Stock LR vs. Mitch Hitch vs. Ritter — which one’s better? Opinions please!

[BrianElloy]

Getting ready for a Patriot X1 camper trailer and I’m thinking about upgrading my factory LR hitch receive


What do you guys reckon are the pro’s and con’s of stock vs. Mitch Hitch vs. Ritter?

[Eevo]

i have a mitch hitch and i like it.

[loanrangie]

Mitch hitch as well, what is the Ritter one ?

[hv_man]

I’d first establish what height your trailer hitch sits at and see which of the last two best suit.

The stock hitch is a pain especially if you need to get to your spare tyre as the hitch is pretty hard against the tyre. The stock height even with the tongue flipped is to low for most offroad campers.

The Ritter is a new one for me looks ok, different approach.
Assume the height is adjustable?
Looking at it for my trailer it would be to low looking at the pics

I have a Mitch hitch and with the standard LR tongue it. Works perfect for me. Trackabout camper with an oz hitch.
My only issue is if I go to hire a stock trailer from a servo the hitch is to high. I have a separate adjustable drop tongue for this.

[Eevo]

looking at pics of the ritter on, it looks like you cant put a recovery hitch in there.

[DiscoJeffster]

The standard D4 hitch works fine for my Johnnos camper trailer. The trailer sits perfectly level. I have standard sized tyres so no real issues getting to the spare, and I can assure you, I’ve done it a lot of times (damn 19” tyres). Unless you simply want to spend money, get the trailer and then see how it lines up with the standard and go from there.

[Markus1]

For my off-road camper the standard D4 hitch is pretty level assuming a flipped tongue and normal height suspension. Just a touch angled down. Most campers aren't all that heavy so a little bit of down angle on your ball wont kill you. It is very tight though with my slightly oversized tyres 265x65x17 and Ive not tried removal yet. It looks like it'll squeeze past millimetre perfect......maybe. But the position of the shackle mounts is bloddy retarded imo...hard to get to under there. I will probably gang up a second shackle to make life easier.

Admittedly if your towing an off-road caravan then the d4 hitch with a flipped tongue will probably be too low. Its too low for my olds off-road van I know that much. I understand that with the really heavy vans you need to pay more attention to getting it all very level.

Do what jeffster suggests. Line it up and see. Why pay 800+ for an ugly hitch if you don't need it.

[Eric SDV6SE]

Std D4 hitch with Trig Bros polyblock on a flipped up tongue works for me, our Jayco Outback spec camper tows perfectly level, spare removal is not affected at all, and the recovery eye is not blocked by the hitch.

I love the fact the std hitch can be completely removed and stored inside the car, with the cover on tidies up the rear of the car when not towing. Oh, and service the factory hitch receiver, especially the lock and the receiver opening in the car. I spray both with WD40 after a pressure wash at the end of every camping trip.

[DiscoJeffster]

Oh, and service the factory hitch receiver, especially the lock and the receiver opening in the car. I spray both with WD40 after a pressure wash at the end of every camping trip.

Just a tip. Ditch the WD40 and use their spray lube “dry” PTFE. Perfect for lubrication, but doesn’t attract dust.

[Ozzy119]

Mitch hitch for me. The D4 standard one was too low for my camper trailer (KK) so for a while i used Hyman Reese height adjustable tongue to gain lift. But it was a heavy setup and made the whole assembly look very chunky. With the mitch I think the greatest pro is the saving on weight, form my previous arrangement. Surprising how heavy all that stuff is.

I keep the adjustable one for lowering down now, for boat / bunnings trailers etc.

Con - it does stick out at the rear, which you have to be aware of. (that said, it's also a useful nudge protector in car parks)

[Chops]

I use the standard version for both the camper and now the caravan. As suggested, it allows the tow block to be used, or extra long hitches which the MH does too, but after I purchased mine, I decided at that point, it hadn't caused any issues so why bother. Sold it on, got my money back and spent it on other stuff.

Markus, as far as the shackles go, I use a large one through the ring, then two off that,,, no need to climb under to fit this gear. [wink11]

[loanrangie]

Mitch hitch for me. The D4 standard one was too low for my camper trailer (KK) so for a while i used Hyman Reese height adjustable tongue to gain lift. But it was a heavy setup and made the whole assembly look very chunky. With the mitch I think the greatest pro is the saving on weight, form my previous arrangement. Surprising how heavy all that stuff is.

I keep the adjustable one for lowering down now, for boat / bunnings trailers etc.

Con - it does stick out at the rear, which you have to be aware of. (that said, it's also a useful nudge protector in car parks)Makes a good step also.

[Odysseyman]

Mitch hitch for me too. I use it to tow my AOR Odyssey off-road camper trailer and the height is almost perfect, unlike the standard LR hitch which was way too low. It does stick out a bit and is fairly ugly but I think that is more than offset by its capability, especially for instance, for connecting the shackles. It also makes a good step as loanrangie said.

One thing I don’t like is that if I do leave the tongue and ball in situ my reversing sensors go crazy every time I reverse without the trailer on, so I always remove the the tongue nand ball.

Cheers
David

[101RRS]

One thing I don’t like is that if I do leave the tongue and ball in situ my reversing sensors go crazy every time I reverse without the trailer on, so I always remove the the tongue nand ball.

Cheers
David

You need to cover 2/3 of the closest sensors (cover 2/3 closest to the tow bar) - the sensor still works but no sound from the parking sensors.

There are a few threads on this - clear plastic carpet savers from Bunnings - with 1/3 cut out.

148535

[winglen]

Mitch Hitch for me. Perfect level for my camper. Use a drop tongue for a box trailer to keep that level. I have a LRT and RWC so ugliness is not an issue. And I have a switched module to recognise led trailer connection, which turn off the rear sensors which would otherwise yell at the tongue sticking out of the hitch when reversing up, so a neat solution for that too.

[bremund]

Getting ready for a Patriot X1 camper trailer and I’m thinking about upgrading my factory LR hitch receive


What do you guys reckon are the pro’s and con’s of stock vs. Mitch Hitch vs. Ritter?

I have a Patriot X1, used the stock to begin with but it sits nose down. Ended up getting the Mitch Hitch (sorry no photo will need to take one)

148583

[BrianElloy]

I have a Patriot X1, used the stock to begin with but it sits nose down. Ended up getting the Mitch Hitch (sorry no photo will need to take one)

148583

Awesome. Couple of questions:

- how do you find the X1?
- what is the track on the X1 compared to the Disco?
- have you thought about swapping hubs and wheels on the X1 to match the Disco?

[RobA]

Quite frankly we looked at the options you have and simply went to our local tow bar supplier and had them make and fit an approved and 3500kg rated stepped hitch which has survived the last 4 years towing our Ultimate and now AOR Q+ for 3-5 months each year. The only issue we have experienced is having to repaint it once as a result of stone pitting. Apart from that and for $70 we reckon it works for us

Rob

[RickO]

Mitch Hitch for me. Perfect level for my camper. Use a drop tongue for a box trailer to keep that level. I have a LRT and RWC so ugliness is not an issue. And I have a switched module to recognise led trailer connection, which turn off the rear sensors which would otherwise yell at the tongue sticking out of the hitch when reversing up, so a neat solution for that too.


+1

[GeoffH]

Getting ready for a Patriot X1 camper trailer and I’m thinking about upgrading my factory LR hitch receive


What do you guys reckon are the pro’s and con’s of stock vs. Mitch Hitch vs. Ritter?

Mitch for me also, and matched with the Treg coupler.

Another key importance in my (towing) experience(s) is getting your hitched levels right - i.e. the drawbar of your trailer to sit as horizontal (level) as possible when hitched. With the Patriot riding high, as will our Kimberely, the Mitch likely be a much better option.

I can send a few images of our well used Mitch if that helps?

GH

[ATH]

I use a 75 buck 3500 Mr Hitch or something and the original receiver. Our small off road van sits level and a large rated shackle through the chains completes the set-up.
No way was I spending 700 plus for a bit of fabricated square tubing just so the tow bit sits higher......I take the original plough out when not towing as I wouldn't be in real rough stuff with a van on the back.
AlanH.

[bremund]

Awesome. Couple of questions:

- how do you find the X1?

Awesome, has made camping with kids a lot easier. Picked it up in September last year and have used it at a minimum every month. Before that it was once or twice a year.


- what is the track on the X1 compared to the Disco?

I haven't compared track, something I'll have to do.


- have you thought about swapping hubs and wheels on the X1 to match the Disco?

Have thought about it, I believe cruisemaster sells different hubs.

[bremund]

Did some googling

Land Rover Discovery 3
Front Track: 1,605.0 mm
Rear Track: 1,612.5 mm

Patriot X1
Track: 1,550.0 mm

[bremund]

I wouldn't be in real rough stuff with a van on the back.
AlanH.

I got the Mitch Hitch as a Patriot is suppose to go through the rough stuff.

[BrianElloy]

Did some googling

Land Rover Discovery 3
Front Track: 1,605.0 mm
Rear Track: 1,612.5 mm

Patriot X1
Track: 1,550.0 mm

Very close
Shouldn’t create any noticeable drag on sand I’d imagine as the X1 is in the Disco’s footprint

[bakerdavid]

I have the D4 + Mitch Hitch + X1 combination and it works a treat. I normally run at Llams +30mm to get the X1 dead level. Lots of clearance to get over all those high country water bars, and the tailgate lets you do this.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190221/ba06059e16b706530195d97a3a291874.jpg

[Crustie]

Hi
I have just purchased a Discovery 3 2009 which has a Hayman Reece tow bar with the normal square hitch that pulls out
Does anyone have any clues on why this has been fitted? I opened a little hatch in the rear left side and found the
Land Rover Hitch is there not sure what you call it but had the green handle that turns to lock it in
The Hayman Reece hangs lower and you would loose some rear clearance off road ??
Thanks Chris

[101RRS]

It would have been changed over because the OEM D3 tow bar (plow) hangs down even further.

[DiscoMick]

We have Treg block hitches on both our campers and they work fine, with a reversing camera.
I downloaded an app. called Bubble level to my phone which I use to level the camper and it shows the campers are pretty level with the Treg on the Defender.

[Crustie]

It would have been changed over because the OEM D3 tow bar (plow) hangs down even further.

Thanks for the information, I suspected that the original would hang lower.
Thanks
Chris

[loanrangie]

Best is subjective, the stock D4 hitch will suit most for most purposes. The D3 plough would be ok if you are happy to use a raised tongue and remove the hitch when off road, for an offroad camper or van the Mitch Hitch provides the best offroad clearance and makes a handy step.