[T3] Tow hook/ towing hitch

[Dave Hall]

The factory approved Westfalia trailer hitch had 1/4" thick side irons that
take the place of the bumper brackets, welded to 2" diameter heavy tube with
a slight outward curve.  This has bumper mounts bolted to the ends of the
cross tube, and the bumper mounts on these.  There is a central tube with a
flange which is bolted through holes in the rear apron with a substantial
V-section backing plate some 18" long that sits behind the rear apron (well,
in front of, since 'front is front') in the angle between the underside of
the air-intake box and the rear apron.

They are substantial pieces of steel, but do have the centre fixing which
involves drilling holes in the bodywork, so don't rely solely on the bumper
mounts.  The only other design I've seen in the UK have two long curved
tubes which bolt into the bumper mounts and into the rear wheel well, as
well as having the central attachment.

I would not like to tow more than a small box trailer on one that didn't fix
centrally too, and would want to check the mounts carefully for corrosion.
On a new car, with sound metal, there is no problem with the original style
hitch.  The towing weights are small compared with what the average US car
would be rated at anyway.  

The bumper mounted towing eyes put most of the load through just one mount,
and you can tow the car with that - again, corrosion might make it
interesting!

Dave.
UK VW Type 3&4 Club
===================

-----Original Message-----
From: type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org
[mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org] On Behalf Of Jim Adney
Sent: 11 January 2012 12:56
To: type3 at vwtype3.org
Subject: Re: [T3] Tow hook/ towing hitch

On 11 Jan 2012 at 5:50, didik-vwt.3indonesia wrote:

> How about this guys? I found it in good used and already installed on 
> my fasty 67. And another picture of early notch.

> http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj574/didotdam/?action=view&curren
> t=utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwNTI0LTAwMDE4LmpwZw.jpg
>  
> http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj574/didotdam/?action=view&curren
> t=dG93IGhvb2sgMi5qcGc.jpg
>  
> http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj574/didotdam/?action=view&curren
> t=dG93IGhvb2sgMS5qcGc.jpg

Nice photos, but I want to warn people again that hitches that just attach
to the bumper put all the extra strain on the sheet metal where the bumpers
mount. That sheet metal has very little strength. I know people here have
gotten away with it, but I urge caution. If you pull those mounts loose, the
result would be tragic, and it would occur without warning.

The hitch in these photos has arms that reach in to the bumper mounts, so
there's little or no extra stress on the bumper itself, but all the stress
is still applied to the bumper mounts.

Does this hitch REPLACE the original bumper mounts?


--
*******************************
Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
*******************************

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