 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Penman trailer plug change |
 
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| diesel_jim Member Since: 13 Oct 2008 Location: hiding Posts: 6092   
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2 pins have a lot less "clunk" as well
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6th May 2021 7:18am |
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| Norfolk-n-chance Member Since: 01 Sep 2019 Location: Usually in the garage! Posts: 80 
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Is solved the clunk issue by slotting a couple of old steel tent pegs into the corners of the plate. The lightweight style pegs like a bit of lightweight angle iron, they slot in easily and lock everything up “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
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6th May 2021 10:44am |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 1997
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The issue is it was designed to be towed behind a military Land Rover, so no spare wheel on the rear door, pintle fitted on the crossmember and I think those land rovers are extra inch off the ground. As diesel Jim stated the penman was designed to be nose down, However not as nose down as civvy defenders force it to be without raising the spare and mounting the pintle as high as possible. But in the end there is nothing quite like having a penman behind your defender and they will last a lifetime. I remember towing mine home a 100mile when first bought . It was so easy I kept forgetting it was there and got many waves from other passing defenders and quite a lot of looks from other vehicles. |
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6th May 2021 11:32am |
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| Vitesse Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Sussex Posts: 381 
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Totally agree Ianh
The Penman is bullet proof (probably literally!) and a pleasure to tow. 
 Click image to enlarge 2015 90 XS Santorini Black |
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6th May 2021 12:45pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17367 
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Without wanting to divert this thread, does anyone know where I could get a replacement gas spring for the Bradley MH35 coupling on a Penman or widetrack Sankey? They seem to be totally unavailable, and it annoys me that one failed gas spring could result in at least the coupling and possibly the trailer being scrap. Bradley Dixon Bate (the world's most unhelpful company since the Al-Ko takeover) initially denied making the coupling then simply refuse to sell parts for it.
Someone, somewhere, must know where there's a stock of these! |
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6th May 2021 10:11pm |
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| Norfolk-n-chance Member Since: 01 Sep 2019 Location: Usually in the garage! Posts: 80
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Have you tried Blanchards? “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.”
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6th May 2021 10:35pm |
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| Norfolk-n-chance Member Since: 01 Sep 2019 Location: Usually in the garage! Posts: 80
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I remember towing mine home a 100mile when first bought . It was so easy I kept forgetting it was there and got many waves from other passing defenders and quite a lot of looks from other vehicles.[/quote]
Well, today (Friday) is the big day!! I’m going to choose and collect the Penman, then I’ve got a 150mile tow home so we’ll see Ian!!! I will admit to being ever such a little bit like a kid!!!!!! “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.” |
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6th May 2021 11:21pm |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 1997
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Don’t forget to set the pintle to rotate in all the excitement
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7th May 2021 12:10pm |
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| Norfolk-n-chance Member Since: 01 Sep 2019 Location: Usually in the garage! Posts: 80
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Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge It was a long day but very much worth it! I’ve never towed anything so easy, like a dream. I had the pick of around 25 trailers and I chose the best one, still with the grease on all the parts and the moulding spiky bits on the tyres. NATO hitch fixed to the slider saddle and set at the highest point, hooked up with door open and once closed there was about 25mm clearance between the top of the hitch and the spare wheel. And I remembered to set the hitch to rotate, thanks Ian!! “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.” |
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8th May 2021 12:27am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17367
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I can't make it out in the photos, but did you remember to fit a locking pin or wire to the jaw of the pintle?
It is important since under certain (rare) conditions the NATO pintle can come open releasing the lunette, and there are few good outcomes. There are bespoke clips (and indeed you may have one, I can't see), but I tend just to use an offcut of fence wire or similar. |
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8th May 2021 9:56am |
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| Norfolk-n-chance Member Since: 01 Sep 2019 Location: Usually in the garage! Posts: 80
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No, I, er, well, oops...
No I didn’t lock the hitch, I’ve had a look at the proper pins and I can’t justify £25 for an overgrown safety pin! I think I’ll do as you do and use a wire or similar “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.” |
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10th May 2021 12:00am |
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| Norfolk-n-chance Member Since: 01 Sep 2019 Location: Usually in the garage! Posts: 80
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Did you try PA Blanchard? It’s like Aladdins cave there! “a committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide nothing can be done.” |
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10th May 2021 12:03am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17367
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I will give them a try, thank you. I tried one or two dealers, most of whom can supply a complete coupling but not just the gas spring. As far as I can tell, the MoD doesn't replace the springs, just the couplings (probably send the coupling out for refurb but I am not sure to whom, possibly the exceptionally unhelpful Al-Ko) and therefore doesn't hold stocks of gas springs to declare surplus.
Blanchards was one I haven't tried, so thank you for the suggestion. |
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10th May 2021 7:10am |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 1997
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£9.99 or less for pin https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253994888072?ca...gKGFvD_BwE Worth it to not see your new shiny penman doing somersaults down the road |
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10th May 2021 12:25pm |
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