At 09:26 AM 2/25/2000 , Steven Shane wrote:

>Woody, Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the BusDepot hitch is a FINE solution
>for all those who just need a TWO inch European Ball hitch (Whatever
>"European Ball" means...)

The European method is a vertical plate on the hitch to which you bolt
whatever ball etc. you want.  Easier to deal with in principle than our
non-receiver hitches b/c it uses two ordinary hex bolts instead of a
threaded stem on the ball with a gigundo nut.  But the ball itself is
undoubtedly more expensive as it has to grow at 90 degrees out of a
mounting plate, and also not available in the US.

>  But I do know that if you get a hitch with a 2"
>receiver hitch (IE. a 2 inch square that you can install anything into)

To amplify a little, the hitch ends in a square tube into which you insert
a stub of bar having the ball or other device mounted on it.  It's held in
with a bolt or hitch pin through the middle.  Easy to change balls or
whatever, sometimes they rattle when unloaded (and folks can steal them
too, so I think most people remove them btw uses and stick a cover plate on
the receiver to keep out the crud). To add this to the Bus Depot or other
European-type hitch, you have to make up a plate with a square tube
sticking out of it to bolt onto the hitch.  Some member had one made
commercially for about $70 as I recall.  But a lot of folks never need a
receiver hitch.  The possible snag is that some light trailers use a 1 3/4
inch ball -- if you need one of those then you need either another European
ball or a receiver, or change the hitch on the trailer.

>Balls, bike racks, tire mounts, you name it) You have a lot more
>versatility. And yes, you can have a 2 inch square receiver welded on to the
>BusDepot hitch, but by then it costs the same as the Dennis hitch. (see
>original post) so you may as well just do it right the first time and never
>worry.
>
>As far as the bumper needing to be cut slightly to install the VW/BusDepot
>hitch, I have no idea.

Yes, it does.  Same same.  In fact Dennis's hitch sounds very similar in
principle to the SA hitch, mounts the same way etc., replacing the original
bumper mounts.  The SA one has VW's stamp of approval, if that matters to you.

I have one of the SA hitches -- *very* robust construction, mounts with
existing holes in the tube that (used to hold) the stock bumper mounts,
then the bumper mounts to the hitch.  Has cages for captive nuts on the
mounting bars -- on mine I had to move a couple of them to get the nuts to
register properly.  Pretty easy for me to grind off the tack welds and
reweld them in proper place, but could be a problem with no welding gear --
doable, but a nuisance.  This hitch has no attachment for safety chains,
have to add one.  Again easy with welding gear, needs a bit of ingenuity
without.

david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"