New OEM Hitch Specs R a "Gotcha"!

[DSAviate]

Just bought an E53 OEM hitch from the dealer (~$495 with harness for the 100 lbs box). (Westfalia No. 303 169 600 105, and BMW dealer part no. 71-60-0-009-711) Real beefy chunk of steel, looks like it has one coat of black paint and can't wait to start rusting.

Anyhow, it looks and attaches just like all the other OEM hitches shown here on the forum. I'd like to think I've read most everything here on E53 hitches.

Take a good look at the placard (attached) that comes with the new hitch made by "Westfalia American Hitch Inc." The ball mount limitations are identical to those shown in the installation instructions.

No chance of using the riser mount I'd like to. According to the OEM hitch docs, not even a straight shank mount is permitted. The mount must drop as specified.

Spoke to a "hitch rep" at the manufacturing company, but in essence all he's said is stick with the schematic limitations. (I don't think previous OEM hitch installation instructions showed these limitations.)

So, here's the problem. Where can I find a class IV (6000/600) 2" ball mount that drops 4" and has a shank length of NO MORE THAN 8"??

It may be out there, . . . but I certainly have looked (and had several vendors looking) and found nothing!

According to these limitations, you can't attach so much as a bike rack unless it has the required drop and short shank length.

What am I missing here? Somebody please make a total fool of me, show me what I'm missreading, and I'll get an appropriate (LEGAL) mount and be on with life.

The pulling is more enjoyable when you KNOW you're legal.

- M54 Lover