Stinger towball tongue in D4 hitch?

[winaje]

Hi all. Just obtained a D4 hitch for my D3, and now looking to replace the ridiculously long towbar tongue I currently have. Found this online in the US:
Stinger 2" drop 1" lift aluminium towball hitch, rated to 3600kg tow and 360kg nose (http://www.andersenhitches.com/Products/3503--2-alumistinger-ball-mount.aspx)
and would like any opinions on it. My wife will be back in the US for a month in August so I could have her bring it back.

Their hitches and WDH look interesting too (not igniting the whole D3/4/RRS WDH debate AGAIN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HRoQ_yQZQwQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xvM7mCnqmwo

[Owen]

Looks good to me, certainly seems great value as well. Not sure about the legalities if it should fail re insurance etc though. Maybe someone here would know if it needs some sort of ADR certificate or if because its rated then it would be ok.

[discotwinturbo]

Do you only tow one trailer ?

I tow several and have a rapid hitch....about $180 delivered to Australia from the us, so much cheaper if your wife brings it home. Have been using for about 3 years. Price in Australia by importer was about $650 at the time....fleecing and gouging.

It is used once a week to tow a 3.5 tonne horse float. The rating is 4.5 tonne, but ball being used is rated to 3.5 tonne, but you can purchased it with a 70mm ball on the lower side to flip for different trailers.

Brett....

[winaje]

Curse you Brett, stop tempting me...

[Redback]

GALL BOYS TESTING McHITCH AUTO-COUPLER OFFROAD CARAVAN COUPLING - YouTube

Baz;)

[Collins]

Alloy stinger hitches at varying heights are available in Australia at quite reasonable prices. I have seen them on sale at various automotive parts stores throughout Australia.

[Tombie]

Be careful, many are rated 2500kg or less..

Only a select few manufacturers cover the 3500kg spectrum.

[winaje]

Be careful, many are rated 2500kg or less..

Only a select few manufacturers cover the 3500kg spectrum.

They are rated at 8000lb (3600ish kg) tow and 800lb (360ish kg) nose.
(if ya'd checked tha link ya woulda seen it lol)

[mikeford]

Basic mechanical laws state that the further you put the weight away from the fulcrum the greater the leverage. That towball mounting hole looks further away from the car than standard that addition distance alters leverage and will lessen actual usable download weight. Sorry to sound like a spoil sport.:(

[winaje]

Basic mechanical laws state that the further you put the weight away from the fulcrum the greater the leverage. That towball mounting hole looks further away from the car than standard that addition distance alters leverage and will lessen actual usable download weight. Sorry to sound like a spoil sport.:(

Completely true. If/before I order I'll be asking the various measurements, and seeing if I can get the neck as far into the hitch as possible. If necessary I'll have it redrilled at out machine shop.

The D4 hitch sleeve is 125mm long, and it's (about) 75mm from the back of the hitch to the centre of the hole.

[rufusking]

Will, the D4 manual does have these dimensions for the position of the towball

[Meken]

I've seen similar up / down adjustable at arb but didn't take note of rating as I was just getting a 2nd hitch for a different trailer

[Tombie]

They are rated at 8000lb (3600ish kg) tow and 800lb (360ish kg) nose.
(if ya'd checked tha link ya woulda seen it lol)

I know that :D

Was referring to the "several available in Australia" versions..

Some are rated lower :)

[Redback]

What the hell are you planning on towing Will??

[winaje]

What the hell are you planning on towing Will??
A 6'x4' box trailer full of air Baz, lol. BUT I never want to get caught in a situation where I am unable to tow anything right up to the vehicles capacity.

[Redback]

A 6'x4' box trailer full of air Baz, lol. BUT I never want to get caught in a situation where I am unable to tow anything right up to the vehicles capacity.

I've towed 3,500kg with our D4 (well it was actually around 3,300kg)just using the hayman reese tongue and 50mm ball, the D3/D4 tows brilliantly, no need for any of that WDH crap, waste of money IMHO.

Always carry a spare tongue and ball just in case, paid off that trip.

Baz.

[winaje]

...no need for any of that WDH crap, waste of money IMHO...
Geez Baz, I said I'm NOT igniting the WDH debate again, lol

[ADMIRAL]

Will, the D4 manual does have these dimensions for the position of the towball

Pretty much any of the towlugs where an angled flatbar is welded to the 50mm square section, are well outside these recommendations. Any of the extended lugs, are miles outside. ( mine is 80 odd mm over )

Generally there is 50 to 55mm from the pin, still inside the receiver. Cuts out a lot of options, if you follow the letter of the LR spec.

I'm no engineer, but if you make the assumption that the LR spec is at the maximum rated load, coming down in ballweight and towing load, should cut you some slack. From that, if you are towing up near that maximum load, and you have an extended towlug.........you could be stretching your luck..... and everyone else's.

[winaje]

After speaking with the guy at Andersen Hitches, I've found that the total distance from hitch pin hole centre to tow bar mount hole centre is 7 inches, only an inch longer than the LR recommendation. I'm happy with that, so have ordered the Stinger 2" drop tongue, and a nylon capped greaseless 3600kg rated tow ball to go with it. Will update thread when they arrive at the start of September.