Member Since: 03 Feb 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 22
For those that are interested I've put photos in my gallery of the Mitchell Bros towbar with a Hayman Reece WDH attached.
Here's a preview:
Neil Herbert
___________________________________________
2007 TDV6 S Stornoway Grey/Alpaca. LR roof rails & side steps; Cooper ST's; Autosafe cargo barrier; Kaymar rear bar; Mitchell Bros tow bar; King Springs heavy duty coils; GME UHF; Polaris rear vision camera.
And after 3000km return trip from the ACT to the Flinders ranges I can report 100% stable towing, no DSC events, even on severe corrugation and sand between Menindee lakes and Ivanhoe on the way home.
IanvTDV6
29th May 2008 10:53 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
8) Looks like fun.“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.
29th May 2008 12:05 pm
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi All,
One point re the Mitchell Bros tow hitch: Don't rely on the "zinc"? coating, partly because the complex shape means that the coating is uneven & partly because I think the coating is too thin. Mine is showing rust in spots even before it's fitted. I don't think the rust will affect the strength of the hitch receiver, but I think that it will compromise the look of your D3.
To prevent this, give your hitch receiver a good coating of etch-primer & then a number of layers of top-coat.
Best Wishes,
Peter
2nd Jun 2008 1:49 am
mitchellbros4x4
Member Since: 25 Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 66
Hi all,
I think you will find that it may be leaching from the acid dipping process, I may be wrong but if you want to send me pics I would love to have a look.
Thx
2nd Jun 2008 4:25 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Aaron,
I'm unsure of what you mean by "leaching" in this context. In my understanding the acid dip is to clean the metal before coating. If the metal wasn't properly cleaned, then the coating would be inadequate.
I'll try to bring a sample across to you tomorrow, to show the rusting.
Best Wishes,
Peter
3rd Jun 2008 7:03 am
mitchellbros4x4
Member Since: 25 Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 66
You are correct, the acid dip is to clean the metal surface and our bars are held in the acid bath for atleast 24 hours to remove any unwanted foreign matter.
If there are any holes in welds or gaps between 2 surfaces the acid will leach out and have an effect on the zinc coat. This, I have been advised, is an unavoidable problem.
As for the the coating being inadequate, I dont believe you can get anymore coverage on the surface as our tow hitches are actually held in the zinc tank for longer than other similar complex shapes.
We are really only talking about a zinc coating of about 10 microns thick. There may be imperfections.
3rd Jun 2008 7:31 am
catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
a couple of stone chips and any coating will be exposed anyway. why worry
3rd Jun 2008 7:37 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Again Aaron,
It would seem that we are in agreement. What I was encouraging people to do was to coat the imperfections using paint.
Best Wishes,
Peter
4th Jun 2008 4:54 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
It looks better painted, which is why most tow bar manuafacturers don't zinc coat they only powdercoat them.
As this one is zinc coated it will not show the rust when the paint gets chipped. Also the zinc coating will prevent rust at the contact points with the cast steel. “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.
4th Jun 2008 5:18 am
John58
Member Since: 23 Jan 2008
Location: On the Road
Posts: 20
Hi All,
Been away for a month or so, so haven't kept up with all this till now.
A few thoughts:
- My Mitchell Bros hitch (unpainted) also shows signs of rust, but this appears to be surface rust only and nothing serious. Am currently treating it with lavish coats of WD40.
- Using the Mitchell hitch, my Odyssey camper-trailer tows like a dream. Have to keep checking the mirrors to make sure it's still there!
- While on Hols I met a bloke who tows a dual axle van with his coil sprung D3 and a LR Plough hitch. He said he had experienced the DSC cutting in a couple of times while cornering. My guess is that this is more related to what you are towing rather than type of hitch.
Cheers!White S TDV6 auto. Air Suspension. Active Rear Diff. ARB bullbar. IPF spotlights. GME TX3440 UHF radio. Autosafe Cargo Barrier. Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch. AT35 coupling. AORC Quantum van.
13th Jun 2008 11:09 am
mitchellbros4x4
Member Since: 25 Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 66
Just a quick one,
How is everyone travelling with their tow hitches??
Aaron Mitchell
18th Aug 2008 2:53 am
RetiredBob
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: New South Wales
Posts: 183
G'day Aaron
Just back from a 9,000km trip towing the van mainly on dirt tracks. The hitch was great. As discussed when I had the hitch fitted, I purchased another lower HR tounge before the trip to get the van level.
Regards
BobRetired Bob
2005 Disco 3 HSE TDV6 (Dual Battery, Snorkel, Nudge Bar, Kaymar Spare Wheel Carriers, Long Ranger Aux Tank. LED Shunt, Centre Console Cooler, New Tail Shaft, New Gear Box, Rigged for towing) Towing Trakmaster Van as often as possible
18th Aug 2008 5:46 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
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