[Vwdiesel] Think I can tow my boat with my golf? revisit

[pmdolan at sasktel.net]

The material used for hitches is called "flash removed" square tubing, 
and is NOT 0.25 wall (you would have no room left to get the drawbar 
into the receiver).  I forget the actual size, but it is closer to 
0.200 wall. 

HOWEVER - using something that big on the back of a VW car is 
ridiculous.  I know it sounds like a PITA, but you are much better off 
CAREFULLY custom building something that picks up the hard points.  I 
use 1.5" square tubing as a torque tube, bent to match the curve of the 
back of the MkIV and with several tabs to pick up the body seam and a 
bolt on tongue to mount the ball to get around the massive pieces of 
tubing that stick out of the back of the car a half foot extra (big 
deal for weight distribution and stability). 

Pat

On Mon, 14 May 2012 19:28:24 -0700, Roger Brown <r.c.brown at ieee.org> wrote:
For a 2" receiver, you need to get 2-1/2" square 1/4" wall seamless 
tubing.  That will
> have an ID that a 2" square tube will fit inside.  A hitch place 
> should have it or a steel supplier may have it or can special order 
> it.  It is a bit on the expensive side since it the square tube 
> version of DOM (Drawn Over Mandrel) round tube. 
>
> I use that tubing when I build receivers into the rear bumpers I have made:
>  http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/Images/RearBumper13.jpg
>
> You can reinforce the end with a ring of 3"/0.25 wall square tubing. 
>
>
> On 5/14/2012 3:33 PM, Dave Cook wrote:
> > Sorry for all the questions, but I have another or two. 
> >
> > First, any reason I couldn't buy 2x2x1/4 square tubing along with 
> my angle iron, and a receiver for the ball mount, and weld it 
> together?  (Instead of finding some kind of hidden hitch thing that 
> is the right length.)
> >
> > Second, assuming I decide to not totally build it and buy a premade 
> hitch to weld to the angle iron, I have been thinking about getting 
> one from a salvage yard.  Figure it would be cheaper than getting a 
> brand new something I am going to hack up.  I found one on an older 
> Patfinder that has one wide enough to work on the Golf, but the size 
> for the ballmount is 1 1/4 instead of 2 inch.  The sticker said it 
> was rated for 350/3500 however, which is more than the crazy limit 
> for towing with the Golf, I'd say.  Any reason not to get that one 
> for $50?
> >
> >
> > I did find one on craigslist pulled off a Blazer that looks like it 
> could be wide enough, that is a 2 inch hitch.  We'll see when he 
> measures it.  If it is wide enough I'll go for that. 
> >
> >
> > Dave Cook
>
>
>
> --    Roger
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