that is assuming you HAD a cooling system.) _________________ - oderint dum metuant -
I'll find my van someday, or it will find me. |
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Californio Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2007 Posts: 1306
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:53 am Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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I did this to mine a few years ago, using the GW mount and bolting it though the frame member. It carries a CT70 fine--I had one on there over 10K miles in all sorts of terrain including 100's of miles of washboard. There is some welding you need to do to make it work. If you're in Richmond I could show you mine, I'm in Oakland, pm me if you want. |
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avernon82 Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2015 Posts: 292 Location: Richmond,CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 10:35 am Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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thread revival, what about something like this? I think I would rather weld it to the bumper and notch out the bumper cover. I have stock metal bumpers. I think it would only need to be notched at the 2" receiver. Any chance bolts alone would be strong enough? I would use it for a bike rack/cargo carrier. Maybe a ct70 eventually?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5000-lb-Step-Bumper-Mount-...3641.l6368 |
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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GWTWTLW wrote: |
1621 wrote: |
Would it be safer to retain the stock bumper over something like the Go Westy bumper, or the C-channel bumper pictured above? |
Dude, you'll never be able to sell them to your wife as a "safety issue" if you keep this up! |
Ahh... but she doesn't read the Samba.
Here are those photos:
And the front bumper mounts:
_________________ '85 Westy |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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1621 wrote: |
Would it be safer to retain the stock bumper over something like the Go Westy bumper, or the C-channel bumper pictured above? |
Dude, you'll never be able to sell them to your wife as a "safety issue" if you keep this up! _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6246 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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I think the point may be valid on newer cars that are designed with crumple zones to absorb impact, but the reading I've done specifically on the vanagon indicates the front of the van is comprised of a ridgid frame the is designed to transfer the load. I know there are some good links to this information somewhere. |
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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Now I've been thinking about vehicle impact physics all day, and have done some poking around on the Internet on the subject. One of the reasons why I balked at this type of bumper is due to how strong it is. I've heard rumblings about how it could be potentially more dangerous. The bumper itself was over built, and perhaps to the detriment of the occupants in a collision. I pulled the following bit from this website: http://www.carpeylaw.com/Library/LowSpeedImpact/tabid/85/Default.aspx
The quality of bumper design systems in cars these days has a direct effect of the severity of the occupants in rear and front end accidents. A high quality bumper system is designed to absorb the force of the impact by “compressing.” A low quality bumper system fails this test and the forces of the impact are passed through the vehicle to the occupants. Many cars on the road today have the lesser quality bumper.
It would seem as though the overbuilt bumper would indeed perform poorly as it would lessen the amount of time until impact, thus increasing the amount of stopping force on the passengers. While it may minimize visible damage to the vehicle itself, the damage to the occupants could be significantly worse.
I found some other readings on the topic as well, but the above quote seemed succinct enough to copy and paste. For those physics buffs, does this seem accurate?
Would it be safer to retain the stock bumper over something like the Go Westy bumper, or the C-channel bumper pictured above? _________________ '85 Westy |
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Steelhead Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007 Posts: 1791 Location: Kentfield, CA
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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GWTWTLW wrote: |
I'd be curious to know how the tire on front affects engine cooling... |
and aerodynamics.... _________________ '77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:58 am Post subject: |
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markmc90 wrote: |
1621 who's is that. Was it made hear in Portland. It looks good. |
The guy who builds these is in central California. He builds them of C-channel, and they incorporate a really heavy duty mounting system that ties into the "frame" rails up front. I've got pictures on my home computer that I could load up later of the mounting system, and the matching rear bumper.
As for the front mounted tire, it's been there for a while so I'm assuming the guy hasn't had any issues. _________________ '85 Westy |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:59 am Post subject: |
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I'd be curious to know how the tire on front affects engine cooling... _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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markmc90 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2007 Posts: 295 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:24 am Post subject: |
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1621 who's is that. Was it made hear in Portland. It looks good. _________________ 87 Syncro |
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koolmoe Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2008 Posts: 382 Location: Annapolis, MD
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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I want to replace my rear bumper (cracked) with one with a hitch.
No rush, especially since custom bumpers aren't cheap (what is on these vans!). GoWesty has the most affordable, but I really like the tube bumpers... Aircooled has the one I like best so just slowly saving $$.
But I like the one you show 1621. Who made that? Have a matching rear bumper? General price?
KM _________________ --
Current: 1990 Westy GL (Savannah. Good to be back!)
from '95 til 2008: 1995 Pathfinder (frame rusted out, charitable parts donation)
from '91-'95: 1982 Westy Diesel (Smokey. Traded in for far too little!)
from '87-'91: 1980 VW Rabbit (my econoPorsche - passed on) |
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: 2" hitch receiver in front bumper |
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mathieux46 wrote: |
Hello,
I would like to weld a 2" hitch receiver in my front bumper. I want to use it for a bike rack and a winch.
Does anybody have done this and have pictures?
Thanks
Mat |
Not my van, but I've talked with the guy who builds these bumpers. Made from C-channel, and extremely stout. Puts in receiver hitches front and rear if you like.
_________________ '85 Westy |
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theoutlaw Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2008 Posts: 75
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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I know that GW sells a front hitch receiver for around $80. I think that it's made to mount on their own bumpers, though, but it might work. Try calling them. |
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