>  it looks like I may not be able to do the trailer anyway, as I am
> unable to find a hitch beyond the one that uses the eyelets and I tend to
> agree with others who say this is not a very reliable method

I normally carry a super-heavy-duty hitch that does not use the eyelets,
although it is backordered 'til late spring.  A full description is in the
archives, but in a nutshell:  This is a genuine VW/South Africa hitch
specifically for the Vanagon.  You remove your bumper brackets and this
hitch pushes deep into the holes in the frame rails where the brackets used
to go - except that it goes about 4x deeper into the frame as the brackets
did, so it essentially becomes part of the frame.  The bumper than bolts to
it, hiding it from view (except for the hitch point).  It comes with a
removable 2" ball; other sizes are not easily adapted because the
ball-to-hitch mounting configuration is of the European style and
incompatable with U.S. hitch balls. However, some customers have welded
receiver hitches onto it, because it has a large plate that is condusive to
this modification.  This hitch is incredibly heavy duty; I think it would be
safe to say that it could handle more than a Vanagon could tow.  Price is
$172.  It may be worth waiting for if you want something more substantial
than the light-duty ones sold here in the U.S.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW