Tow Hitch - British Off Road vs Mitch hitch

[Aussie Jeepster]

I'm looking at getting a replacement for my rear plough, and it will be either a Mitch Hitch or British off Road.
Anyone have any major issues of one vs the other???
The BOR unit is on fleabay and with some deals that Ebay are doing, it can be had for as low as $450 ($575 - 20% from Ebay) plus shipping whereas the Mitch Hitch is $730 + shipping.
Is there that much difference between the 2 units???
Yes, I'm aware of the argie bargie that went on about the BOR unit, but as a consumer, they look the same to me.

[shamirj]

hi,

I did consider both options before buying the mitch hitch (2nd time around ie 2nd purchase, other one was fitted on a D3 left it on vehicle at point of sale) purchased another for the D4. I for one would like to support the original manufacturer of these units and think their hitch is/are brilliant. no connection to the company or people. you can also get some money back when you sell your original LR hitch as i did which can offset the higher purchase price. good luck either way, your money, your choice at the end of the day. cheers

[vee8auto]

I went for the Mitch Hitch, 2006 D3. Not sure of the load rating, I only tow box trailers, camper trailers and occasionally a lightly loaded car trailer. ( update - mine is rated 3500kg )

Didnt realise they were that price, did I pay that ???

Bit of a fiddle to fit the centre bolt but the end result is great. They arent very deep so your Reece Hitch might need trimming and 2 new pin holes installed, which is what I did.

And, bonus, sold the original P.O.S to someone in VIC, as it was still nice n shiney and the key /lock worked perfectly.

[LRD414]

The alternative one has a lot more gussets and steelwork to the sides and above the receiver, which based on photos I've seen would be an issue for fitting a Stone Stomper. I would be taking a close look before going away from the original.

Scott

[DiscoMick]

I was looking at Ezytrail Campers and notice they use Mitch Hitches.

Stirling LX MK2 Off Road Hard Floor Camper Trailer for sale in Nationwide (http://www.ezytrailcampertrailers.com.au/products/hard-floor-camper-trailers-for-sale/stirling-lx-mk2.html)

[laughto]

I think that may be a McHitch, not a Mitch Hitch.

[Milton477]

I have a British Off Road version. 25k towing & it hasn't fallen off yet, no complaints.

[DiscoMick]

I think that may be a McHitch, not a Mitch Hitch.

Oh, you're right. Thanks.
What's the difference?

[101RRS]

Mitch Hitch is a D3/D4/RRS Tow bar - an alternative to the standard LR offering.

The McHitch is a coupling on the trailer.

Here is a pic of my Mitch Hitch
129152

[loanrangie]

I need a raised hitch but baulking at the price tag, there are a few Taiwanese copies on ebay for about $250 - not sure if they are any good.

[Lukeis]

Out of curiosity, why does someone need a raised hitch?

[loanrangie]

Out of curiosity, why does someone need a raised hitch?

Factory hitch is too low for all but a box trailer, my camper trailer is nose down when towing.

[Lukeis]

Makes sense but why is that an issue? Ball weight? I don't tow anything heavier than some lawn or garden mulch (clearly)!

[loanrangie]

Makes sense but why is that an issue? Ball weight? I don't tow anything heavier than some lawn or garden mulch (clearly)!

Ground clearance, ball weight and access to the spare.

[DiscoJeffster]

Factory hitch is too low for all but a box trailer, my camper trailer is nose down when towing.

Interesting. My camper must be low as it tows perfectly level with the D4 hitch. D3 hitch was a disaster though I admit.

[Aussie Jeepster]

Out of curiosity, why does someone need a raised hitch?
With the D3 hitch (aka plough) installed the tow ball is quite low, and the hitch has to be removed to get the spare out.
My trailer is an Army No5 and it needs the tow point to be at the height of the hitch point on the back of the Disco - hence the need for a different type of hitch.

[101RRS]

Makes sense but why is that an issue? Ball weight? I don't tow anything heavier than some lawn or garden mulch (clearly)!

The standard D3 hitch hangs down quite a lot and often hits the ground and is a bit low for towing - hence its nickname the "plough".

Your D4 hitch is different to the D3 hitch in that it is shorter so does not hang down as much and as you have found less problematic - in the markets etc you will often see wanted ads from D3 owners looking for D4 hitches.

If I found one cheap I would definitely get it, because while my Mitch Hitch does the job it is a bit unsightly hanging out the back.

Garry

[Aussie Jeepster]

If I found one cheap I would definitely get it, because while my Mitch Hitch does the job it is a bit unsightly hanging out the back.

Garry
Yep, exactly what I've been looking at as well.

[vee8auto]

Out of curiosity, why does someone need a raised hitch?

the original D3 hitch was known as 'the plough' for obvious reasons. Remember, the Disco 3 is a large 4WD with otherwise excellent approach & departure angles and people want to use it for that.

The original hitch was also known to just 'fall out'..... just drop out.

Not a good look.

[Aussie Jeepster]

BINGO!!!!!!!
Just got a D4/RRS tow hitch, 2 keys, ball and tongue, plus led trailer connector and original landrover invoice on fleabay for $485.
Ebay currently has a 10% off deal, so happy with purchase.
129161

[Fatso]

BINGO!!!!!!!
Just got a D4/RRS tow hitch, 2 keys, ball and tongue, plus led trailer connector and original landrover invoice on fleabay for $485.
Ebay currently has a 10% off deal, so happy with purchase.
129161

That is a steal , well done , probably a grands worth there .

[loanrangie]

That is a steal , well done , probably a grands worth there .

I was looking at that before but i only wanted the hitch and by the time i paid for postage i could buy the BOR hitch instead.
Just occurred to me that i should see if i can sell my plough then buy a raised hitch.

[TuffRR]

Just occurred to me that i should see if i can sell my plough then buy a raised hitch.

That's what i did, although mine was from a D4 so a more desirable item than the D3 plough. Basically straight change over price between that and a used Mitch Hitch.

As others have said, having it permanently sticking out the back would be annoying but because i run a tyre carrier, its never in the way.

[ATH]

I've got a D4 and have gone through this same exercise with getting the hitch right so the van sits level.
I bought an adjustable 4tonne adjustable for about 100 bucks and it works well. If I was going off road I wouldn't leave the thing on anyway so the fact the original equipment is a bit low doesn't bother me.
AlanH.

[Aussie Jeepster]

This is what is going on mine when I get it!
And I'll be bolting a pintle hook to it to tow my Number 5 trailer! It will give plenty of "wiggle room" to get the trailer level.
129319

[PerthDisco]

Passing this on as popped up on a social media feed out of the blue. Thought it might be of interest to the towing people;

Best Height-adjustable Hitch | Rhino Hitch (http://www.rhinohitch.com/)

[Aussie Jeepster]

Looks awesome, but the issue would be, in our nanny country(!), that it would have to be tested and rated to Australian ADR's (or whatever it is for tow hitches).

[dirvine]

I must be missing something here. I have a D4 16.5. When I hook up my off road caravan to the car, the car suddenly starts to raise the back up and so almost self level automatically. Opposite happens when I take van off the tow pin. Car suddenly drops. I have the standard hitch, so wonder why everybody else seems to have issues and needs a Mitch hitch. I understand the earlier models and the D3 with the plough but surely it must have been fixed by the time my car was made, because of what I have experienced.

[Bytemrk]

I must be missing something here. I have a D4 16.5. When I hook up my off road caravan to the car, the car suddenly starts to raise the back up and so almost self level automatically. Opposite happens when I take van off the tow pin. Car suddenly drops. I have the standard hitch, so wonder why everybody else seems to have issues and needs a Mitch hitch. I understand the earlier models and the D3 with the plough but surely it must have been fixed by the time my car was made, because of what I have experienced.

It's about ground clearance.... what you are describing is perfectly normal behaviour for any air suspension D3 or D4.... and the standard hitch is fine height wise for the highway.

The reason everyone describes the hitch as a plough.... is that is exactly how it behaves off road... your departure angle is totally trashed and it doesn't take a big incline to dig it into the ground.

The standard hitch puts the receiver about 400 mm off the ground - A Mitch Hitch puts it closer to 600.

That's the main reason why people replace the standard hitch.

[dirvine]

Thanks Mark, I understand that but I dont bother taking the hitch off anymore, and as yet I have not noticed that it has developed any plough characteristics, even in 4WDing. Maybe I have not got the car on such an extreme angle as yet, or I have used my LLAMs to avoid the problem before it arises. Just had a quick look as i went 4wding on the weekend, and ther is no marks on it at all. I must be lucky!

[Bigbjorn]

I never had a pintle hook/lunette setup until I bought a no. 5 trailer. Now I would not go back to a towball. The ideal equipment for off-road work. I did open up the lunette coupling, remove the pin that fixed it and also took the die grinder to the limit cams to improve tha degree of rotation available. Bloody marvellous both on and off road.

[loanrangie]

Thanks Mark, I understand that but I dont bother taking the hitch off anymore, and as yet I have not noticed that it has developed any plough characteristics, even in 4WDing. Maybe I have not got the car on such an extreme angle as yet, or I have used my LLAMs to avoid the problem before it arises. Just had a quick look as i went 4wding on the weekend, and ther is no marks on it at all. I must be lucky!

Its only the D3 hitch thats a plow as it hangs down a fair bit lower than the D4 one, i just sold my original hitch and picking up a mitch hitch for $150 changeover which i'm happy about.

[D4206]

Its only the D3 hitch thats a plow as it hangs down a fair bit lower than the D4 one, i just sold my original hitch and picking up a mitch hitch for $150 changeover which i'm happy about.


If if anyone else is looking for a Mitch Hitch I have one for sale, less than a year old, rarely used, no longer required due to change of plans. I’ll post an add in the for sale section as well, with picture if I can.

Bill.

[kreecha]

If if anyone else is looking for a Mitch Hitch I have one for sale, less than a year old, rarely used, no longer required due to change of plans. I’ll post an add in the for sale section as well, with picture if I can.

Bill.

Such is life. Thanks for the post Bill :-)
MR Automotive took my phone payment for one at about the time you posted this [bighmmm]

Me - (opinion coming...) I'm an advocate for the Mitch Hitch. It's the original design, and I like buying original if it's affordable. If you closely watch Coles and Woolies shelves, they do what BOR did - wait for someone else do the R&D, then copy the design and undercut. That's rude, and that's home brand and woolies select for you right there.

[MitchellBros4x4]

Such is life. Thanks for the post Bill :-)
MR Automotive took my phone payment for one at about the time you posted this [bighmmm]

Me - (opinion coming...) I'm an advocate for the Mitch Hitch. It's the original design, and I like buying original if it's affordable. If you closely watch Coles and Woolies shelves, they do what BOR did - wait for someone else do the R&D, then copy the design and undercut. That's rude, and that's home brand and woolies select for you right there.

And then continued to sell their hitch as ours, even contacting my loyal distributors to tell them it's the new superseded version and that the mitch hitch was no longer available. Or the other version was that they had the manufacturing rights for the hitch.

There's a range of stories circulating but we prefer the high road, they do say "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery"

We've sold over 1500 hitches over the years and we've never marketed it until 2 years ago when we created a website specifically for it.

Thanks for all your support.

[kelvo]

And then continued to sell their hitch as ours, even contacting my loyal distributors to tell them it's the new superseded version and that the mitch hitch was no longer available. Or the other version was that they had the manufacturing rights for the hitch.

There's a range of stories circulating but we prefer the high road, they do say "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery"

We've sold over 1500 hitches over the years and we've never marketed it until 2 years ago when we created a website specifically for it.

Thanks for all your support.

I think part of the problem of people going the BOR route is that your specific website has always shown ‘Sold out’ when ever I have looked.

[shamirj]

I have bought two original new mitch hitches from the manufacturer one for my old D3 (sold on vehicle) and then on my current D4. Would buy another if i bought another D4 without the hitch no hesitation as i think they are that good. Makes loading either my box trailer or camper much easier. I have no connection to the company just my opinion.

[matti4556]

I think part of the problem of people going the BOR route is that your specific website has always shown ‘Sold out’ when ever I have looked.

And this is exactly the reason I have a "Recovery" branded hitch hanging off the back of my car. When you make a decision to purchase something, the human condition tends to make you want to get it from someone that has it. Website maintenance is paramount if you go down the e-commerce path.
P.s. Happy with the hitch I purchased. It comes with a solid (not hollow) square section tongue and new ball. Don't know if the Mitchell Bros kit does this? Nice to get a complete kit with no installation hassles with the through bolt.
Matti

[jhsnow]

I have one of the recovery units. It was not what I thought was being installed but it has worked well. Not as simple or clean as the Mitch.
My only grumble is the gussets on the head are only welded on one side, I would prefer full double welds on all pieces.

[Aussie Jeepster]

I have one of the recovery units. It was not what I thought was being installed but it has worked well. Not as simple or clean as the Mitch.
My only grumble is the gussets on the head are only welded on one side, I would prefer full double welds on all pieces.

This is an interesting discussion, and I'll try not to "thread drift" too far!
I decided to replace my D3 plough with a D4 unit, and it was an improvement.
Unfortunately, I also have an Army No5 trailer and with a pintle hook mounted in the Land Rover hitch, it is too low - even with the hook mounted as high as I can.
I visited the website you have mentioned a number of times and found no stock available, so I picked up the recovery branded unit a few days ago, coincidentally, on a day where fleabay had a 20% off deal, so it got unexpectedly cheaper.
I prefer to walk into a business and buy stuff personally (that is how my business works), but when you don't know where to find something locally, the web becomes your shop.
My business has a website and we check it every 2 or 3 days to make sure there are no surprises. Occasionally we get a message from a customer about something not working, and we fix it that day.
Unfortunately, some businesses "have a website to have a website" and do not maintain it - I guess it just depends on where you see the web sales priority versus the walk in business.
I'm not having a go at anyone, but when you make a move into the e-commerce sector, you need to follow it through.
I'll be fitting my new hitch next weekend
144256

[Aussie Jeepster]

144257
Wow, just noticed this on fleabay for $95!!!!!
Would have to be a better option wouldn't it!
I can't see the ADR approval sticker - guess it must be hidden underneath.

Interesting description.
Name:Trailer Hitch
Model:657389
Specifications
Fit For:Land Rover LR3 LR4 Range Rover Sport
Color:black
Materials:steel
Size:170*145*145mm

Features
-100% Brand new and high quality.
-Scrub process, more texture, enhance the anti-skid performance, can not afford to paint.
-Products can withstand the impact, extrusion, material wear and other harsh conditions.

Note:Due to the manual measurement,there might be some error.

Package Included
1 x Trailer Hitch
3 x Screw - I'd suggest the purchaser might be scr##ed if they used this and made an insurance claim!!!

[101RRS]

Not sure how that bolts up - doesn't seem to be able to be connected to the rear tow point - note the two pics are of different tow hitches - maybe the one you actually get is different again and will fit.

[Aussie Jeepster]

Ideas on how to sort out the reversing sensors that are now going crazy?
Do I cover the 2 inside ones, and can I put something on the inner edges to overcome the problem?

Alan144513

[discomatt69]

Ideas on how to sort out the reversing sensors that are now going crazy?
Do I cover the 2 inside ones, and can I put something on the inner edges to overcome the problem?

Alan144513

Try rotating them 90 degrees

[DieselLSE]

Ideas on how to sort out the reversing sensors that are now going crazy?
Do I cover the 2 inside ones, and can I put something on the inner edges to overcome the problem?

Alan144513
See this related thread
Mitchell Hitch and Reverse Sensors (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/262795-mitchell-hitch-reverse-sensors.html)

[Aussie Jeepster]

See this related thread
Mitchell Hitch and Reverse Sensors (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/262795-mitchell-hitch-reverse-sensors.html)
Thanks - off to Bunnings tomorrow!

[Aussie Jeepster]

Tried the 13mm clear bumper thingies and no good, so went with 19mm and all is now good.
Cut one in half, and put it on the 2 inboard sensors.

144809

[panoramic7]

144257
Wow, just noticed this on fleabay for $95!!!!!
Would have to be a better option wouldn't it!
I can't see the ADR approval sticker - guess it must be hidden underneath.

Interesting description.
Name:Trailer Hitch
Model:657389
Specifications
Fit For:Land Rover LR3 LR4 Range Rover Sport
Color:black
Materials:steel
Size:170*145*145mm

Features
-100% Brand new and high quality.
-Scrub process, more texture, enhance the anti-skid performance, can not afford to paint.
-Products can withstand the impact, extrusion, material wear and other harsh conditions.

Note:Due to the manual measurement,there might be some error.

Package Included
1 x Trailer Hitch
3 x Screw - I'd suggest the purchaser might be scr##ed if they used this and made an insurance claim!!!


Has anyone tried one of these???