Thread: Tow bars for Series

Cripes!!
That is a serious bit of kit. Not about to fall off...

DSCF0575.jpg i have run this tow hitch since 1988, and after just getting rear crossbeam fixed the panel beater asked is that tow bar legal as he thought it was an old English front mount style,now you've got me thinking. i was going to cut a square hole in the rear member and weld in a receiver for use with a drop style bar but opted against it. my tinnie sits a bit low at the back but never created any drama's so will stay with this for a while, but good to see these idea's hope the photo's come out a few changes since last tried to attach, cheer's markus DSCF0574.jpg

That towball looks exactly like the standard home market towball p/n 568872. They are quite rare here - I don't think I have ever seen one. They are usually fitted to the drop plate p/n 508412.

The only issue would be that it is presumably 2" rather than 50mm, but the difference is probably within the tolerance of most tow hitches.

What a lot of people fail to realise is that the rear crossmember was designed from the outset as a towbar. Early Series 1 had as standard an agricultural towbar fitted below the rear crossmember and attached to it. Almost all export models, including almost all sold in Australia came as standard with the drop plate and towing jaw p/n90518674.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

That towball looks exactly like the standard home market towball p/n 568872. They are quite rare here - I don't think I have ever seen one. They are usually fitted to the drop plate p/n 508412.

That's a standard UK towball, had them on every towbar I fitted to vehicles in the UK.

From memory they were 50mm, not sure if I have any in the collection of parts I brought with me.


Colin

Yes, I thought they were common in the UK. Unlikely they were 50mm during Series production - I seem to remember that even here they did not go to metric towball size until well after the end of Series production - although I must admit I had little to do with trailers from about 1971 to 1989, and was somewhat surprised to find then I needed a 50mm ball not a 2" ball!

I think the sizes are either 1 7/8" or 50mm.
Okay maybe just this side of the ditch. They tried to change about 30 years ago and it was a failure.
Strangely people didnt want to spend money buying new hitches to fit new tow balls they also needed to buy.
Occasionally there heavier trailers with 50mm hitches but they arent common.

I had started thinking about making a receiver hitch and was wondering about how to set it up.
Mostly how much would hang out from the rear outrigger.
Thank you to everyone for the photos showing various solutions to the question how to make it work.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Yes, I thought they were common in the UK. Unlikely they were 50mm during Series production - I seem to remember that even here they did not go to metric towball size until well after the end of Series production - although I must admit I had little to do with trailers from about 1971 to 1989, and was somewhat surprised to find then I needed a 50mm ball not a 2" ball!

Looks like 1 7/8" pre 60's in the UK.
Tow Ball Sizes? UKCampsite.co.uk Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice Forum Messages

I don't remember anything but the 50mm ball but I wasn't messing around with old trailers & caravans.


Colin

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Yes, I thought they were common in the UK. Unlikely they were 50mm during Series production - I seem to remember that even here they did not go to metric towball size until well after the end of Series production - although I must admit I had little to do with trailers from about 1971 to 1989, and was somewhat surprised to find then I needed a 50mm ball not a 2" ball!

Looks like 1 7/8" pre 60's in the UK.
Tow Ball Sizes? UKCampsite.co.uk Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice Forum Messages

I don't remember anything but the 50mm ball but I wasn't messing around with old trailers & caravans.


Colin