tow ball question

[agrimog]

justme, could you please tell me where its written that its illegal to fit the plate upside down......yes towbars are type approved, and the actual towball is type approved, but none of the myriad of attachments require to be, from pushbike carriers to step plates to toolbox mounts, at the end of the day it comes down to the strength of the M16 bolts holding the whole setup together......and those suplied by some towbar fitters these days are of dubious quality........when did you last check for any elongation or cracking on yours?

 

[Justme]

you cant alter / adapt a type approved device.

its approval will specify what can be added.  

adding bike carriers has be approved up to I think 1/2" to poss 1" thick of adapter plates is the standard used. 

 

ps its not the m16 bolts that are the issue. Its the bar to car bolts.

[monkeybusiness]

I think the issue lies with the chassis mounting components of the towing bracketry, not just the plate that you can see that the drop plate bolts to. 

The chassis mounting points will always try to pivot around the rearmost fixings as load is applied to the towball - eg the vertical noseweight will pivot the forward fixings up into the chassis. The design of the mountings will take into account the much greater pivot moments applied by pulling and braking - arguably the greatest forces will be generated under heavy braking. Lowering the towball height increases the pivot vertically into the chassis, but raising it reverses the pivot and will try to twist the mounts down and away from the chassis. That’s how I see it anyway. 

[Justme]

Just now, monkeybusiness said:

I think the issue lies with the chassis mounting components of the towing bracketry, not just the plate that you can see that the drop plate bolts to. 

The chassis mounting points will always try to pivot around the rearmost fixings as load is applied to the towball - eg the vertical noseweight will pivot the forward fixings up into the chassis. The design of the mountings will take into account the much greater pivot moments applied by pulling and braking - arguably the greatest forces will be generated under heavy braking. Lowering the towball height increases the pivot vertically into the chassis, but raising it reverses the pivot and will try to twist the mounts down and away from the chassis. That’s how I see it anyway. 

correct 

[forestboy1978]

Nothing is ever bloody simple. 

 

So anyway, legality notwithstanding, I could fit an adjustable bracket to raise the trailer, possibly in a safe manner. Only problem being, I then cannot open the fucking rear doors. 

 

God dammit all to hell..

[Rough Hewn]

Nothing is ever bloody simple. 
 
So anyway, legality notwithstanding, I could fit an adjustable bracket to raise the trailer, possibly in a safe manner. Only problem being, I then cannot open the fucking rear doors. 
 
God dammit all to hell..

Get it re fitted. [emoji51]

[Stubby]

10 hours ago, forestboy1978 said:

Nothing is ever bloody simple. 

 

So anyway, legality notwithstanding, I could fit an adjustable bracket to raise the trailer, possibly in a safe manner. Only problem being, I then cannot open the fucking rear doors. 

 

God dammit all to hell..

You want it all don't you ! ?

[Woodworks]

I am confused. What van can tow a 3.5-tonne trailer but has doors so low you can't open them when the hitch height is right?

[forestboy1978]

18 minutes ago, Woodworks said:

I am confused. What van can tow a 3.5-tonne trailer but has doors so low you can't open them when the hitch height is right?

Iveco Daily 3.0 200 ps loaded to 3. something tons...

[forestboy1978]

1 hour ago, Rough Hewn said:

Get it re fitted.

Sigh..