> In an interesting twist - the new receiver hitch i bought and mounted
> directly
> on the body bumper mounts is made of very substantial steel -
> which will inadvertently transfer MORE of an impact to the the thinner
steel

What if... you made bumpers from 2'' exhaust tubing and filled it with
expanding foam after welding.  Well, OK, forget the foam unless it  cuts
down resonance, but the 2'' tubing is tough enough to 'bump' and soft
enought to crumple when hit harder.  Compromise? Hmmm?

Chris S.
'85 Westy
www.knology.net/~vw/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers