Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
Towing Hitch
Hi Simon,
All things being equal I'd be interested in the 'HR version 2' as you describe it (and probably a 4wd Intelligence wheel carrier). I'll be interested to see how they attach the device without the hands!
From hayman reese - who will be operating on my car next week:
"The new bar we are developing will take a load levelling hitch. I have an idea how to redesign the version that you witnessed the other day - with removing the spare wheel from the equation opens up a whole lot of options."
Martin - I think there will be an option to attach it to the vehicle without the use of hands... the design last week had a bracket that attached at the back of the bumper, but it may change again, depending on dimensions of long range tanks that still need to be allowed for, wven if the spare isn't there...
cheers,
SimonD3 - Buckingham Blue, SE, TDV6, 06 model; chipped; underbody armour; Mickey Thompson ATZ 275/65-18 AND MAXXIS Bighorn muddies; rear wheel carrier from 4x4intelligence.com; iPOD aux connection! GME 3200 UHF - aerial mounted on wheel carrier ; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come)
3rd Jul 2007 6:50 am
will
Member Since: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 31
Really looking forward to seeing this problem solved. As a new owner I need to be able to attach a tow ball that sits at around 55cm from the ground.
Also want to fit auxiliary tank, so am waiting for the 'big day' when the bar is released. Have ordered bull bar, snorkel and Kaymar rear bar, so things are happening. Pity about the bank balance again!
4th Jul 2007 9:30 am
evan
Member Since: 17 Jun 2007
Location: Bribie Island, Queensland
Posts: 28
Good to see things are moving, particularly an option of the higher ball with WDH. Any idea of timing? (We are off on a trip in Oct)
"As far as having a tow height at 55CM from the ground this is outside the requirements of AS4177-1 which states that the tow height of a laden vehicle must fall between 350mm to 460mm from the ground to the centre of the towball.The hitch box that you saw below the cast section of the rear bar is as high as the bar can go with existing factory section this will have an unladen tow height of 510mm from the ground as the vehicle is laden the tow height will fall into the requirements of the standard."
I guess as end-users, we can alter the height as necessary with the use of different tongues fitted into the receiver.
Getting closer...
SimonD3 - Buckingham Blue, SE, TDV6, 06 model; chipped; underbody armour; Mickey Thompson ATZ 275/65-18 AND MAXXIS Bighorn muddies; rear wheel carrier from 4x4intelligence.com; iPOD aux connection! GME 3200 UHF - aerial mounted on wheel carrier ; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come)
5th Jul 2007 2:07 am
Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
[quote="simon_arch1"]
this will have an unladen tow height of 510mm from the ground as the vehicle is laden the tow height will fall into the requirements of the standard."
...and given that the air suspension should presumably retain the unladen tow height, this should not be a major issue.
SimonD3 - Buckingham Blue, SE, TDV6, 06 model; chipped; underbody armour; Mickey Thompson ATZ 275/65-18 AND MAXXIS Bighorn muddies; rear wheel carrier from 4x4intelligence.com; iPOD aux connection! GME 3200 UHF - aerial mounted on wheel carrier ; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come)
5th Jul 2007 6:55 am
Swampy
Member Since: 29 Jul 2006
Location: Port Stephens
Posts: 21
Modified LR towhitch
I posted on my modified LR tow Hitch on 29/11/06. It is a cut and reweld operation which gains !125 mm in tow height. I have now managed to post some before/after photos in my Gallery if anybody is interested. My apologies for the sub standard photo quality. Cheers
5th Jul 2007 7:38 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Looks to be about the same height as the HR one. But the exit angle is still affected.
A simple soluion to the problem. Can it be approved by an engineer? to make sure it is legal.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
5th Jul 2007 8:07 am
catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
if they made it like swampy's, I would buy it, it's what I had in mind and the draw bar on most trailers/campers will also reduce the departure angle to some degree. not often you are going to reach that angle towing IMO so long as it can take a hit it looks the goods to me.
5th Jul 2007 9:49 am
Swampy
Member Since: 29 Jul 2006
Location: Port Stephens
Posts: 21
caverd & cat,
As I said in my Nov. 2006 post, I've towed a 1.2 tonne camper trailer for 15000 Km including on some pretty demanding tracks in NQ & NT without problem. The modified hitch is at least as robust as the original. After cutting through the frame , the edges of the bottom piece are repositioned alongside the edges of top piece of the frame so that the centre of the 50mm square fits over the protusion housing the locking shaft then the edges are welded on both sides. A piece of 8mm flat bar is welded between the bottom pieces of the cut frames and finally a piece of 10mm plate is welded across the bottom of the 8mm bar and the frames. I have not got an official certificate but the job was carried out by an Engineer and it will do me. There are a couple of things to be aware of if anybody wants to have this modification done as the locking shaft mechanism has to be dismantled priot to cutting and welding to do with the spring loaded ball that is partially visible when the locking shaft is out. Let me know & I will expand on this. Hope this makes sense to anyone interested. Cheers
5th Jul 2007 11:14 am
Boofrmb
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: Northern NSW
Posts: 123
Hi Swampy Just like to ask one question, which may have been asked before. does the hitch have a engineering Certicate. As if a hitch is modified without a cert, all insurance on both the car and trailer is void.
Rob2006 Disco 3 TDV6 SE in Zambezi Silver
1948 Series 1 SWB Soft Top in Standard green
As the material is of drop forge steel i hope this as been welded with Low Hydrogen Welding rods or Supper chrome as this forging could crack rather than bend in a warm climate and no extreme temperature really should have no bother but i would get a test ticket for it well worth the bother.Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
more Helsport tents and other things for camping Law of Mechanical Repair:
"After your hands are coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee!"
5th Jul 2007 12:01 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Unfortunately they may need to test one to destruction to give a cert.
could make for an expensive hitch. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
5th Jul 2007 11:52 pm
Swampy
Member Since: 29 Jul 2006
Location: Port Stephens
Posts: 21
All welded using low hydrogen rods (oven dried), casting pre heated. No certificate but from my reading of the D3 owners manual just about any use of tow hitch height raising gear voids the warranty anyway.
Cheers.
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the design last week had a bracket that attached at the back of the bumper, but it may change again, depending on dimensions of long range tanks that still need to be allowed for, wven if the spare isn't there...
; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come) 
Law of Mechanical Repair:
