Thread: Mitchell Bros. Hitch

Originally Posted by roamer

Terry

Your right its the bush that distorted, but 65k is not big miles
and yes a D4 can pull a just under 2 ton KK into some places that others struggle with a 1ton camper,they really are unbelievable,

And would think the guys who just tow vans on blacktop and gravel and NP roads will not have a problem with the hitch.

But it was designed to go onto the best 4x4 tower ever, and rated at 3.5 ton. Maybe their love of jap crap hindered the design for a D4s capability

So when it starts to fail like that (in the middle of nowhere) and you ring them and get told that if you use it extreme offroad there is an update, for $100 (they were good at getting it to me) ,I find that abit rude.
Also I don't think that bigger bolt will stop the bush from distorting.

I went back to the LR hitch and had no problems , go figure.

Ken

Ps the marks on the end of the bush are not from movement, I pulled it out and turned it around with new bolt, to get out of trouble.

Thanks for your input Ken, we have reviewed the images you have provided and notice several things about the bush.

The bolt is a 12mm unit.
The bolt appears to have come loose and which has caused the bush to deform.

Our installation instructions indicate the initial installation process and the maintenance and retorquing procedure. If either of these steps are not followed, this is potentially what can occur.

The upgraded version to 16mm fitting is a standard upgrade because we no longer support the 12mm bush. We have never stated anything about "extreme offroad" or any other type of driving. If the hitch has been damaged, removed or otherwise tampered with, the fitting kit assembly needs to be replaced to avoid this situatiuon.

If at any time anyone is concerned about their hitch we strongly urge them to contact us during business hours on 02 9905 4764 or email to sales@mitchellbros4x4.com.au.

We are always happy to entertain questions or queries at any time for any reason.

I wish every supplier responded like this! Mitchell Bros and Traxide seem to unfortunately be exceptions, rather than the rule.

Cheers,

Gordon

Originally Posted by discotwinturbo

It's called fleecing and gouging....something we are great at in Australia.

The price is ridiculous for a bush and a bolt!

On a US forum they have talked about this hitch and the massive price for the hitch....but to me there was not alternative and Mitch Bros knew this. But most things appear cheap in the US to me. Someone was going to make his own from the photos he had of the Mitch Hitch, others said that they would be prepared to purchase from him at half the price. Don't know where it's up to though.

The rapid 6 inch adjustable hitch, I had delivered to me door for $170....it was $500 at the last 4wd show.

Brett.....

Thanks for posting Brett.

People are entitled to their opinions but suggesting that we are fleecing or gouging we take offence to.

You clearly have no idea about how much effort went into R&D on this product and just to give you some idea about how much, we didn't break even until we had sold several hundred units. You know the retail price, figure it out.

Just to try to help you understand, we have engineering certification on this item, this alone cost us an amount plus 4 zero's at the end. We also have annual insurance premiums which cover our product. We have to build this into our pricing which you are quick to make comment about but it's our pricing which keeps our doors open which also supports the products we manufacture which keeps 5 Australian families food on their table, plus our distribution channels which has countless more families to support.

We suspect that you purchased your Rapid hitch from online and probably overseas, you sir are part of the problem. Australian business is under extreme amounts of financial pressure to keep their doors open and part of this pressure comes from online sellers with low overheads and low prices. When you have a problem with your product, who will you turn to?? Your local 4wd store, no, he has had to shut his doors, the online seller?? maybe but it's hard to get hold of them because they don't supply a phone number or someone to help you when you need it. What are you going to do sir when you have a warranty problem?? send the part back overseas and wait for a resolution??

Have you seen what happens to the original Land Rover supplied hitch when they fail?? You just keep using your stock towing device and imported Rapid unit that puts excessive load on the already design inadequate original unit, it may just fail at sometime.

People can try and copy it, we knew it would eventually occur. We take this as a compliment, no one else has been able to manufacture or rival our simple and elegant design.

We welcome your feedback and thoughts on the matter, we also entertain any ideas people have about how we can make our product better moving forward.

If you wish to voice your opinions in person or by phone, our contact details are in our signature line ask for Aaron Mitchell.

Originally Posted by gghaggis

I wish every supplier responded like this! Mitchell Bros and Traxide seem to unfortunately be exceptions, rather than the rule.

Cheers,

Gordon

Thanks Gordon, my last reply may also be an exception to the rule.

Can you please give us a call when you have a chance, we need to organise something with your Compo wheels.

Originally Posted by MitchellBros4x4

Thanks Gordon, my last reply may also be an exception to the rule.

Mmm, perhaps

Just to clarify, Brett is using the Mitchell Hitch, not the LR one - it was another poster who said they'd gone back to the LR design.

Will ring this week.

Cheers,

Gordon

In all fairness everyone has the right to buy any legal product from anyone who has the right to sell it, be it directly or over the internet from a OS country.

Most everything I buy is from here in Australia because I have decided to support Australian businesses where possible. But I do not judge others who buy OS, that is their business and they accept the risks and face the possible disadvantages along with the advantages when they make that decision.

cheers,
Terry

Originally Posted by MitchellBros4x4

Thanks for your input Ken, we have reviewed the images you have provided and notice several things about the bush.

The bolt is a 12mm unit.
The bolt appears to have come loose and which has caused the bush to deform.

Our installation instructions indicate the initial installation process and the maintenance and retorquing procedure. If either of these steps are not followed, this is potentially what can occur.

The upgraded version to 16mm fitting is a standard upgrade because we no longer support the 12mm bush. We have never stated anything about "extreme offroad" or any other type of driving. If the hitch has been damaged, removed or otherwise tampered with, the fitting kit assembly needs to be replaced to avoid this situatiuon.

Hi Aaron

Thank you for the reply and for the professional manor in which it was done.

However your observations from the photo and my torque wrench differ.
All bolts on that hitch, the coupling and rims on car and KK, would have been torque tested at least weekly, over a 6 week period prior to the bush deforming,
( I know anal, but when you go away with 2 OH&S inspectors, thats what happens)
The bush bolt was checked when it was noticed that it had begun to drop, the marks on the end are from getting it off to turn it around

I'm still curious as to why the bush and all bolts would need to be replaced if removed.

I and many others do appreciate the effort made to supply an alternate hitch
and was more than happy to buy Aussie.
but if we exclusively bought Assie we would be on a Holden site now hey


Cheers Ken

Originally Posted by MitchellBros4x4

Just to try to help you understand, we have engineering certification on this item, this alone cost us an amount plus 4 zero's at the end. by phone, our contact details are in our signature line ask for Aaron Mitchell.

Did this engineering certification cover calculations on the 12mm bolt and crush tube?

I haven't been involved with the Mitch Hitch in any way. But I've run the calcs several times for recovery mounts. A properly torqued 12mm GR8.8 bolt requires a 25mm diameter crush-tube.