 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Tow hitch decision support required |
 
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| alantd Member Since: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1513   
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Situation
I'm running a NATO hitch for my Sankey. I want to be able to tow other things as well with a 50mm ball hitch (I already have the OEM adjustable setup which doesn't fit with the NATO holes). I want to strengthen the rear cross member sufficiently that my NATO doesn't bend it under load (which I've seen) I don't want to compromise my rear departure angle any more than I have to. Solution 1 I was thinking that I'd create a modified version of the original adjustable plate - extended to cover the 4 holes in the crossmember that the NATO bolts to. That way I'd have the original tow setup, the NATO and a plate behind it to strengthen the crossmember under shear loads. See diagram below: http://www.defender2.co.uk/gallery/albums/...plate.tiff However: 1) all towing gear has to be certified and tested. I was going to use mild steel 10mm - same as OEM - and the same design so maybe this doesn't apply? 2) it is going to cost £100 to get it made up! 3) with the NATO hitch in place, there's not a lot of space above the OEM hitch - might make it a pain to use 4) the NATO fouls on my spare wheel in the standard position and I can only open it with the rear door open. Great for security but a pain for attaching the trailer. Solution 2 The alternative is to get an adjustable Dixon-Bate with 2 mounting plates, 1 for the NATO and 1 for the 50mm ball. I can then swap them around as necessary. I think the DB will provide sufficient protection for my crossmember. I'd then have full flexibility in height for the 50mm and the NATO would sit a little bit lower making life much easier when mounting the Sankey. However: 1) it'll cost £250 2) it seems that the DB is actually lower than the OEM - compromising my already sh*t departure angle still further - anyone know whether this is true? 3) with the NATO in place, will the DB rattle like hell? 4) should I get a 1 pin or a 2 pin to attach the plate to the bracket? Will a 1 pin be strong enough? Thoughts and wisdom greatly appreciated One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS + New Defender 110 First Edition |
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25th Feb 2010 7:00pm |
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which allows you to swap between hitch types quickly | alantd Member Since: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1513
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It's not that I didn't believe you 
I've just not seen them (can't find them anywhere online - where did you get yours?). I assume this is it in your gallery 
You have a Sankey-based trailer don't you? Does the hitch go high enough to pull in line with the Sankey and is it pulling through the centre of the mount? I can't quite visualise it from the photo - it looks like it protrudes too far to be very strong? I do like the idea of being able to take it off though  I wish Southdown had modified theirs for the Puma. One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS
+ New Defender 110 First Edition |
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25th Feb 2010 8:51pm |
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| The Boy Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: East Northants Posts: 1459 
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I have a lr ajustable hitch on mine and I have to plates one with a ball and pin for work and one with the jaw for the sankey. Yes it is like a plough when offroad
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25th Feb 2010 9:17pm |
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