Trailer Hitches

[andykane]

I'd like to get a hitch for my scirocco so I can so my little boat and get rid of my current non-scirocco tow vehicle. The boat and trailer weigh well under 500lbs so this should work totally fine. My issue is finding a suitable hitch.

Ebay has this: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1982-1988-Vol...item19c94330f5

Which is supposed to fit, but looking under my car it seems that it'll hit the 16v kit. It also appears to need me to drill a bunch of holes into a boxed in section behind the spare tire well which sounds unpleasant and I'd rather not drill a bunch of holes through my body.

The other option seems to be something that mounts purely to the bumper. I found this:
http://hitches4less.com/clasitrailhi1.html

Which even lists the "VW Scirraco" as a suitable car (although for some reason post 1984 has a lower weight limit?).

Anyone have any experience with either of these styles? Searching seems to indicate that some people have pulled stupid heavy trailers with just a bumper hitch but I couldn't find any installation information.

[woody16v]

that first one seems like a pretty good one. even with the installation instructions right there to plainly see. drilling holes isnt too big of a deal if you follow the directions, measure twice...etc. just be very aware that the "weight carrying capacity" is 500lbs less than class 1, and that max tongue weight is less than most people.

that being said, using just a ball on the bumper would work for very lightweight stuff, and really low tongue weight.


how big is this boat?

its fairly reasonable to assume that at some time you will overload whatever you're pulling and what you're pulling with. the bumper ball would probably fail less spectacularly, but would be more likely to fail (methinks)

[thescirocco.com]

They also have the universal type, that bolts to the bumper. ...That's the route we took on the '84 Scirocco. The instructions called for cutting away the plastic where the hitch bolts on, but I used a spare rear bumper without any plastic, and avoiding permanent damage to the bumper.

I'm currently trying to sell it:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...-Trailer-Hitch

I just came across this chart, hopefully it's correct.:

[andykane]

Hmm, I'd buy your hitch to accompany the awesome borla that you sold me a few years ago, but I'd really rather something that I can leave on all the time without cutting anything. Sounds like the curt hitch is probably worth the added difficulty of installation.

The trailer in question is this one. Probably like <30lb tongue weight, max 400lbs total.

[woody16v]

well that shouldnt be a problem at all. iirc theres a user on here with a black wolfsburg(?) that uses a bumper ball to pull his hobie cat. i believe hes west coast but thats all i can really recall.

i think the curt one would definitely be worth the extra effort. just keep in mind that the max load and tw are fairly low. ive seen class 4-5 hitches that failed due to improper loading and dont even want to think about what such a failure would do to a unibody car... it would be bad. not saying it will happen, just saying keep that in the back of your head when someone says "hey you've got a hitch, wanna help me move?" the answer should be no (unless its a motorcycle, or a push mower or some such thing... then maybe)

[Rannoch]

I've used this style of receiver bolted to my rear bumper to pull things:
http://www.easternmarine.com/step-bu...itch-2-sq-sbh2

and I've towed the car (flat tow) by the front bumper before.


Given the weight of the boat you're towing, I wouldn't worry about it.
As the above posters have said, be careful about any other items that you tow.

[Scirocco16]

Take a look at this old thread.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...-and-tow-stuff

[EL DRIFTO]

my friend removed the bench & took box steel, 1.5" i think attached between the oe mounts & welded a hitch to it, it finished flush to the bumper skin & remounted it, just a square hole visible. his complaint was having to lay on the ground to get the pin set from underneath when putting the hitch in. towed a seadoo that pulled him off the road backwards no problem

[crazyaboutrocs]

We had a Canadian on the old .org list, Mark, that towed Sciroccos with his Scirocco all the time. He even made his own fold up tow dolly for this. Worked great for him.

[Thrasher]

Towing with a Scirocco

[d-bot]

Towing with a Scirocco

Most people fit more ego and old parts in weight than what this guy wants to tow with a scirocco. Leave it alone

[ANSAracingb]

Towing with a Scirocco

Why not? Lol I see Miatas all the time towing little trailers (mostly with spare tires and wheels for racing and autocross). If they can do it, we can do it!

[Thrasher]

I hear people have sex with animals too, doesn't make it a good idea.

[TBerk]

Thrasher,

Having just gotten back from 'the Country' and planning many return trips into the future I was recalling the freeway and looking out the window and seeing many things being towed.

One of the groovy things I saw was one of those pop-up camper dealies. It was Single Axle and while I'm not yet sold on it fully, it represents something worth considering.

In addition I've always thought to tow a small trailer behind the Scirocco Mk1, something with no longer than a six to ten foot bed and again, single axle.

Bringing bulky stuff back from the Pick n Pull, trips to the woods w/ the interior clear, the dreaded Apocalypse and attendant need to load up some stuff and head for the hills- there are lots of reason why the enhanced utility aspect of a Scirocco is a good thing.

Are they Sports cars? Are they cheap Econo Boxes? Are they platforms for Improvement in Performance far beyond what VW sold them for?

Could they be all things to all people? Can't I put a trailer hitch on a Scirocco?

[TBerk]

I forgot something, of the two different types there are the kinds that bolt to both the body and bumper and the other that just connects to the bumper alone.

Two things come to mind; The multi attachment kind would be stronger and have a greater capacity AND some cars have a telescoping bumper attachment to the car body that will be kept rigid if you connect a hitch bracket to both the bumper and body.


I 1st started looking into this Last Century so there are bound to be improvements and/or obsolescence to contend with...

[andykane]

Towing with a Scirocco

When, for a few hundred dollars and 10lbs of steel I can have a car that'll tow my boat when I need to and will tear up the curves the rest of the time, yes.

Looks like I'll be going with the bumper hitch, unless I fab up something custom. I talked to the very helpful Curt Hitches customer support and they sent me a drawing of their hitch so I could check fitment. It looks like it would fit perfectly on a kit-less scirocco but it definitely doesn't fit over the 16v kit.

[TBerk]

Trailer Hitch on Bumper, Question:

Are you going to drill through just the top surface or drill through the Bumper's top AND Bottom surface w/ a long bolt through both. Oh- '?'

I'm thinking one long bolt through both Top and Bottom is the way to go.

[halkyardo]

OT, but...

One of the groovy things I saw was one of those pop-up camper dealies.

Get one. They're brilliant.