Fitting of Mitch Hitch

[RickO]

G'Day All - calling all fellow (nearly) Mitch Hitchers!

Help!

I'm in the process of fitting a recently purchased a D3 towbar from Mitchell Bros (what a great piece of engineering!) but have come to a grinding halt after being unable to manoeuvre the final bolt though the bush fitted into the recovery loop.

As I'm at a complete loss after trying to wiggle the bolt in every conceivable direction, even after unscrewing the black trailer plug, I'd really value any advice from those that have 'been there, done that'.

At present the only way forward I can see is to cut the wires and completely remove the the white trailer plug (which I've never used anyway) as it isn't possible to move either plug far enough to sneak the bolt through given the lack of slack in the wiring to either trailer plug.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks all,
Rick

[CSBrisie]

Rick, I know most of us had to remove all screws for the two plugs to be able to move them out the waya nd then tighten the bolt - but I'm not aware of anyone having to go so far as remove the plugs altogether - maybe we were lucky enough to have more slack in the wiring??? I will await other posts with interest

[disco4now]

On a D4 I have removed the white plug and replaced with a 12pin. If you remove left hand tail light, (two screws and a tug) you can look down and see where the cable to the two plugs is joined by connectors. If you undo them here you would get some slack, then clip it back up. It was abit of a tight squeeze but managed to undo the connectors without pulling anything else off.

[Disco4SE]

Hi Rick, I fitted my MB hitch to my previous D3 myself. Had to remove the screws from the left hand plug and move it to one side to get the bolt through. Took a few goes and a few cans of ale, but I did get it. Oh yeah......and the odd F word.
Cheers, Craig
PS. Helps if the wife isn't around to tell you what you are doing wrong

[ADMIRAL]

Hi RickO,

As the others have posted, you do need to undo the screws for both plugs, and also undo the retaining clips for the loom under the bumper panel. That will give you enough slack in the plugs to wriggle the bolt through. I think I took it in from the left from memory. It is damn tight, but it does go in. Persevere, and have another can.
....and don't just cut the wires to the white plug. Other consequences.

[RickO]

Thanks All.

Heading away with work for a couple of days but I've put a six pack in the fridge and told SWMBO to get ready to fit ear plugs to the kids at midday on Sat!

[Garry]

I had a few problems fitting mine to my D3 V8

I remember having the plugs off to fit the hitch but having recently fitted a Kaymar rear bar that raised its own issues

I had to run the grinder along the recess of the bar to get it all to fit in, not sure if getting it all in would have been easier doing it all at the same time but its done now

Its a good hitch but I noticed after coupling up a hired camper trailer that the trailers hitch was rubbing all the way around the base of the ball, not a big issue I dare say

Have fun

G

[Dingmark Jim]

RickO,

I installed one on my old D3 and it did require the bolts holding the electrical plug to be removed and the plug moved out of the way. On my new 3.0 D4, it was a bit more difficult as the wiring harness to the trailer electrical plug was ever-so-slightly shorter. I ended up having to remove the gasket where the wiring goes from inside the vehicle to the rear. This allowed just enough slack in the wiring to get the bolt through the hitch. It still meant that to run the main bolt through the recovery point I had to remove the bolts holding the bottom of the hitch up (and yes, I had it held in position with a wooden block that I managed to knock out, causing the hitch to land on my @&%# finger). I think there's inevitably enough variation in the manufacturing tolerances of the D3/D4 that everyone has slightly different "challenges" but the MitchHitch is worth it.

[gps-au]

I had a few problems fitting mine to my D3 V8

I remember having the plugs off to fit the hitch but having recently fitted a Kaymar rear bar that raised its own issues

I had to run the grinder along the recess of the bar to get it all to fit in, not sure if getting it all in would have been easier doing it all at the same time but its done now

Seems you got an "OLD" model Kaymar bar... current ones have been modified so that exercise is no longer required.

Its a good hitch but I noticed after coupling up a hired camper trailer that the trailers hitch was rubbing all the way around the base of the ball, not a big issue I dare say

Did you adjust the coupling ?

Most people never do !!

Alternatively, is the rise on your ball enough ?

[Garry]

Ah the old model, thats why it wont have the little struts as well then

I have since changed the tow ball but not tried it again

G