Thread: D4 tow hitch maintenance

Prompted by this thread, I removed the tow hitch from the D3 today. Last time I removed was about 5 years ago when I replaced the original D3 hitch with one from a D4.

Only took me 30mins to get it out - seems it is the lock mechanism that jams up if not used regularly (and yes I do know how to operate the lock).

Might strip down the old D3 hitch mechanism for practice and then do the same on the D4 hitch.

For anyone interested, this is the comparison is size between the D3 and D4 tow hitches.

Hi

> Might strip down the old D3 hitch mechanism for practice and then do the same on the D4 hitch.

Beware. See that little pin poking up? Under that is a very small, strong, spring and a ball bearing. It is just waiting for an opportunity to escape :-) From personal experience with mine.

Mike

Originally Posted by speleomike

Hi

> Might strip down the old D3 hitch mechanism for practice and then do the same on the D4 hitch.

Beware. See that little pin poking up? Under that is a very small, strong, spring and a ball bearing. It is just waiting for an opportunity to escape :-) From personal experience with mine.

Mike

I suspect if you remove the ball bearing, small spring, and that pin you would actually make it less likely to jam up if you tend to leave the hitch permanently fitted like I did for the last 5 years.

On closer examination I believe the small spring/ball bearing and the release pin seize up and this is what gets jammed and prevents the main plunger being withdrawn to allow removal of the hitch.

I have decided it is best to leave the tow hitch removed and only fit when needing to use. Then you can make sure it is all free before fitting. If planning on leaving it fitted - then remove at least once a year and lubricate to make sure it hasn’t seized up.

This is all even more important for those with a D3 hitch as you won’t be able to get the spare wheel out if the hitch is stuck on.

Originally Posted by ATH

I take mine out after every towing trip. I also hose the hitch off and the receiver as well and replace the red plastic insert to keep a bit of crap out.
It's never a problem off road although we have taken the van into some nice out of the way places along the Fitzroy River etc. Yes it's a crappy designed thing but no way would I pay 700 plus bucks for a bit of square tube welded up in Asia to supposedly get a "superior" bit of equipment.
AlanH.

The Mitch hitch is made here and the cheap knock offs are about $400 or so.

I leave the hitch in if only when in the city, to deter red p,platers sitting millimeters from my rear bumper.

Bit off topic but that reminded me of an incident 40 years ago when I had a Triumph 2.5 with a non removable tow hitch. I had started off to go round what was back then a decent roundabout at the end of the Causeway in Perth when a clown suddenly changed his mind and shot across my bows instead of going right round which his indicators suggested he was. Nothings changed, they still haven't the faintest idea about how to use roundabouts here in WA. But I digress, I had to brake and a Datsun (pre Nisscan) hit my rear end.
What a mess, it's headlights all smashed and radiator gone etc. Anyway he was a mechanic for John Hughes (just over the Causeway in Vic Park ) testing a clients new recently serviced car. :O
I swear his boss was going to bust his boiler but arranged a hire car for me while mine was fixed.
What happened to the mechanics career or him I don't know....
AlanH.

Speaking of maintaining the tow hitch....

Runaway trailer carrying a car veers across busy motorway before crashing into tunnel | Daily Mail Online

Originally Posted by DiscoDB

Speaking of maintaining the tow hitch....

Runaway trailer carrying a car veers across busy motorway before crashing into tunnel | Daily Mail Online

Towing chains anyone!!!! Chains attach to the frame so even if the hitch came undone, the trailer would still be attached to the vehicle. There’s no excuse for this happening. Moron.