Ball hitches could work.
Hadn't considered that. 
They're not 'bearings' in the sense that a real ball bearing or something
would be, but they are designed for some up-down pivoting, so they could
work, and that's how you could uncouple it too - good thinking !

Those big side tents, I think they'd be best for serious long term camping,
like weeks at a time, and not night-to-night normal car camping.  
 Quick deployment and take-down are one of the westy's strong suites.
And they don't have much storage space in them at all I don't think.
'socks in the drawer' type storage is what I call it.
I'm kinda gear and equipment intensive, so 'room for stuff' is important. 
If I saw a good deal on a used pivoting single wheel, I'm sure I'd grab it. 
Shoot, such a system has the potential to be simple, rugged, basic, very
useful, unobtrusive, light, etc.   - all the things you'd want in a good
design. Now I want to make one !  

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike [mailto:mbucchino@charter.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 12:37 PM
To: Scott Daniel - Shazam; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Re: nifty looking little trailer

  Many people buy one of those big Westfalia 2-room side tents, only to find

that when it's stored inside, it ends up taking up so much valuable space, 
that they end up selling it.
  This type of set-up would be great for that, too.  The tow loop hook-up 
sounds like a great idea.  Maybe two 1 7/8" tow ball hitches?

Mike B.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Daniel - Shazam" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 3:17 PM
Subject: Re: nifty looking little trailer

Re digitizing a pic,
The lowest tech crudest way that works somewhat - just take a picture of the
picture with your digital camera.
There's even a 'copy' mode in some of them.

I've always wanted to do the single wheel trailer thing - huge gain in
storage volume with very, very little penalty.  Wouldn't be hard to fab the
bumper part at all, mainly need to large bearings, I could use regular
'captured ball' rear axle ball bearings even.
  The single 'self-castoring' wheel, that's best bought I think.  And keep
it pretty small/light, 500 lbs capacity max, for example.  Even 300 lbs of
heavy duty camping gear is a lot.
Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jake de Villiers
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:10 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: nifty looking little trailer

I've seen those little cuties on Type 3 at the Coquitlam Bug-In, some sold
by Sears!  I'm sure you could attach them to the tow loops on a Vanagon with
chrome bumpers but they're very small and mucho spendy.

I have pix, but not digitized.........

On Wed, Apr 2, 2008 at 11:01 AM, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote:

> In order to use a one wheel trailer on a vanagon, one would have to
> construct a faux bumper to attach it to.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
> Old Volks Home wrote:
>
> > Saw a few of those attached to "Splittie" Buses at the recent Bugs &
> > Buses
> > Invade The Village Show in Bakersfield, CA this past weekend.  Generally
> > a
> > "vintage" item for the earlier crowd and can't pack as much as I would
> > like
> > as I do in my 4x6 "Baby" enclosed wooden/steel frame trailer I haul
> > behind
> > my Westy.  Not sure if the crappy thin bumpers of a Vanagon could handle
> > the
> > weight and strain.  Splittie and Bay Window Bumpers are a bit beefier
> > for
> > this type of trailer.  One was for sale, but ya better have a very DEEP
> > wallet.  No longer being made AFAIK.
> > --
> > Jim Thompson
> > 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
> > 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
> > 73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
> > 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
> > oldvolkshome@gmail.com
> > http://www.oldvolkshome.com
> > ***********************************
> > On Wed, Apr 2, 2008 at 9:50 AM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >   RE: Trailers
> > > I'd rather go with a small trailer that attaches to the Vanagon at TWO
> > > points and uses a single, swiveling wheel.  I've seen a couple
> > > attached to
> > > Vanagons and Buses, no backing issue, no tracking issues.  I don't
> > > know of
> > > a
> > > source though.
> > >
> >
> >

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27

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