need Custom Towbar Hitch made

[goingbush]

Anybody know a custom Towbar fabricator in Melb / Adelaide
I need to get a custom towbar tounge made, basically I want to remove un-necessary canterlever effect and get rid of the plough tyne on the bottom.

Images might help explain, I want something like the photoshopped bottom picture , but I dont want to chop up my existing bar incase I ever need to tow other stuff.

its for the Treg hitch on my offroad van

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1367.jpg


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1380.jpg

[Basil135]

Treg Trailers at Underdale (SA) should be able to help. They specialise in that sort of stuff.

Been around for years as well.

[slug_burner]

The towbar itself already has a fair bit of a cantilever before you insert the goose neck. Good luck with finding someone to make up a tailor made solution for you.

We once had a cracked towbar and had the local engineering fabrication shop plate the towbar attachment points. You could try the locals.

I don't know if we have tightened up to the extent that this sort of thing is not able to be done other than by someone who will certify the design.

[goingbush]

The towbar itself already has a fair bit of a cantilever before you insert the goose neck. Good luck with finding someone to make up a tailor made solution for you.

We once had a cracked towbar and had the local engineering fabrication shop plate the towbar attachment points. You could try the locals.

I don't know if we have tightened up to the extent that this sort of thing is not able to be done other than by someone who will certify the design.

Agreed, that reciever on the tow bar does look to be out too far but its designed and rated for that truck which has a quite short distance to the rear axle, I'm unsure about certification but I was hoping a Towbar fabricator rather than a general engineer would have that covered, whatever the forces on the new tounge will be a lot less than the one on the truck.

have sent enquiry to Treg trailers per Basils post, their website certainly shows they have the gear and know how.

[weeds]

hayman reese
Hayman Reese - Interlock Trailer Ball Mount with adjustable 5 hole and Towball - Hayman Reese (http://www.haymanreese.com.au/products/interlock-trailer-ball-mount-with-adjustable-5-hole-and-towball)

pretty sure you can get these off the shelf with what ever drop you require
Hayman Reese - Interlock Trailer Ball Mount (300mm) and Towball - Hayman Reese (http://www.haymanreese.com.au/products/interlock-trailer-ball-mount-300mm-and-towball)

[steveG]

Mount that brown treg receiver upside down on a standard fixed drop hayman reece like Weeds posted and job's done I reckon.

Edit: Like this...


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1378.jpg

Steve

[frantic]

Just wondering why the hitch on " an off-road van" was designed so low?

[goingbush]

Just wondering why the hitch on " an off-road van" was designed so low?

not that low really, just the truck is high
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1353.jpg

[spudboy]

I've got a feeling that Tregs will be quite expensive....

If you need a 2nd quote, we use these people, and they have always done an excellent job: Allin Towbars (http://www.allintowbars.com.au/)

HTH
David

[BigJon]

Southern Towbars at Edwardstown are worth a try too. (08) 8374 1044

[slug_burner]

That thing weeds posted could be used with either a single Cee channel like folded plate or with two right angles would need to ensure the holes to accept the trailer part of the hitch were offset the correct amount.

Not the best bit of graphics manipulation but I hope I got the message across. There, I had another go at it.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1368.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/slug_burner/media/aulro/Towtounge_zpsf2828a46.jpg.html) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1369.jpg (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/slug_burner/media/aulro/Towtounge2_zps50f77ffa.jpg.html)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Anybody know a custom Towbar fabricator in Melb / Adelaide
I need to get a custom towbar tounge made, basically I want to remove un-necessary canterlever effect and get rid of the plough tyne on the bottom.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1367.jpg
Why don't you just get a length of the 2" bar, turn the coupling upside down and bolt it directly to the bar?

Even if you use thick wall tube and have the nut inside the tube.

[goingbush]

Why don't you just get a length of the 2" bar, turn the coupling upside down and bolt it directly to the bar?

Even if you use thick wall tube and have the nut inside the tube.


best idea yet, Assuming its ok to use the treg receiver upside down ??

If I get some bar I'll need to get it made (holes bored and edges chamfered) as I only have basic tools with me.
but 50x50x6 square tube should be fine I can manage that with hand tools.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Is the bolt removable? If it is then the solid bar and a longer bolt would be easiest.

You may want to get someone to weld a couple of short lengths of flat bar to the edges of the square to stop the coupling rotating.

Diana

[Tank]

Couldn't you raise the drawbar hitch to suit the tow bar centreline, doing away with the need to have such a low hitch centreline, which would keep the leverage to a minimum, Regards Frank.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Couldn't you raise the drawbar hitch to suit the tow bar centreline, doing away with the need to have such a low hitch centreline, which would keep the leverage to a minimum, Regards Frank.Looking at the photos, its a seriously lifted Defender.

[spudboy]

It's bigger than a Defender!!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1360.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1361.jpg

[goingbush]

Couldn't you raise the drawbar hitch to suit the tow bar centreline, doing away with the need to have such a low hitch centreline, which would keep the leverage to a minimum, Regards Frank.

that would be ideal if the hitch was at the top of chassis , but not an easy job

pic taken when the van was new and connected to a Defender. I think the warranty would be voided and it might affect resale value if it no longer lined up with a regular 4x4


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1358.jpg

[goingbush]

Is the bolt removable? If it is then the solid bar and a longer bolt would be easiest.

You may want to get someone to weld a couple of short lengths of flat bar to the edges of the square to stop the coupling rotating.

Diana

yes bolt is removable, but looking at it again inverting the coupling may not be such a great idea, the top tang is thinner than the bottom load bearing tang.
the hitch is rated to 3500kg and the Van is only 1800 so it would probably be Ok I'll contact Trigg Bros to see if I can invert it.

[Sitec]

I'd be happy to make something up..... 'to be used off road on a private property' ;) As someone said before, loose the clumsy L shaped thing and use a std tongue with the jaw inverted and bolted on... It would all come pretty close to being in line and get the pivot closer to the tow vehicle..

[frantic]

not that low really, just the truck is high
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1353.jpg

Have you thought of option B or C ?
B ) take the hitch on the van from under the vans front A frame to above the A frame as in the pic the base plate of the hitch is bolted under the A frame on the van. This will give you better ramp over.
C) raise the suspension or bigger tyres on the van so it is in line with your truck, then you only need a normal straight out attachment point. This will give both better ramp over and make it match your truck so your not dragging it in certain situations where your vehicle has better clearance than the van, though it will effect side slope /tipping point.

[dullbird]

yes bolt is removable, but looking at it again inverting the coupling may not be such a great idea,
the top tang is thinner than the bottom load bearing tang.
the hitch is rated to 3500kg and the Van is only 1800 so it would probably be Ok I'll contact Trigg Bros to see if I can invert it.

Can you reinforce the thinner tang to make it more load bearing?

[goingbush]

Can you reinforce the thinner tang to make it more load bearing?

its forged steel, possible but would be easier to make a new one.

[frantic]

Just having a look at the 7pm pic, maybe if you are (really) good at welding cut the whole A frame off from around 30cm(near the round post holder in the pic) back from the hitch, flip it 180 degree's and re-weld it with 4 re-enforcing plates, covering the vertical sides of the welds, and a second base plate. Then this would line the hitch up.
The cuts would need to be identical and square to allow easy re-attachment , not 100% on the legality. This way where the bottom of your hitch bolts face the ground becomes the top and the angle goes from 45 up to 45 down. The only other issue is re-doing the gal.
I can picture how this could be done , but would not attempt it as I know the mess I would make :D

[ScottW]

Towbars of Woden made me up a custom towbar for my MX5. They are in Canberra, but they may be able to help.