Thread: Disappointed with Towbar

Even cheaper at sub-$50 posted.

Roadsafe 4WD Ball Mount 40x40mm Shank 50mm Drop 30mm Rise 220mm Length MH 402 | eBay

Many thanks Brett. I looked at them, then measured the LR tongue, and yeah maybe something like that might do the trick.

In terms of height they don't give me any more than the LR, but they are further away from the bumper. I'm also considering a different hitch than a ball so the bumper becomes not an issue.

I found a few now you've steered me in the right direction, but they all have various ratings so I'm going to have to take the boat to a public weigh bridge and finding out exactly what weight I'm towing and what the existing towball weight is. I'll use the ute for that.

I've always suspected it was up near the Utes top load and always wanted to find out exactly. To be honest I've got a sinking feeling that the boat will go over the 1600kgs that seems to be a standard for these different hitches. The LR tongue is 2000kg.

In the end I might have wasted my money on a towbar because I mightn't be able to use the Freelander to tow it. Time will tell. It's been an expensive and annoying journey so far...

Still love the vehicle though.... it's a beautiful vehicle and a sheer pleasure to drive.

Hmm. Weighed the boat. 1740kg total with 200kg loading the ball. So that's over the overall capacity of those tongues and the towball weight.

Starting to think the FL won't be able to tow the boat because of the height, weight and closeness issues. Bugger.

I'm at the end of my ideas.... can anyone offer advice please?

Surely I'm not the first person to have issues with a low towbar... I can't find anyplace that I can take the trailer to get it modified.

I don't think there is a 40mm extension and lift that will do the job and carry a 200kilo down weight.

So I need to modify the trailer ( I think ). Anyone know what type of business would do that and then guarantee its legal? The trailer mob said they wouldn't be willing to mod it.

Any thoughts most welcome.

The modification you need to the trailer is a very simple metalworking job, I'm surprised your trailer place is 'not comfortable' to do it- or are they simply a reseller rather than a manufacturer of trailers? Any general engineering or metal fabrication place should be able to modify the drawbar. I'd be putting the coupling inside the base of a length of channel (or 'U') section steel and welding that to the existing square section, after shortening it a suitable amount. That would put the coupling about 110mm lower, more of you made the channel deeper and extended it below the existing. Being gal will make the job a bit of a pain but still do-able. Your park brake latch will need some modifying but it is a bit jury-rigged anyway.

Oh and stay away from those extended towbar tongues- the rating calculations on your towbar are based on the geometry of the load point and the attachment points- any 'rating' on those ebay tongues will be random at best.

Thanks very much POD... That is a similar idea to what I had thought, but the trailer mob saying no made me think it wasn't do-able. I hadn't considered a general engineering mob... There is one near me I could try.

Does anyone know the legalities of it? Do I need certification after the mod somehow?

I was told by a trailer manufacturer that it was now non-compliant if there was any welding between the coupling and spring mount.
This could be due to the sharp increase of Chinese fabricated rubbish.

G'day ,
just looked in my Hayman Reese book - highest load rating on 40mm square appears to be 1600kg .

Thats a 2013 book tho.

May be able to use a 'interlock adjustable ' but im not 100% that its a 40mm square - has a load rating of 2000kg

Part # is 21228 .

Otherwise , a good engineering firm as stated could remanufacture your hitch on trailer - or try a chassis manufacturer .