Fitting a Mitch Hitch

[mowog]

I am thinking about buying a Mitch Hitch for the D4. I have a Kaymar Rear bar which I know will work with the Mitch Hitch.

My question is about the Long Ranger tank. Has anyone with the Kaymar Bar and the Long Ranger fitted a Mitch Hitch?

Are there any traps I should lookout for with this combo.

[minibloodhound]

I had my kaymar bar and long ranger tank fitted by ARB and fitted my Mitch hitch myself. Although kaymar advertise that their D4 bar is designed to fit with the hitch I had to do some trimming to the bar before being able to fit the hitch. Also had a @&$ of a time fitting the main bolt attaching the hitch to the (old) recovery point - but everything works as it should.

[BobD]

My D4 has the Kaymar rear bar, Brown Davis long range tank and Mitch Hitch. Was fitted when I bought it so I don't know what fitting problems they had but it doesn't look like they clash at all.

I just wish they had got the reversing sensors working instead of disabling them.

[Weird Al]

I too have a D4 with a Kaymar bar a Longranger tank and a Mitch Hitch.

And fitting the Mitch Hitch is a complete B!tch. :p

I needed 3 hands, it took me and the Mrs and I ages and plenty of rude words.

We too had dramas with the upper bolt, the worst part is the lack of clearance afforded by the trailer sockets, even after unscrewing them and moving them as far to the side as the cableing allows.

No fun at all.

[mowog]

I don't have the trailer sockets anymore.

[Glynhouse]

I don't have the trailer sockets anymore.

Tell me more - where did they go ?
I assume refitted to the bar, did they rewire them ? Or how did they move them ? Most interested in did they give you a decent sized brake wire ? I think you tow a heavy van.

DD

[Glynhouse]

I don't have the trailer sockets anymore.

Tell me more - where did they go ?
I assume refitted to the bar, did they rewire them ? Or how did they move them ? Most interested in did they give you a decent sized brake wire ? I think you tow a heavy van.

DD

[Glynhouse]

How did that happen ?
3.5 hours apart too. ??

DD

[~Rich~]

That's a BIG ECHO! :wasntme:

[mowog]

Tell me more - where did they go ?
I assume refitted to the bar, did they rewire them ? Or how did they move them ? Most interested in did they give you a decent sized brake wire ? I think you tow a heavy van.

DD
I have a 12 pin plug and an anderson plug under the bar. I had this done before delivery.

I have no issues with brakes.

Can someone post a photo with the mitch hitch fitted to a kaymar.

[Weird Al]

Can someone post a photo with the mitch hitch fitted to a kaymar.


Bwwwwaaaahahaha

[Weird Al]

Sorry, is this best I have.

I can take a closer one tomorrow if you like....since I was mean to you.

[TerryO]

Hi Weird Al, a question if you don't mind please.

Looking at the picture of your Disco I see your hitch height is nearly above the tow bar, my question is what is you trailer hitch height? It looks like it would be up around the 700 to 750mm height.

Is the maximum hitch height in the ACT higher than what is allowed in NSW?

cheers,
Terry

[mowog]

Sorry, is this best I have.

I can take a closer one tomorrow if you like....since I was mean to you.

A close up would be nice. I am curious to see how it clears the wheel latch.

[Weird Al]

Here you go Mowog, there is not a lot of clearance but there is enough.

If you don't fold the handle in after unlocking the carrier before swinging it open it will hit on the edge of the treg coupling (you can see the scuff marks on the outer edge of the handle from each time this has happened) But apart from that it works fine.

My only criticism of the Mitch hitch is the lack of some sort of clamping bolt to stop the hitch from rattling about in the receiver, I just wrap a few layers of electrical tape around it before shoving it in the receiver to take up any slack. If it was not so hard to put back on I would take it off, drill a hole in it and weld a nut to it so I could fit an anti rattle bolt to it....but until then tape will do.


TerryO....As for the height of the coupling I have never considered it an issue.

The treg is set to the height of of my Ultimate camper, and was the same on the previous vehicle a Jeep. They never commented on it when I had it inspected for rego when I first bought it several years ago.

The 50mm ball is only used with the box trailer so is a bit lower, with the standard Landrover one.

The ACT govt like's to be different just for the hell of it, but it is no more that just a glorified local council. A brief look could not find any info on the maximum height. What is it for NSW?

[Weird Al]

It's also clever how the hitch just misses the tailgate when its open.

I am not sure if it was as a result of good design or just luck. But the split level tailgate, as well as letting you see your box trailer when reversing (untill you put a spare tyre in the way...but I can still see through the spokes in mine, which is why it has no cover on it) and also allows clearance for the tow bar, even one as high as mine.:angel:

[mowog]

Thanks for the photos. I will order a Mitch Hitch for the D4.

[mowog]

Ok so they are popular item... I am on a back order list....:eek:

[mowog]

The Mitch Hitch has been delivered and fitted.

Next job tow test with the caravan.

[discotwinturbo]

The Mitch Hitch has been delivered and fitted.

Next job tow test with the caravan.

Mine is due end of June.

How long did it take you to fit ? Did you have to do any cutting and filing like some have had to do ?

Brett....

[mowog]

It didn't take long.

Getting the bush in the recovery point was a bit tricky after that 3 bolts and it was done.

No cutting or grinding required. I do have a Kaymar Bar with the required cut out.

[Tryanything]

Just curious-it looks to me that with the Kaymar and mitch hitch added it extends the eqivalent of the "towball" pivot point quite a bit further away from the back of the car (tailgate) than the standard bar/ towball? Or is it just the photos that make it look that way?

Could someone who has one fitted measure the distance from the back of the tailgate to the centre of the pivot point for me? Much appreciated..

[discotwinturbo]

I would have thought that it would be the same....there is no difference in the part.

Or do you mean the tongue needed extends out further ?

Brett....

[Tryanything]

Just looking at the photos by Weird Al where he shows the hitch missing the tailgate when the tailgate is open.

Mine currently has the standard LR tongue and ball and the ball sits about 200mm??further back (hidden under the tailgate) when the tailgate is open.

[mowog]

The Mitch hitch sits back from the rear bar a few inches so it will put the hitch point back a bit. I haven't towed with it yet so I don't know if it has made a difference.

The change to a Mitch Hitch was all about removing failure points I never been comfortable with the Land Rover setup.

[Fatso]

The Mitch hitch sits back from the rear bar a few inches so it will put the hitch point back a bit. I haven't towed with it yet so I don't know if it has made a difference.

The change to a Mitch Hitch was all about removing failure points I never been comfortable with the Land Rover setup.

I have read and read about the landrover removeable tow hitch and for the life of me cant see that if all is done correctly how it is any less or more reliable than any other type of hitch . Must admit i did get the d4 hitch for my RRS as the plough was far to low for my camper . I have read about them falling out of the hitch reciever but i cant see how if it is put in correctly in the first place . :confused:

[mowog]

The 2 that I have heard of that fell out were due to a casting fault. I had my D4 checked for that.

I tow a a van that is at the limits of the D4 3500kg and 320kg on the ball. All that weight just adds to wear and tear on the multiple connections I need to get my van level. The Mitch hitch removes one wear point it also gets the hitch in a better spot for my van. I will also now be able to open my rear door.

The wheel latch couldn't be released when the van was attached moving the pin back a few inches has fixed that issue as well.

[unseenone]

We're trying to get some interest together for a group buy on the Mitch Hitch here in the US. Can someone suggest a vendor that would likely work with us on a price and shipping to the US please.

Thanks

[CaverD3]

I would contact Mitchell Bros direct. Aaron Mitchel is the guy you need to deal with. You could become the US distributor for them and get the onseller price?

When being developed the height blow the tailgate was cinsidered and it should clear easily even with a trag hitch at off road trailer height. Yet to see a set up that hasn't cleared. Anyone has problems?

[mowog]

We're trying to get some interest together for a group buy on the Mitch Hitch here in the US. Can someone suggest a vendor that would likely work with us on a price and shipping to the US please.

Thanks

The bigger issue is getting certification to use it in the USA. It meets Australian standards but you would need to see if that's good enough for the USA.

[CaverD3]

Definite issue in UK/Europe I think US may be easier but do your research.

[mowog]

We did a test tow with the new hitch yesterday.

No getting under the car to attach the chains is a bonus for us old fella's
We couldn't swing the spare wheel away before now we can (with the van attached)
With less joints/connections there is less feedback from the van when braking.
The seat of the pants feel tells us that the van seems to tow better.

Well worth the money.

[haydent]

Mitch Hitch offer great service ! I sent request via contact form, and they called me back one hour later ! if you are fitting used, you may need to buy new fitting kit, as a used bush will have taken the shape of the past cars hitch and also bulged as part of the normal torque fitting process..

[haydent]

3D printed parking sensor shield for Mitch Hitch
(https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l320-range-rover-sport/293374-3d-printed-parking-sensor-shield-mitch-hitch.html)
Stops the reverse parking sensors from being triggered by an aftermarket raised tow hitch, such as "Mitch Hitch"

[haydent]

Just wanted to share this way to modify and install the factory cover to fill in the gaps around the mitch hitch. You can got replacement covers for $30, if you ever need to revert, or if you'd prefer to chop up a cheap one.

194676

194675

Also a note after some long term use, keep an eye on the lower bolts (though id check them all), as even though they are nyloc, mine did come quite loose before i noticed the movement of the hitch.