I can testify that having a strong bumper *IS* a good idea.
When I was rear-ended last fall, the (Dennis Haynes) class 3 hitch
took the brunt and I had NO damage to the engine compartment.  The frame and
bumper mount points (where the hitch is now attached) came through
without damage.  The hitch was a throwaway as was the tin foil bumper.

I have no doubt that the engine-compartment, engine and possibly the
rear hatch would have been damaged if I had nothing but the stock
bumper.

- Frank

 >    This may not be such a good Idea. Having a real strong
 >bumper on any car means, in a real crash something has to give.
 >That means the mouning part of the body, or frame, gives first.
 >I would rather replace my bumper 5 times, rather than have the
 >frame straightened 5 times.
 >    If anyone remembers the old model "A" fords. You could crash
 >right into  a pole at say 15 MPH's and the front bumper was like
 >a spring, in that it would bounce you right off the pole, with no
 >damage. This is what we need. I think VW made the bumpers soft
 >to take the damage, in order to protect the rest of the vehicle.
 >After the last prerson that hit my van....to works. The problem
 >is the cost of the bumper is not as inexpensive as we would like.
 >After careful consideration, my Vanagon is staying stock.
 >
 >            Eric                   86-VW4x4
 >            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
 >            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
 >
 >
 >On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, Bulley wrote:
 >
 >> Vanagon friends,
 >>
 >> That brings to mind an idea I've been batting around for some time.
 >>
 >> I was chatting with an engineer at a local metal fabrication shop here in
 >> Raleigh and mentioned the pitiful state that most Vanagon bumpers are in.
 >> After a bit of discussion, head scratching, chin rubbing, etc.  we both
 >> came up with the idea of a metal bumper that looks exactly like the Vanagon
 >> bumper, but is made of metal roughly twice as thick. Chrome plated, of
 >> course.
 >>
 >> He was purely guessing, but we came up with their cost of around a hundred
 >> dollars per piece, if they were to make and plate a 'large batch' of them,
 >> like a hundred or more.
 >>
 >> As you although, I have no interest in being in the Volkswagen parts
 >> business.  I am curious however, how many folks would be interested in
 >> purchasing new front or rear bumpers made out of much thicker metal for
 >> around a hundred and fifty dollars apiece plus shipping.
 >>
 >> P-mail this address, and let me know what you think:
 >> vanagonbumperidea@bulley-hewlett.com
 >>
 >> Better still, if one of the vendors would be interested in all of the
 >> details of the Company, and would like to pursue this as their own venture,
 >> give me a call.  Have at it.
 >>
 >> G. Matthew Bulley
 >> Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
 >> www.bulley-hewlett.com
 >> Cary, NC USA
 >> 888.468.4880 tollfree
 >>
 >>
 >> -----Original Message-----
 >> From:   Gary Basey [SMTP:gbasey@LINK2000.NET]
 >> Sent:   Tuesday, April 27, 1999 3:43 AM
 >> To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
 >> Subject:        Vanagon Rear Bumper Needed
 >>
 >>  << File: ATT00001.html >> I've had one of those days.  Someone backed into
 >> my '80 vanagon in a parking lot and drove off.  No idea who it was.  It
 >> bothers me that some people can't take responsibility for their actions.
 >>  Anyway, now I am in need of a rear bumper.
 >>
 >> Does anyone have one for sale?
 >>
 >> The local yards just laughed when I called them.
 >>
 >> Also, I need a rear hinge for the sliding door.  The one in the center rear
 >> that allows the door to "kick out" to prevent it from rubbing on the van.
 >>  Mine broke (not related to hit and run) and allows the door to rub along
 >> the side of the van when I open it.  It's scratching up the paint and
 >> ruining the interior panel of the door.
 >>
 >> E-mail me if you can help.
 >>
 >> Thanks
 >>
 >> Gary
 >> gbasey@link2000.net
 >>
 >> '80 westy (with a rearranged bumper)
 >>
 >

\\\\////\\\\////\\\\\////\\\\\////\\\\////\\\\////\\\\////\\\\////\\\\////\\\\
Frank Terhaar-Yonkers
Cisco Systems, Inc.
TISU/NSITE
7025 Kit Creek Road  PO Box 14987
Research Triangle Park,  North Carolina  27709
fty@cisco.com   voice(919)472-2101 fx(919)472-5600