Old Library

Rob,
I recently put a D'alan hitch on my '95 GTIVR6.  It is designed specifically
for our cars.  It is a pain to install(requires 6 holes to be drilled), but
fits perfectly.  It fits up behind the black skirt on the bumper so all you
see is the 1.25x1.25" receiver.  BTW, the holes are into the hollow section of
the rear bumper support, so they are completely hidden.  I use it for towing
an 800 pound waverunner with no problems.  On a related note, I am trading my
car in, so I will be selling my slightly used hitch for $170, delivered.  I
still have the original instructions, bolts, etc. The cheapest place I have
seen them is at www.hitch-web.com, for $219.  I'm afraid the picture they have
is not even close, but at least you can check it out.

Jeremy L. Schuster

On Aug 7, 12:59am, Josh Tibbs wrote:
> Subject: [gti-vr6] Towing and hitches

> What I have currently is what I believe to be a "Class 1" hitch. I picked
> it up from Larry Emmons and have yet to get it installed. I know this will
> suffice for small cargo trailers, etc. I guess, though, that I will need a
> "Class 2" hitch to haul cars around, if even possible with my GTi VR6. I
> don't see why it couldn't do it, with the torquey engine and fat brakes.
> (Hey Myles, maybe you can get Larry to verify that it is a "class 1" hitch
> for me. Please?) I'm guessing that with a flat bar receiver (or whatever
> that's called) instead of the square job, it's probably a lower capacity one.
>
> Anyway, I guess my questions are: Am I on track with what I've said so far?
> What are the towing capacities of the GTi VR6? The manual says see page 180
> and page 180 says NOTHING about towing. I need the maximum trailer weight
> and maximum tongue load. Also, where can I find a class 2 hitch for the GTi
> VR6?


I don't know a WHOLE lot about hitches, but generally, the tongue and trailer
weights are a function of the hitch, not the car.  (Of course, a hitch made for
a particular car won't be rated for more than what the car has the capacity to
tow...)  Generally, Class 1 hitches allow for up to 2000 lbs trailer weight,
and 200 lbs tongue weight.  And, I don't *think* there are any Class 2 or above
hitches for our cars...

Check out www.hitch-web.com

Dave
&#97;nderson&#64;msai.mea<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>

The towing capacity for the '98's (which I seem to remember
you've got) is 2000lb. with 200lb. tongue weight max.  This
is the same as the limits of a class 1 hitch.  Class 2 goes
up to 3500/350.

The hitch you have sounds like a class 1 (certainly no higher),
or it may just be a 1000lb. bumper hitch like I had on my
4cyl. Camry.  To have a full-fledged class 1 installed (receiver
style is nice, so you can remove the ball), give Haskin's
Hitchen Post a call (on North Bend in Cincy).  They did
a great job on my dad's Ranger and the price was lower than
Uhaul or ... some other place whose name escapes me.

-Bob
 98 Black "flashy stock" edition

[...]

Oddly, my owner's manual says that both Class 1 and Class 2 hitches are
suitable for the car. (I've a 96 and the manual covers Golfs and GTi's).
I've not found a class 2 hitch, and none of the hitchvillage-dot-whatever
places have anything in a class 2. So far, nothing's real clear. :(

Josh


[...]

If anyone is interested in installing a Class I hitch on your GTI VR6 do
yourself a favor and avoid the Reese shadow mount hitch, unless you are
want to save $150 over a Da'Lan (sp?) hitch in exchange for a fair
amount of aggravation.

Absolutely nothing about the installation went according to Reese's
instruction.  Reese has a "Rube Goldberg" method of snaking a wire
through the frame to pull the bolt and backing into place.  It does not
work... in fact I ended up removing the bumper which was much easier.
Then, once the holes were drilled (and you are very limited in the
options) there was substantial interference from other sheet metal
reinforcement.  I will wager that Reese's engineers never installed this
on a GTI VR6.  Finally, you will need to modify the muffler bracket,
which is never mentioned by Reese.

While I have only seen pictures of the Da'Lan hitch it looks a lot
simpler to install, but it is $150 more at http://www.hitch-world.com/

If anyone is up to the challenge of a Reese hitch e-mail me and I can
give you more specifics.

Charlie Gjersvik (Light Surf Green, K&N, Reese Hitch, and soon to be
Garretted edition)

I just put a hitch on my car, too. Unfortunately, I don't kow what brand
it it, but I suspect that is is a Da'lan given the price that the
original owner paid for it. I just took the bumper off from
the start. The bumper is very easy to take off, and I had no problems
after that. I just positioned the hitch, marked the holes and drilled on
through. Then I could simply drop the bolts through and tighten 'em down.
My hitch was used and came without any kind of hardware, so I just used
some Grade 8 half inch bolts and some meaty washers. Only thing I had to
do with my exhaust hanger bracket was remove it during the install to make
it a little easier to work around. It all fit back together without
modification. The hitch I have, though, was modified to accomodate a
larger dual tip muffler. Don't know if that really would have made a
difference. All I have left to do is respray some undercoating around the
mount area.

Josh


 On Sun, 16 Aug 1998,
Charlie Gjersvik wrote:

> If anyone is interested in installing a Class I hitch on your GTI VR6 do
> yourself a favor and avoid the Reese shadow mount hitch, unless you are
> want to save $150 over a Da'Lan (sp?) hitch in exchange for a fair
> amount of aggravation.
>
> Absolutely nothing about the installation went according to Reese's
> instruction.  Reese has a "Rube Goldberg" method of snaking a wire
> through the frame to pull the bolt and backing into place.  It does not
> work... in fact I ended up removing the bumper which was much easier.
> Then, once the holes were drilled (and you are very limited in the
> options) there was substantial interference from other sheet metal
> reinforcement.  I will wager that Reese's engineers never installed this
> on a GTI VR6.  Finally, you will need to modify the muffler bracket,
> which is never mentioned by Reese.
>
> While I have only seen pictures of the Da'Lan hitch it looks a lot
> simpler to install, but it is $150 more at http://www.hitch-world.com/
>
> If anyone is up to the challenge of a Reese hitch e-mail me and I can
> give you more specifics.
>
> Charlie Gjersvik (Light Surf Green, K&N, Reese Hitch, and soon to be
> Garretted edition)

--
--
Josh Tibbs
&#120;josh&#64;one<img src=/i/dn.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>
http://w3.one.net/~xjosh/

 I had a "Hidden Hitch" on my 97 GTI for a bit... I
want to say $125 installed at Ziebart.  It pulled the
little trailer that I had rented from UHaul just
fine..
(used once, and sold).


--- &#77;acVr6&#64;aol<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15> wrote:
> Does anyone know where I can get a trailer hitch for
> the GTi Vr6?  I'm not
> looking to spend too much.  Someone said that the
> Reese hitch was a problem
> to install, but the price was good.  How much of a
> problem was the Reese
> hitch to install?   Anyone have any more info on the
> Reese hitch?  What's the
> part # for the Reese hitch?  I also read that some
> of you guys have the
> Da'Lan hitch.  Do you guys have the part # for the
> Da'Lan hitch?  I just want
> to use it with a bike attachment.
>
> TIA
> Stephen
> --
> For info on: how to subscribe & unsubscribe, the
> list's tech/how-to
>     library, etc.  see:
> http://www.panix.com/~aqn/GTI_VR6/gti_vr6_list/
>

===
-Steven. (Full-on Projektzwo Edition GTI)

Pics of my 'Dub: http://users.sgi.net/~vwsport/97gti/

<<te: Thu, 20 May 1999 18:34:31 EDT
From: &#77;acVr6&#64;aol<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>
Subject: [gti-vr6] Trailer hitch??

HITCH QUESTION SNIPPED

TIA
Stephen >>

Dalan Hitch #247295 is the one I have installed on my car, roughly $300.00
installed at lampert Hitch here in Denver.  I am using a DraftMaster rack
http://www.draftmaster.com/ and I have been very happy.  The hitch is a 1.25
inch hitch, so you need to order the adapter from DraftMaster, but it works
great.  One caveat, the locking hitch bolt will have to be bought from
DraftMaster, and they don't make one for the 1.25" hookup, so you will have
to use a cable lock when you are away from your car to attach the setup to
the hitch.

Hope this helps!

Manny
Trailer hitch for bike rack only edition...

On Thu, 28 Jun 2001, Iori, Max wrote:

> Anyone out there have any experience with putting a hitch on our cars?  I
> was taking a look at www.hiddenhitch.com and a hitch is only $109 for my 99'
> MK3; figured I could mount it myself, and easily tow my Motocross bike.

BTDT. Had a hidden hitch style hitch on my 96 Mk3. Pretty easy to install,
really. Remove bumper cover , line it up, mark holes, drill, bolt on,
replace bumper cover. It will easily handle a motorcycle or three on a
trailer. The hidden style looks OK, stays pretty much out of the way. The
only suck part is that the flat style receiver pretty well puts the kabash
on most hitch mounted bike racks, etc.

For lights I picked up an adapter from Pep Boys that I Scotch-loked into
the taillights, then hung an extension out the hatch when I needed it. The
adapter was only $15 or so if memory serves.

Just make sure that what you're getting is for a Mk3 US model VR6 Golf,
not Mk4, not 2.0L, not Jetta, etc. They are all different and specific.

Josh

If anyone is interested, I found this site:
http://www.bageco.com/hitchlistsp.htm that advertises a VR6 hitch,
($211.86) although it is not the flat "hidden hitch" style, but the classic
"square hole" style.

Max

  I asked Rob Heckel, who has/had a 96 or 97 GTI VR6 that had a hitch
  that he used to tow his tire trailer to auto-x events.
  Following is his answer.  I can forward to him any further q's all y'all
  may have.

Rob Heckel &lt;&#88;XXX&#64;gsinternet<img src=/i/dn.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt; wrote:
> Andy-
> 
> I have a Reese hitch.  I got it from hitch-web.com.  There is also a Da'L an
> hitch made for our car, but I think it attaches behind the bumper cover.  I
> didn't like that method of attachment so I went with the Reese.  And Reese is
> cheaper.
> 
> The hitch does not allow for the rear-most exhaust hanger to be used.  It
> interferes with the stock exhaust tailpipes.  I had a used radiator hose lying
> around and cut that length-wise and cable-tied it to the hitch so I wouldn't
> hear the metal-to-metal banging of the tailpipe on the hitch bar.
> 
> I also had to eventually get a longer bar (to which the ball is bolted).  That
> may be why it hits the exhaust....perhaps I didn't mount the hitch far-enough
> rearward?  Not likely tho.
> 
> [...]
> Let me know if you need anymore info on the hitch.  I can look up part numbers
> and such when I get home (ie the longer bar).
> 
> BOR

--
Andy Nguyen 

<A HREF="http://www.hitch-web.com/">http://www.hitch-web.com/</A>

I have a Dalan (or however you spell it) my Audi S4.  My excuse was because 
of track tires, jacks, etc.  I've sinced purchased a trailer and truck to 
haul the cars to the track events and have since only used the hitch once.

Should've been powdercoated or better paint.  It flaked and rusted some.  
When I get the chance, I'm going to remove it and have it blasted and 
powdercoated (it's free for me), or just remove it all together.

But, a good hitch.  Keep in mind that you'll need wiring and a ball set.  Get 
the universal kind with several balls.  U-Haul trailers take 1 7/8" and 2" 
balls (where's Wally to say "hehheheh, he said Balls?").  Anyhow, use the 
largest ball thier receiver will accept for best towing.  I wouldn't directly 
hook up to the lights in the GTi.  Use a universal converter which is 
basically a relay pack.  You hard-wire to the lights, then a seperate fused 
+12V and ground.  

There are two models for the GTiVR6 listed on the above web site.  I didn't 
think the Reese fit a VR6 but it was listed.  Just confirm on the 
manufacturers web site.  Also, have good drills and a powerful drill to run 
through the steel when installing.  Good luck, and make CERTAIN you keep the 
weight down.  Keep in mind the trailer weight.

Also, keep in mind the GVWR combines base car, gas, passengers, cargo, and 
trailer.  Pretty easy to exceed this with most vehicles.

That said, have fun moving and congrats on the new job!

Mark Rosenkrantz
&#77;arker510&#64;aol<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>

James, I just installed a Dalan hitch on my '98 GtiVr6 and it was easy as
cake, just takes time because you have to take the bumper cover off.  Which
actually is very easy to do, 7 bolts and it's off.  The Dalan hitch fit
perfectly, just lined it up, marked where the holes were, drilled the holes,
and bolted it in.  Great product!!

Haven't towed with it yet but I hear the car tows great.

Mike

where'd ya get the hitch and how much?  I need to put one on by spring for pulling a small motorcycle trailer.  
regards,
shawn

I got the hitch through an ad on VW vortex, the guy bought it and sold his
GTI before installing it, so it's new.  I paid 125 bucks for it,  I think
they're 250 or so new.  You can get them at www.hitch-web.com I know.

Spring and get the Dalan one even though there's a cheaper Reese one
available.  You will be happy you paid the money when you see how darn easy
it is to install, very well engineered.  They even weld bent thick flat
stock on the muffler side so it will clear.  With the ball receiver taken
out, all you see from behind the car is a little square where the receiver
goes in, the rest is hidden behind the bumper cover.

Mike

hello all,
I just ordered a hitch from
http://www.hitchesonline.com/volkswagon_cl1_golf_III_95-98.htm

bought it for $249.  Not too many of us need towing capability but I
thought I'd share a nice deal for a
da'lan class 1 hitch.

regards,
shawn

That's a nice hitch, got mine barely used a year ago.
Fairly easy install and great fit.

Mike F
98 GTIVR6