Thread: Upgrade to Mitch Hitch or stick with standard D4 hitch

I've stayed with the standard equipment on our 2016 D4 and it's adequate for everything we do and that includes mild off road stuff. If I was to go mountain climbing I wouldn't be towing a van or camper anyway.
When I attach the tow hitch I always check the thing is properly fitted by feeling if the locating bar that comes out is fully extended. Don't see how that can drop out if it is.
No way was I paying 700 + bucks for something made of a bit of box tubing and a bit of welding to solve a problem which for us doesn't exist.
AlanH

Originally Posted by ATH

No way was I paying 700 + bucks for something made of a bit of box tubing and a bit of welding to solve a problem which for us doesn't exist.
AlanH

But you will pay the same for the OEM offering that does not do all that the Mitch Hitch can. Bang the OEM hitch on a few big rocks and see how soon the fatigue cracks set in.

We’ve towed an off road camper across OZ and now a larger semi off road van all around WA with the standard D4 hitch and Trig Bros polyblock hitch. Absolutely no issues. When I first ought the car (2nd owner) I took the D4 hitch to a LockSmith as I did not have the key. They redid the lock, 2 new keys and serviced the entire hitch for about 50 bucks. I’ve also cleaned out the receiver and I always spray the receiver and hitch with WD 40 after every trip. Has. Or let me down yet. The hitch locates very securely into the receiver in the car and I always lock it in place.

Re the rear sensors, you need to install load resistors into the wiring for each of the trailers signal wires, this sends a pulse signal to the car so that it knows you are towing a trailer. This then cancels the reverse sensors as well as the vehicles auto levelling feature.

Cheers

Eric

+1 for chops and grumpygreg, I'm in the same boat, no need.
You can also get 3.5T rated raised towballs if you need small adjustment in height to get the van level. Much less height change than inverting the tongue.
Peter

"Bang the OEM hitch on a few big rocks and see how soon the fatigue cracks set in. " That may be a problem for some but as I said it won't be for me. The OME hitch receiver isn't attached full time and only goes on when our small off road van is attached.
If others want to drag their van/camper over rocks etc. that's up to them. If they want to do it with something costing that much for what are just cheap materials in a box saying made in Oz, that too is up to them.
I know my limitations and know when not to bother trying something just for the sake of it. The OME part is adequate as far as I'm concerned.
AlanH.

Hi, I've had a similar hitch to the Mitch Hitch on a D4 for four yrs.
Not sure if it interferes with the sensors but the rear wheel carrier certainly does.

I would go with the Mitch or similar for sure. Haven't had any problems & I have a ball thats 500mm off the ground without any fancy adjustable receivers.My off road Zone van sits level & tows like perfectly with no moving around.
Well worth the swap.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Ashes

I currently have a D3 for a few more days that I fitted a Mitch Hitch to a few years ago. When I upgraded tvhe hitch it was for 2 reasons..no plough affect and that it could not drop out of the mount. Brilliant piece of kit that never let me down and could be relied upon. Just working out if I need to transfer it to the new ride.

What I never liked was how it interfered with the parking sensors unless they were half blanked out and the amount it projected from the rear.

I’m just about to move to a D4 as I’m now towing a large van instead of the camper trailer and want to know if it still a almost mandatory upgrade. I note the standard D4 Hitch now sits higher so it’s less of a plough but not sure if it still has the potential for falling out like a few of the D3 ones did.

Is is still a must do upgrade on the D4 for towing large off road vans?
Also, does the Mitch Hitch still interfere with the rear parking sensors?

Appreciate thoughts from those who regularly tow large loads. Thanks.

I got my Mitch Hitch fitted last week..... a great bit of kit and don't regret buying it for a second!!! It gives me so much more ground clearance compared to the stock D4 hitch and would be many times stronger than the stock hitch due to the 3 BIG Bolts holding it on.

For me, I pretty much had to get the Mitch Hitch as we have an Offroad Camper Trailer and want to use it as such (ours is no Caravan Park queen LOL). Therefore the "plough" had to go. Also, the front end of our Camper Trailer was way too low and not level enough with the stock hitch, even with the Towball Receiver swapped around the other way.

Everyone will try to justify their own decision on whether they did or didn't buy a Mitch Hitch, just do what you think best for YOU and your family. Bear in mind..... the White Bushing that goes through the Recovery Point (see 1st pic below) in the Disco is supposed to be a one time use item!!!

In regards to the rear parking sensors, it's a bit weird..... we had temporarily fitted the Mitch Hitch to our 2015 D4, but I had to go out for an appointment, so drove off with it tight, but not permanently "fitted", while I was out and put the car in reverse it sensed the Mitch Hitch was "in the way"...... but once I had gone back to the mechanics and completed the final fitting to the Mitch Hitch, the rear sensors didn't go off anymore? I haven't yet tried, but I'm sure that when I put the Towball Receiver in, the rear sensors would go off...... to fix it I bought a couple of 19mm rubber grommets from Clark Rubber to stick to the inner two rear sensors.

Originally Posted by DNB

I got my Mitch Hitch fitted last week..... a great bit of kit and don't regret buying it for a second!!! It gives me so much more ground clearance compared to the stock D4 hitch and would be many times stronger than the stock hitch due to the 3 BIG Bolts holding it on.

For me, I pretty much had to get the Mitch Hitch as we have an Offroad Camper Trailer and want to use it as such (ours is no Caravan Park queen LOL). Therefore the "plough" had to go. Also, the front end of our Camper Trailer was way too low and not level enough with the stock hitch, even with the Towball Receiver swapped around the other way.

Everyone will try to justify their own decision on whether they did or didn't buy a Mitch Hitch, just do what you think best for YOU and your family. Bear in mind..... the White Bushing that goes through the Recovery Point (see 1st pic below) in the Disco is supposed to be a one time use item!!!

In regards to the rear parking sensors, it's a bit weird..... we had temporarily fitted the Mitch Hitch to our 2015 D4, but I had to go out for an appointment, so drove off with it tight, but not permanently "fitted", while I was out and put the car in reverse it sensed the Mitch Hitch was "in the way"...... but once I had gone back to the mechanics and completed the final fitting to the Mitch Hitch, the rear sensors didn't go off anymore? I haven't yet tried, but I'm sure that when I put the Towball Receiver in, the rear sensors would go off...... to fix it I bought a couple of 19mm rubber grommets from Clark Rubber to stick to the inner two rear sensors.

Could you show a picture of the rubber grommets?

Also, did you buy a recovery block?