Hi Bill and all,

Fixed mount has the ball mount permanently welded to the hitch frame.
Reciever has a 1 or 2 inch square channel that accepts a variety of hitch
devices including a ball, pintle, and other amazing devices like a 120qt
Cooler or motorcycle mount.  I bought a vanagon hitch system from Ron Salmon
and had a welding wizard install a 2" receiver above the pintle bracket.
The reciever is available through a cutout in the plastic bumper shell and
the pintle mount was retained.  I can provide a picture to post if desired.
Bolton's welding in Diamond Springs CA did the excellent work along with
fixing a few shortcomings in the poorly executed motor mounts provided by
the former Vanagon Projekt in Livermore CA.

My answer to carrying bicycles was to mount a Yakima tower set and bar on
the very rear of the rain gutter.  Then fork mount the bicycles to the bar
and use your choice of methods to tie down the back wheels.  I use a
gutterless mount and bar from yakima attached to the door to secure the rear
wheels.

The weight of 2-5 bicycles is borne by the rain gutter with very little
additional weight on the door, only the mounts and bar to secure the wheels
~15lbs.

Yes you do have to remove the bicycles to open the hatch but re attaching is
simple.

Bill, any aspens left up where you are?

al