Hey Jim,

I took my 81 to the local welding shop. They extended the bumper brackets
about 3 inches, bolted a big square tube between them that had a 2" receiver
welded in, then bolted the bumper back onto the brackets, less the black
molding. (the bumper was too close to the square tube and the little clips
to hold the molding wouldn't go in far enough. I haven't shimmed it because
the bumper is black anyway and it looks fine to me). They cut a 2 inch hole
in the back of the bumper for access to the receiver. The main thing I see
when looking at the van is the plastic bumper end covers got moved back
about 3 inches also, so the old hole where they bolted to the body still
shows. If you can't visualize this, I could email some pictures in the next
couple of days. Going to do the same thing with my TDI mechanical transplant
in to my 1982 if I can get it running in the next month or 5 years!

Myron Lind
81 Westy

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Jon Sykes
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 2:35 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Type 2 hitch

Boy, I seem to be asking a lot of questions today!

I was wondering about getting a hitch installed on my 82 vanagon so that I
could pull a trailer or use one of those moto-tote type motorcycle carriers
(bike weighs about 350 lbs).  I would like one of those square type hitches
(type 2??) and was wondering if anyone had any experience mounting one of
these to their vanagon.  I was just going to go down to the local tow hitch
place, but thought I'd run it by the list first to see what the group wisdom
says.

One thing I do know, extra weight doesn't seem to slow the diesel vanagon
much, if any.  I had a dozen 2x4s and half a dozen sheets of 3/8 plywood in
mine on saturday and was just as fast (slow!) as normal.  It actually seemed
to handle better with the extra weight.

This is such an awesome vehicle.  I just wish it was 1982 again and I could
enjoy it for the 20 years I've missed.

Thanks.

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