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  #1  
Old 10-18-2006, 11:14 AM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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Default Euro Hitch questions /groupbuy feeler
To all of you running a Euro hitch... I've got some questions. I have searched extensively here and I'm still trying to soak in all the information. It appears as if no one has done this too recently - so - the hardest part is specifiying which hitch and figuring out how to get it here. Install and electrics are gravy.

I also want to chose a euro hitch that will allow me to adapter a North American style el cheapo hitch mount bike rack.

I know the ball is not removable, and, the Westfalia hitch has a cylindrical adapter so it looks to be a tough question.

In my research I have found several Euro Hitches:

Westfalia
Brink
Bosal
Whittier

Anyone in NA have anything for a passat wagon besides a Westfalia? That is the question of the day.

Thanks for looking
Last edited by vwDavid; 02-05-2007 at 04:32 PM.
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  #2  
Old 10-24-2006, 10:45 AM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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OK, here goes a long winded second part to my question. As you know I am interested in installing a european tow hitch on my wagon. There are several options (Brink, Bosal, Witter, Westfaila etc...)


Now, I was hoping to find a hitch that was more similar to the basic allroad OEM hitch (which installs in a similar manner to the passat although it is a totally different vehicle and would certainly not fit.

PIC of allroad hitch: http://www.allroadfaq.com/downloads/...ch_install.pdf

Now, I like the idea of the allroad style hitch because they have fabbed up these adapters so you could easily use a hitch mount bike rack such as these pics:

http://forums.audiworld.com/allroad/msgs/164442.phtml



OK, so for the passat the most common euro hitch to be installed in North America is the Westfalia hitch. It has a funky quick release cylindiracl tow bar.

PICS here: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y39...-HITCHNECK.jpg

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=209445


So, besides towing once in a while I wanted to be able to put the bikes on the back. Can anyone see a way to adapt a std, hitch bike rack to the passat westfalia hitch?
Last edited by vwDavid; 10-24-2006 at 01:29 PM.
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  #3  
Old 10-24-2006, 10:54 AM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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See my homepage with tons of links to the install and wiring. D'oh ...I see you've done that.....

Dave
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  #4  
Old 10-24-2006, 10:58 AM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vwDavid View Post
I also want to chose a euro hitch that will allow me to adapter a North American style el cheapo hitch mount bike rack.

I know the ball is not removable, and, the Westfalia hitch has a cylindrical adapter so it looks to be a tough question.
You'd have to buy a Euro bike rack too. If you want the euro hitch for a bike rack, don't bother. Get a receiver hitch....would be much easier for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vwDavid View Post
So, besides towing once in a while I wanted to be able to put the bikes on the back. Can anyone see a way to adapt a std, hitch bike rack to the passat westfalia hitch?
Maybe someone from Europe can answer your question. A guy down south made his own....in my original WF link. Maybe you should use the Euro-design and get a reputable shop to custom make you one?
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  #5  
Old 10-24-2006, 11:18 AM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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See Thule Europe site:

http://www.thule.com/Thule/PopupPage____33590.aspx

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  #6  
Old 10-24-2006, 11:59 AM
dutch-mountains dutch-mountains is offline
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Over here we have a brand called Twinny Load (www.twinnyload.nl) which makes bike racks for almost every purpose based on a euro hitch. They all come with an extra set of rear lights and a plate holder, that's required in NL.

This brand is considered as one the best, same as Thule.
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  #7  
Old 10-24-2006, 12:58 PM
crazysimi crazysimi is offline
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have you had any luck on importing the westfalia hitch because i also would like to find one
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  #8  
Old 10-24-2006, 01:01 PM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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I haven't got quite that far yet as I have not decided on the Westfalia. The Bosal has a less complex swan neck mounting which might lend itself better to adapting a bike rack.
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  #9  
Old 10-24-2006, 01:24 PM
dutch-mountains dutch-mountains is offline
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When I bought my Passat it came with a fixed Brink hitch which I swapped for a Westfalia as I only use it once/twice a year. I payed ~230USD for the Westfalia w/o shipping (which could be alot overseas).
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  #10  
Old 10-24-2006, 01:34 PM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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It seems there are a number of friendly PW'ers that live in Europe. Would any of you consider helping me obtain a hitch and ship it here?

thx

D
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  #11  
Old 10-24-2006, 01:41 PM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Westfalia's hitch is great and I haven't regretted my decision on buying/shipping or installing it. It is the most solid unit I've seen. If I really needed a bike rack I'd likely get a Euro model as they just look soooo cool and much more ergonomic. Imagine being able to lower your bike to the road.....too cool....
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  #12  
Old 10-24-2006, 01:47 PM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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I bet those euro mount thule bike carriers are $$$$.. will continue to check them out...
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  #13  
Old 10-24-2006, 01:47 PM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crazysimi View Post
have you had any luck on importing the westfalia hitch because i also would like to find one
You can import from PGPerformance in BC....
Proof from serrey: I am from Waterloo ON and have just received a Westfalia Hitch from PG Performance for my 2007 B6 Wagon.
I talked to him and it was fairly reasonable......
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  #14  
Old 10-24-2006, 01:49 PM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vwDavid View Post
I bet those euro mount thule bike carriers are $$$$.. will continue to check them out...
Of course they are ,they're "european" Any Passat accessory isn't cheap.....

Only worth getting if you were going there for a vacation or something........
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  #15  
Old 10-24-2006, 01:54 PM
dutch-mountains dutch-mountains is offline
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You should consider shipping the bike rack you want at the same time with hitch as well as economy shipping.
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  #16  
Old 10-24-2006, 02:38 PM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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For anyone doing the same research as me, I found this website to be quite good for towbars and ball mount thule carriers (reasonable prices) as mentioned above.

http://www.leisureshack.co.uk

http://www.leisureshack.co.uk/osb/it...15377/Cat/4780

http://www.leisureshack.co.uk/osb/sh...l%2DMounted_18
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  #17  
Old 10-24-2006, 03:06 PM
pass-variant pass-variant is offline
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Quote:
You can import from PGPerformance in BC....
Proof from serrey: I am from Waterloo ON and have just received a Westfalia Hitch from PG Performance for my 2007 B6 Wagon.
I talked to him and it was fairly reasonable......
That's Surrey, BTW, and it all depends what is considered reasonable... when I talked to PG about doing this 4 years ago it was a minimum of $700 to my door (or the closest Greyhound station at least... don't ask).

So reasonable is a matter of reference.

I had a friendly PW member offer to get me mine. All said it was about $320. A great deal for a stateside Westfalia.
Last edited by pass-variant; 10-24-2006 at 03:30 PM.
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  #18  
Old 10-24-2006, 03:12 PM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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I'm having trouble finding an online vendor to confirm the part number for a Westfalia hitch.

I have a 2005 B5.5 Variant/Estate/Wagon NOT 4 motion. Does anyone here have any suggestions on how to get the Westfalia part number? thanks
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  #19  
Old 10-24-2006, 05:15 PM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Originally Posted by pass-variant View Post
That's Surrey, BTW, .
NO Chris no, user name "SERREY".... (0 posts however)... I do know how to spell Surrey, BC
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  #20  
Old 10-24-2006, 05:20 PM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vwDavid View Post
I'm having trouble finding an online vendor to confirm the part number for a Westfalia hitch.

I have a 2005 B5.5 Variant/Estate/Wagon NOT 4 motion. Does anyone here have any suggestions on how to get the Westfalia part number? thanks
321505600001, you'll have an email with a PDF and info.....
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  #21  
Old 10-24-2006, 08:35 PM
pass-variant pass-variant is offline
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Originally Posted by leadfoot View Post
NO Chris no, user name "SERREY".... (0 posts however)... I do know how to spell Surrey, BC
AAAAhhh.... what are the chances though... the username serry has a post about Surrey, BC... or am I not getting it?

If that is it... you gotta give me a break.
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  #22  
Old 10-25-2006, 05:31 AM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Originally Posted by pass-variant View Post
AAAAhhh.... what are the chances though... the username serry has a post about Surrey, BC... or am I not getting it?

If that is it... you gotta give me a break.
Yup, LOL
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  #23  
Old 10-25-2006, 09:37 AM
crazysimi crazysimi is offline
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is there any class 2 reciever type hitches, or it the westfalia the only type of class 2? is the westfalia the only one that mounts to the frame or is there others? any problems using the 50mm ball with a 2" trailer?
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  #24  
Old 10-25-2006, 09:41 AM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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I am not the final authority, I don't even have my hitch yet, but I have done a ton of research.

European style hitch (Bosal/brink/witter/westfalia) is the only frame bolt on style hatch. None of the NA hitches are comparable in load capacity or visibility of the hitch from the rear of the car.

The 50 mm ball is 1.97 inches. Trailers hitches have a thingy to tighten them down and all my reasearch shows absolutely no problem using the 50 mm ball on standard 2" receiver trailers.
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  #25  
Old 10-25-2006, 09:53 AM
crazysimi crazysimi is offline
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thanks, i emailed pg performance to see if they can get one, also are all the europeon ones gooseneck style?
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  #26  
Old 10-25-2006, 10:26 AM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crazysimi View Post
is there any class 2 reciever type hitches, or it the westfalia the only type of class 2? is the westfalia the only one that mounts to the frame or is there others? any problems using the 50mm ball with a 2" trailer?
WF is the only class 2 available for the Passat. The WF is also the only "frame" mounted one that I know of other than Bosal, Oris or Brink (all Euro). No prob's with the 2" trailer on a 50mm ball. I made sure my trailer coupler was adjustable and I can adjust it so it is very very tight to the ball. The coupler is a Shelby.
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  #27  
Old 10-25-2006, 10:32 AM
pass-variant pass-variant is offline
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When I got my WF hitch, I measured and compared ball sizes. As mentioned above the 50mm ball is ~0.03" smaller than a US 2" ball... never a problem here.
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  #28  
Old 10-25-2006, 11:04 AM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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The prices that PGPerformance is suggesting seems pretty steep ($600 CAD) considering these hitches are about 250#'s 200? euros?

Can we do a price comparison for those that have picked up a euro hitch either by their own means or through an importer like PG Performance?


thanks
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  #29  
Old 10-25-2006, 01:10 PM
leadfoot leadfoot is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vwDavid View Post
...Can we do a price comparison for those that have picked up a euro hitch either by their own means or through an importer like PG Performance?thanks
You gotta remember this this is HEAVY and awkward!

pass-variant: $20USD shipping via USPS (lucky guy!) from US Military base
leadfoot: $232 CDN (total - GST, duty, brokerage) - TNT Express Corporate Account
bobafet: picked up in Germany on trip - $80 over-sized baggage fee, plus duty and tax I guess - no longer active on this board
serrey: purchased through PGPerformance - in the $600 CDN range, with additional shipping from Vancouver to Ontario $$$

My 2 cents, I think $600 is a good deal since you can pick it up directly from them.
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  #30  
Old 10-25-2006, 01:39 PM
vwDavid vwDavid is offline
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What is the $ you were paying just for the hitch itself???
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