tow ball height wanted

[discowhite]

attention all D3 owners.. im after the tow ball heights of your D3's at the different settings please.

need to know for modifications to a trailer.

cheers phil

[discowhite]

so you bought a D3 and cant afford a tape??

come on fellas!

cheers phil

[gwebb]

I'm not sure of the height of a towball on a D3 but I do know that the Australian standard for a height of a towball base is between 400mm and 450mm above the ground, irrespective of the vehicle bieng a 4wd or normal passenger car.
If you build your trailer with this in mind then you can't go far wrong.

[Scouse]

I have heard it mentioned on here that the ball height with the genuine towbar is rather low. I know the way the Aussie genuine bar is fitted is a poor design as it's susceptible to damage.

The Mitchell Bros towbar seems a lot better height & design wise. A lot of cars through here have them now & having them take a regular HR hitch would give you more height options.

[discowhite]

I'm not sure of the height of a towball on a D3 but I do know that the Australian standard for a height of a towball base is between 400mm and 450mm above the ground, irrespective of the vehicle bieng a 4wd or normal passenger car.
If you build your trailer with this in mind then you can't go far wrong.


ive had a fair bit to do with trailers and have never come across that b4.
i cant really see why the height of the hitch would be an issue??
issues arrise when the trailer is nose down or nose up when attached to the tow.

cheers phil

[miky]

issues arrise when the trailer is nose down or nose up when attached to the tow.


So does that mean you can only tow a trailer on flat level ground? :wasntme:


.

[discowhite]

The combination of tow vehicle and trailer must be “properly set up”. This means that there is a load of about 10% of the total trailer mass on the towbar and that the outfit has a level attitude. Generally this necessitates the use of a load distributing device.:wasntme:

in other words if the car is level and on level ground, a line drawn through the trailer MUST be as close to horizontal as possible.

cheers phil

[discowhite]

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/2005_10_towingtrailers.pdf

last page.

cheers phil

[CaverD3]

If you have the 'Mitch Hitch' you can set the height of the trailer by the drop down from the draw bar.
If you are serious about towing off the blacktop you should get one.
I can give you the height of the mitch hitch. Let me know how you want the measurement taken.

[discowhite]

thanks mate,
if its adjustable can you give me the the highest and lowest heights, if its not too much stuffin around.

cheers phil

[Drover]

Hey Phil,

A Mitch Bros hitch, to the middle point of the receptor measures,

Access height = 520mm

Normal height = 570mm

Off road height = 620mm.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Grant

[discowhite]

thanks grant!
do any of these heights stop you from opening the rear door with the trailer on?

cheers phil

[CaverD3]

Beat me to it, I was just about to measure. :angel:

discowhite, you will need to measure the height that your tow ball tongue is below the centre of the mitch hitch for your trailer height.

Mitchell Bros Hitch:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/1096.jpg

You have 130mm clearance from the centre of the hitch to the rear door at the rear of the hitch receiver.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/1097.jpg


You could have problems if you did this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/1098.jpg

More like this:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/1099.jpg

That would be about normal on road trailer height.

[barney]

there's an easier way to guage the correct height of a towbar without a tape measure.
all you have to do is fit it at the exact height where it will do the most damage to your shin when you walk into it.
"if it doesn't make you cry like a little girl, then it's not at the right height"

[discowhite]

good on ya barney;)

thanks heaps carverD3
i have a Orac hitch that would be used, its height is only 60mm and it can be mounted upside down.

at least now i dont have to modify the trailer A frame at all:D

thanks all for the reply's

cheers phil

[Redback]

What not going to the new Puma Defender:p

Baz.

[discowhite]

What not going to the new Puma Defender:p

Baz.

ahhh no....
i want something with a bit more pimp to it:cool:

cheers phil