Towbar Q&A

[Grootseun]

Jip already have the prices from Europe for lights that replace the whole bumper light then we can have decent ground clearance bumpers with recovery and high lift points and no lights falling out anymore

[NISMOnator]

That bumper of mine is that stock standard lighting or not?

Got a comment up here somewhere that my bumper might not be stock or something?

[AndriesS]

Of kry 'n replacement bumper! recoverypunte en die sleephak haal af en neem nie van jou departure hoek weg nie!

Die reality is dat as jou trailer se hak nie baie hoog sit nie dan gaan jy altyd n ploegskaar nodig he, of jy gaan n towbar onder die chassis vassit wat wel van jou hoek gaan wegvat.

Groot gevaar as jou trailer te ver neus in die lig hardloop, was dit nie een van die redes hoekom die Tunas en Raiders op n tyd moles gemaak het as hulle sleep nie? Niemand het hulle gese die trailer moet level of ten minste afdraande loop en nie opdraande nie.

[Peter Connan]

Andries, I have also heard that, but on the odd ocasion when I do tow with my Patrol, the trailer is always nose-in-the-air and I have never experienced any problems with swaying or anything else as a result. I am not claiming to be an expert though, and I have not towed heavy trailers long distances with my Patrol yet.

However, and unfortunately I didn't make it to Grootseun's this weekend to see what they were planning, if the replacement bumper is designed with a square-tube socket for a towbar, and if the drop-plate is made to be as narrow as possible, then the drop-plate can be turned through 90 degrees when not in use, and therefore not affect either the departure angle or the opening of the rear door?

[ChristoSlang]

From page 138 of GOVERNMENT GAZETTE no. No. 32916, published 5 FEBRUARY 2010:

"3.5.2 Static vertical loading on ball couplings
The maximum and minimum static vertical load at the centre of the ball socket on the coupling head shall be determined by the manufacturer, but in no case shall it exceed 100 kg or be less than 25 kg when the trailer is loaded. When a trailer is fitted with a stabilizer or an equalizer by the manufacturer, the effect of such a device on the maximum and minimum static vertical loads shall be stated by the manufacturer.

3.5.3 Height of the ball coupling device
The height of the ball coupling device fitted to a trailer, measured vertically above the ground to the centre of the ball socket and with the interior floor of the trailer horizontal and the trailer at its gross vehicle mass, shall be not less than 350 mm and not more than 465 mm, provided that any custombuilt trailers that:
a) have tyre and wheel combinations with overall diameters that exceed 665 mm when measured in the unladen condition; or
b) are designed or adapted for towing behind vehicles that have a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3500 kg
shall be excluded for the purposes of this sub-section."

Looks like we'll need to invest in sturdy drop=plates?

[Peter Connan]

Christo, I don't completely agree.

Firstly, 665mm is 26". Thus all off-road trailers and caravans are automatically excluded from the above, as they all have wheels bigger than that. A 31"wheel is about 790mm.
Secondly, this is applicable to the trailer, and not necessarily to the towing vehicle.

Getting bact to drop plates, I am sure that the plate in the picture at the beginning of this thread can handle the maximum legal vertical load. My concern is the bolt loadings that will be caused by forward and backwards loads caused by towing the trailer, particular over rough or sandy roads.

Due to how close the bolts are together, compared to how far the ball is below the bolts, the load on the bolts will be probably three times higher than the actual forward or backward loads on the ball, and these are merely M10 bolts. Also, these loads are handled by only two of the four bolts.

So while the setup is probably fine for a light or even a braked trailer on tar roads, I would definately not recommend this setup for off-road towing.

[AndriesS]

Peter, die idee om die drop plate te draai kan nogal werk, dan behoort hy darem uit die pad te wees.

Persoonlik weet ek nie hoe sterk die bumper recovery punt is nie, ek verbeel dat dit lyk asof die drop plate op my kar al n bietjie agter toe staan , ek het hom nog net een keer op liggies op daai klip by de Wildt gestamp maar verder net gesleep. Blykbaar trek ek baie vinniger weg as wat ek rem.

Oor die op/ af trailer hak, ek het net eenkeer baie ongemaklik gevoel toe ek n trailer vol hout gesleep het. Hy was redelik skuins gewees en ek het my spoed onder 80 gehou anders kon jy die trailer net net begin sien swaai. Die hak was redelik swaar en ek dink nie die CG was agter die wiele nie.

[ChristoSlang]

Christo, I don't completely agree.

Peter, I'm with you on that one! I don't agree with the national speed limit either - I should be allowed to drive at whatever speed I want!

On a serious note - I always refrain from commenting on topics that I know nothing about. So I'll follow the thread and hopefully learn something more than just how & where to find out what the law thinks we should be doing...