 | Home > Technical > Towbar extender for bike rack |
 
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| B4Lamb Member Since: 21 Mar 2015 Location: Abergavenny, Wales Posts: 233   
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 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge I've done a slight upgrade to my extender. I've added a bar underneath with tapped holes to take M8 Screws that contact the vertical variable position bracket. When these are nipped up it stops the annoying rattle when the tow ball is not loaded. "You are never to old to learn something new" |
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13th Jul 2019 10:13am |
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| DonH2000 Member Since: 12 Jan 2015 Location: North Kent Posts: 551  
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Excellent, looks great but when my bike rack was attached to a Dixon Bate detachable tow bar there was quite a lot of "slack" and movement in it which meant I went back to a rigid attachment system.
Have you managed to make to make it rigid? Cheers Don. |
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13th Jul 2019 2:54pm |
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| B4Lamb Member Since: 21 Mar 2015 Location: Abergavenny, Wales Posts: 233
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Yes its rock solid. As you can see it picks up on 2 sets of holes on the fixed half of the Dixon Bate tow bracket to form a triangle. I tow trailers, caravans, boats as well as my bike rack. They are all easier to attach compared to the standard Dixon Bate tow ball bracket. The mod I recently introduced just takes the tiny bit of residual movement caused by the tolerance of my 3/4" clevis pin diameter match to the holes. If you make this tolerance too tight it becomes very difficult to slide the pins in and out so you need some play. With the two added M8 screws you have to first slacken these before removing the pins if you want to change height position or remove it altogether. You can do the same mod to the Dixon Bate which is what I did years ago before I came up with the extender design. "You are never to old to learn something new"
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13th Jul 2019 4:54pm |
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| ngins Member Since: 15 Jan 2017 Location: Down South Posts: 80 
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Another thread resurrection! Since disco 2 tow balls no longer seem to be around on eBay or at any scrappies, it looks like this Dixon bate https://dixon-bate.co.uk/products/gb/unive...coup-.html is longer than the standard tow ball. Anyone know if this on top of a nas step (standard 235 spare) with Thule rack would clear?
Otherwise i’ll Try it anyway as it seems a cheap fix if it works and then if not work out what spacers and mods I end up adding and report back! |
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30th Jul 2019 8:00am |
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| B4Lamb Member Since: 21 Mar 2015 Location: Abergavenny, Wales Posts: 233
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To clear the spare wheel/tyre your tow ball centre needs to be at least 31 cm back from the rear mud flap mounting plate for most tow ball fitting cycle racks. The referenced tow ball you have identified would not provide sufficient offset in my opinion. "You are never to old to learn something new"
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30th Jul 2019 8:54am |
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| ngins Member Since: 15 Jan 2017 Location: Down South Posts: 80
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that's great information - thanks!
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30th Jul 2019 8:55am |
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| ngins Member Since: 15 Jan 2017 Location: Down South Posts: 80
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Disco 2 towball popped up on eBay today so I think I am sorted - phew. Thanks for all the advice!!
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3rd Aug 2019 6:37pm |
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| B4Lamb Member Since: 21 Mar 2015 Location: Abergavenny, Wales Posts: 233
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Oh well spotted. You are in luck. "You are never to old to learn something new"
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3rd Aug 2019 9:50pm |
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| TACK Member Since: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Essex Posts: 1045 
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Off a defender 130
Click image to enlarge |
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4th Aug 2019 9:31am |
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| ngins Member Since: 15 Jan 2017 Location: Down South Posts: 80
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Interesting......
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4th Aug 2019 9:56am |
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| Phil VM2.5 Member Since: 28 Mar 2012 Location: Limelette Posts: 196  
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Click image to enlarge Hi, I did buy to my dealer a NAS tow bracket .... Unfortunaly it did rust and I do not like rust. So I did buy a Brink tow bracket ... Problem, my bike holder was not anymore ok because the tire on the door. ( normal size ) So I did buy a tube size 150 x 100 x 120mm, tichness 8 mm. Nearly for nothing but have pay for the cutting, do not remember but 3 or 4 times the price of the part ! Sorry for my english, hope I can put the pictures to help. What I like with the Wesfalia part is the form, I think when ofroad it will be better . I did use it with the NAS so less high. The extended tow bracket is only use for the bikes. I like the way I did make it because the initial tow ball can stay, I did lose one day my tow ball not well fixed ... Not a good day to put a message ... I have try to delete , sorry Philippe Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge current : defender 110 sw 2.2 puma 2012 and 230.000km today and again my Range Rover VM2.5 engine from 1992 and 528.000km today. One ten 1988 to 1992 1987 BMW GS80 One Ten from 1984 to 1987 One Ten from 1983 to 1984 Serie 3 109 from 1980 to 1983 from 1974 Jeep CJ3B and CJ6 |
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11th Aug 2019 9:24am |
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| glpinxit Member Since: 31 Jul 2010 Location: rural Somerset Posts: 156
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Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge A detachable Discovery 2 unit enables the whole lot to be removed if you need to open the door (easier with no bikes on, admittedly). They are no longer that easy to come by but I found this on eBay last year- the holes don’t quite line up so a bit of adjusting was needed. Cheers, Guy. |
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11th May 2021 10:28am |
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| ngins Member Since: 15 Jan 2017 Location: Down South Posts: 80
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Thanks. I may keep an eye on one on eBay as a future option! Good choice in driveway by the way
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11th May 2021 10:41am |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2623  
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Tip here. Weld two nuts to the top of the slider plate ( one each side), then run a bolt through to take up the slack and stop it from rocking.  |
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11th May 2021 1:57pm |
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