From: T i m on
On Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:07:13 +0100, "Duncan Wood"
<nntpnews(a)dmx512.co.uk> wrote:


>>
>> The bar we are looking at seems to have a fairly small ball mounting
>> plate:
>>
>> http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/?doc=11&cid=356
>>
>
>Ah, what's the original look like?

Well it's basically the same as that (long tube with two tab
mountings) /but/ I think I can recall from way back my mate (who owned
the truck) took what was a (very substantial and in fact tow bar
sized material) 'bumper' [1] and welded two 16mm i/d tubes though it
at towball spacing's (so as not to crush the tube). It joins to the
truck rear chassis via two 8mm steel side plates, much as does the bar
we are about to order. However, it doesn't (currently) have any other
braces to resist side loads although they would be easy to fit.

Had there not been a commercial solution available I was going to see
if there was anyone around with a plasma cutter (typical I backed my
PortaPak as I have the gas axe kit) to cut us two new 10mm side plates
to bring the bar down 200mm. Add the bracing bars and the job would
have been a goodun.

But, whilst I'm happy that I could make this setup as_if_not_more
robust than a 'production' bar and even though the age of the vehicle
means the bar doesn't need any type approval etc, there is the peace
of mind that comes with knowing I / we don't have to carry the can
should something fail in the future, even if that solution is
technically inferior.
>
>> The same people do an adjustable plate but you can't see what there is
>> on the other side:
>>
>> http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/?doc=16&cid=356&vid=1141
>>
>
>A lot of the cheap commercial ones have the same 4 hole mountings on
>either side.

Ah and I think they would fit the bar we are considering better.
>
>> p.s. I guess it wouldn't matter on a Landy / 4x4 or when towing
>> 'agricultural stuff but I have Witter rubber mounted tow balls on my
>> cars and that keeps the trailer / hitch noise down (we used to tow
>> dinghy's all over the country). ;-)
>
>I was wondering why you'd need that, but then it occurred to me that I
>only ever tow braked trailers, & they're inherently sprung, so no idea.

'General noise'. Most trailers push and shove and you can often hear
the hitch 'clonking' as it does so. Using an isolated ball takes all
that away (on both braked and unbraked trailers).

Don't need them with the trailer we draw behind the motorbikes, too
much other noise going on. ;-)

Cheers, T i m


[1] But then he realised it was way too high and by then had it
plastic coated so didn't bother going any further with it.