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pinetreeporsche Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009 Posts: 752 Location: Falls Church, VA
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 7:27 pm Post subject: I have a trailer ball/hitch, but want to push-start sometime |
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The ball also means I can't do a bumper-contact when parallel parking in a tight space for fear of damaging the car behind. Anyone have a 'solution' to this? If so, PLEASE POST PHOTOS.
Here are my thoughts: The ball protrudes about 4 inches; I'd like to 'pad' out much of the length of the bumper with wood, after taking off the rubber strip. Like take good quality 1/2 or 5/8 inch hardwood slats, about four inches wide, and laminate them about 4 inches thick--screwed and glued together to maintain the bumper's curvature even without being in contact with the bumper itself. The inner side would have relief holes where the current bumper mount bolts are. The whole uber-bumper would be attached through new holes-- maybe six in all, through new 3/8 holes, using large diameter washers under these new mounting bolt-- these slightly recessed and using round-head bolts. If built out just farther than the ball hitch, it should allow parking without damaging the car behind, and you could again get a rolling jump-start (although some newer cars shouldn't be used to push anything). Making up the laminate sandwich would be a bit of a hassle; I'd be eager to hear a simpler solution. |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7758 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: I have a trailer ball/hitch, but want to push-start some |
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pinetreeporsche wrote: |
I'd be eager to hear a simpler solution... |
You could spend the same money and less time just putting in a new starter...??? _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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yup... fix that starter and no bump start...
or get a Burley style trailer hitch... it's mounted flush with the bumper.. |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16512 Location: Brookeville, MD
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alaskadan Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013 Posts: 1858 Location: anchor pt. alaska
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:31 am Post subject: |
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Whats with this parking by feel? I be a little miffed if i saw someone doing that to my rig. |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15148 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:36 am Post subject: |
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it's the taught norm for east coast drivers.. streets are tight and bumpers are to bump right?
I don't understand it either but I work on a college campus with alot of CT,MA,NJ,LI,NYC students just got their new carrs last year.. many can't see over the hoods and less know where their corners are. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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alaskadan Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013 Posts: 1858 Location: anchor pt. alaska
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:19 am Post subject: |
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I can only imagine all the car alarms |
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alaskadan Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013 Posts: 1858 Location: anchor pt. alaska
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:26 am Post subject: |
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Ok in an effort to save your neighbors bumpers..... you might try going to a marine supply store and look at dock bumpers. They have ones that mount to the sides of a dock in your boat slip. A few colors available, bolts on through tabs on ends, sure ive seen them 3 to 4 inches tall\thick you could mount one either side of your hitch. Less work and would actually offer some cushion vs laminated hardwood. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22681 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:41 am Post subject: |
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alaskadan wrote: |
I can only imagine all the car alarms |
It's upstate NY. We don't have car alarms.
😄 _________________ .ssS! |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15148 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:59 am Post subject: |
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hmm now where have I seen dock bumpers on a vanagon before?
_________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:03 am Post subject: |
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Just about everyone that lives in metro Boston has no idea how to parallel park a car. Of course they can still get a driver's license at Sears.
Where I learned how to drive it was part of th edriver's test.
Everyone down there has these....
http://www.bumperbully.com/ |
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BlueGrasser Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2014 Posts: 562 Location: Sacramento
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:13 am Post subject: |
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alaskadan wrote: |
Whats with this parking by feel? I be a little miffed if i saw someone doing that to my rig. |
x2! _________________ Going to where the grass is bluer...
1985 Vanagon Westfalia Camper with 1.8T |
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quickjetta2 Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2005 Posts: 20
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:35 am Post subject: |
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You should mount a receiver hitch on the van and keep your hitch/ with ball under the back seat of the van unless your towing. Having a permanent ball on the back of your van is the European way of doing it. I believe its not legal to have the receiver with ball in your hitch unless your actually towing, even though people do it all the time. Also you should never bump start a Vanagon, it puts too much strain on the trans case and can break the nose, this mainly applies to Syncros but Im sure it could happen on a 2wd too. Hope this helps!
Cheers |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32659 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6247 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:42 am Post subject: |
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It's questions like that that keep the internet interesting...
_________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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pinetreeporsche Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009 Posts: 752 Location: Falls Church, VA
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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Despite the critiques, two items require comment: 1) I've had 7 vans since a Splitty over 40 years ago-- that one a 40-horse I drove from Boston to Guatemala and back, in June-July yet! Once in a while it's useful to be able to get a push-- a broken wire, dead battery (northern winter), etc. And I give them to others too, as often as I've gotten them, most recently in early October. 2) And about the parking: in vans w/o a ball, or with my other cars, I often enough get into spaces less than a foot longer than my car. Can't do that without touching the bumpers fore or aft; it's a useful skill in a big city. And I haven't set off anyone's alarms, so far.
But thanks to those who had the useful suggestions-- I'll consult my Vanagon supplier(s), maybe change the hitch. -pinetree |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32659 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Unbelievable.
I think that parking your vehicle by touch is risky business regardless of how 'skilled' you are. I think quite a few individuals that you might park next to, find it exactly as acceptable as parking their fist next to your face... by touch. At some point, if you continue such abominably crude, rude and disrespectful behavior, I have no doubt that you will eventually meet one of those people. Good luck when that happens... Instead of modifying your van, I'd recommend putting your efforts into modifying your behavior. |
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raoul mitgong Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009 Posts: 1338 Location: Denver, CO
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
The ball also means I can't do a bumper-contact when parallel parking in a tight space |
Get some of those big foam back rollers, duct tape them onto your bumpers, and while you're at it, get a t-shirt and some bumper stickers that say "I'm a dick" on them to save us some time.
I am laughing so f'in hard at this thread... thank you, that wa s so good, so good. Pretzels every where. So good.
-d _________________ 84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim)) |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6247 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 9:31 am Post subject: |
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My laugh came at the fact there seems to be a regular need to push start the van. So much so that a custom wood laminated bumper is in the works. As suggested, seems a backwards fix for a relitively easy problem. The hidden receiver hitch looks like the best soluition really. _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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