Do you have a newer Vanagon ?   Go here for Trailer hitch for '80 to '91 Vw Vanagon

Do you want a receiver to fit the front of the Late Bay Bus.. Go here for the Front receiver information

This page details a hitch that fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Volkswagen Camper, Volkswagen Campmobile, Volkswagen Sportsmobile, Volkswagon Pop Top, Volkswagen Riviera, Volkswagen transporter VW van VW station wagon wagen V.W.

Pictures and more information Below,, on Both the Fixed tongue, Model # LBF7379F and the removable Receiver style, Model # LBR7379R
The order form has the pricing information,   Order Form

Click here for pricing
 

Custom Modifications?
If you like, You can email me for more information ,  availability, custom modifications etc.

Contact Information
jrivers@globalserve.net      due to the amount of spam, to ensure my email filters highlight your message please put hitch in the subject line.. or click the link above and it should auto install the subject Hitch to fit Volkswagen Van
Thanks!
Jamie Rivers, Southern Ontario, CANADA
519-623-8495

Go here for an Order Form And Contact information.
 

Fixed Tongue style:    Model # LBF7379F

The fixed tongue hitch
It accepts any size ball with a 3/4"  stud,,  usually available in 1-1/8"  up to 2-1/8" including the standard 1-7/8" and 2",  see pictures and installation instructions further down.
 

Receiver Tongue style:    Model # LBR7379R

The receiver style hitch ,fits 1973 to 1979 Vw Bus, Available in 2 sizes!  2" and  1-1/4"  that will accept bicycle carriers and other attachments, see pictures and installation instructions further down.
 
 
 

Click here for "Easy Installation instructions"

FAQ   Click here to read What Folks say about the hitch
 

This hitch -Model # LBF7379F -should not interfere with your stock style muffler.
you do NOT have to modify the bumper at all

it bolts right to the frame using the same bolt holes as the bumper.. it is sandwiched between the bumper and the frame

Fixed Tongue Style  Model # LBF7379F

This hitch is made of structural steel
You need 4 new bolts, M 10x1.5 x 30 mm long and the Ball of your choice available locally
 
 
 

Here is the Receiver Version  Model # LBR7379R

with a receiver installed, the different receiver attachments are widely available in Canada and USA at any place that sells hitches,

including  large shopping stores in the automotive dept,

here is a slightly different receiver you can buy,,  fits the same hitch!

I have used it to tow an 800lb trailer with about 800lbs in it
Tongue weight of about 100lbs
I do not know it's capacity, but it is very strong
It weighs in at 30 lbs
45" x 15" x 4" for shipping
From Southern Ontario CANADA to California is about u.s. $35 -Nov 2005

I was asked about installation instruction.. here you go!

That is easy,,

Installation instructions
have you had your bumper off lately,, ?
If not, I would recommend squirting a little oil on the bolts today in
preparation.
I'll talk about that first,, there is a couple of holes in the rear body tin
just above the bumpers, left and right of the engine hatch lid
they [might] have a small plastic cap.. you can spray
penetrating oil of your choice in there and it will get to the threads of the
bolts that hold the bumper on,,

Best installation tools: 3 people, a ratchet ,10mm and 17mm socket and
extension and a ground blanket and your stocking cap

parts you need 4 bolts   M 10x1.5 x 30mm long...  you can take one bolt out of
the bumper bracket and take it to the FLAPS and get 4 new ones that are 10mm
longer
also a ball of your size and liking with a 3/4" fastener bolt or stud as the
hitch has a 3/4" hole for the trailer ball

Put your stocking cap on so your long hair isn't going to get caught in
anything,, put on your work clothes so mom doesn't yell at you for getting your
good clothes dirty again!
Lay down the ground blanket under the rear bumper,, and lie down comfortably,,
remove the gravel guard with the 10 mm socket
 look up at the brackets that attach the bumper  to the frame,, not the
bumper to the brackets,. the brackets to the frame,,, find the mounting bolts,,
there is 4 of them,, 2 on each side, with  17 mm heads,,
have your friends hold the bumper at the ends to prevent it from falling on your
head, and to make sure it doesn't scratch your paint, it weighs about 50-60lbs
with the hitch
undo the 4 bolts and slide the bumper back,,
while they are holding the bumper in the same plane as they removed it,, put the
hitch in front [fif] of the bumper, and slide it onto the brackets,,
you will have to press firmly as it does lift the bottom edge of the bumper
slightly,,
you can see that the hitch holes line up with the bumper bracket holes,
You are ready to replace the bumper
Slide the bumper and hitch back where it came from... and fit the new bolts and
washers back into the original mounting holes.. tighten,, double check it is
tight,, pack up your tools and blanket

Messages I have recieved about this hitch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Volks-Web Support <support-at-volks-web.net> wrote:
> Wow!  Wish you'd had these [receiver style] when I got mine from you.  But you gave me
> such a sweet deal I have NO room for complaint!  Hm..  Maybe I'll sell
> off the one I have and get one of the receiver style.  ;-)
> Slight caveat:  on my california '79 deluxe westy, the muffler is a fat
> round puppy that actually protrudes BEYOND the body of the bus in back.
> (Stand with the top of your head on your back hatch and look straight
> down.  Does your muffler extend beyond the body?  If so, you might have
> to tweak a little.)  and I could have benefited from enlarging the
> BUMPER mounting slots a bit.  As it was, I ground off a tad bit of the
> front-most (FIF) weld where the tongue meets the hitch, and put a dimple
> in my muffler to get it on.  Apparently the muffler is a CA only thing,
> others are flat/oval and not a problem.
> Thanks again, Jamie!
>> Teri

**NOTE** the hitch design has been changed since this problem occured.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dave   <Lhiannon71-at-aol.com> wrote:
Wow.... that was easy!  The hardest part was unwrapping the package material.
 I would say that it took me 45 minutes total, including the unwrapping.  Did
it all myself, not having a helper, but the muffler is easy enough to handle
on your shoulders.

My only problem was the gravel shield, it was in the way... I don't know how
many folks still have theirs installed, but it has to come off in order for
the hitch to go on...it looks like you could split the shield and drill some
more holes to reinstall.  The way that
the hitch fits between the mounting brackets keeps it snug on the bumper
while holding it into place and putting the new bolts in.  I had the muffler
off while reinstalling the bumper/trailer hitch, then installed the new
muffler.

There is about a  1/4" clearance between the back of the receiver and the
muffler... the new design works great!  I have the large round muffler on my
'78, as it has a California exhaust set-up.  I am super impressed with the
fit, quality of work, and ease of installation.  Many congratulations.  I
highly recommend the hitch and your services.  Speedy delivery, easy
install... what more could you ask for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Collie wrote: <collie-at-ifoundit.ca>
List, Blake,

I personally use and abuse a Jamie Rivers trailer hitch and I will vouch for
its perfect fit, super strong construction and with the removable receiver,
its barely visible. Jamie did a great job and his price is WELL worth it.
This hitch is the quality of, if not better, then the Reese and Hidden Hitch
styles we all see. AND, as Jamie said, it bolts into the existing bus with
NO modification.

Have a look for yourself! You wont be disappointed....
http://collisoncorner_dot_com/hitch/hitch.htm

Collie had a custom size built for his Bus.

Collie has since spoken up..... speaking about the heat shield above the muffler

"You see, the world-renowned Jamie Rivers Hitch does not fit a bay unless
this original equipment piece of german engineering is removed. So, I have
mine, its in my shed, on the shelf, with no home...."

BUT, I will say, I prefer the hitch over the heat shield any day of the
week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jamie, today was the day my hitch was installed on my 77 bus.. Even though
the bus is in great shape, two bolts had to be cut off and two retapped.  My
expert mechanic cut though the side of the frame and dropped in the two
bolts that were closest to the bumper as these nuts could not be saved.  It
took two hours including  figuring what to do. So if someone says the bolts
are rusted and receiving nuts gone, tell them to drill out the holes and
drill a hole into the side of the frame large enough to be able to fit a
bolt and washer into it to drop through the hole to attach the new nut .  I
hope this makes some sense.  The hitch fits  perfect.  Thanks.Rick Haynes
: "Rick & Dona Haynes" <haynesdr_at_comcast.net>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dan Andrews wrote  andrewsd_at_ctkomaha.org

Jamie,

Got the hitch installed. It fits perfectly. You did a great job with the
design and fabrication. I would very highly recommend to others. Thank you
very much!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Search engine key words
Does Not fit Vanagon or early Vw bus
will not fit 1972 '72 72 or earlier
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
73 74 75 76 77 78 79
Van Van van
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen
This hitch fits '73 to '79 Vw Bus Volkswagon It also fits :Volkswagen Westfalia, Camper,
Campmobile, Sportsmobile, Pop Top, Riviera, transporter van station wagon wagen