Extending the tow ball.

[Hightower]

Anyone tell me where I could buy an I shaped (approx 8") extention for my tow bar. Is this a safe way to extend the hitch?

Andy

[Mark Halliday]

Andy

A man of your stature needs no extending.

Which way do you want to extend? Up, down or backwards? Oh yeah and why?

[Hightower]

Hello Mark,

How you doing these days? Just changing cars and bought myself a 4WD with the spare on the back. Unfortunatly the RIB's on quite a small trailer so the bow sits quite forward and would get pretty close to the spare when turning. I need at least an 8" extention to the tow bar/ball so it protrudes past the spare to give me clearance. What I wanted to know was, had anyone done this before and is it safe or could anyone give me advice on where to get one from?

Regards

Andy

[Mark Halliday]

Doing fine Andy.

Spotted you got a 4x4 at last.
This might sound stupid, but how about sticking the spare in the boot when trailing the boat?
Trouble with extending the hitch backwards is the side loading when turning. Have a look at the standard tow bar, it will be heavily braced sideways. Also think about jack-knifing the trailer when reversing. I doubt thet you would do any damage to the original hitch, but the extension would suffer.
Also you may find that the MOT tester will take exception to it. They are fairly hot on bits sticking out and sharp edges.
Having said all that, you may find a bit of 50 x 50 x 3 box with a 6mm plate welded on each end would do the job.

[Neal]

Andy when i needed tow bar for the CRV i spoke to Witter you could ask them. www.witter-towbars.co.uk they should know if possible.

Neal

[Nasher]

Andy

Hi, glad you found what you wanted and brought the 4X4.

I'd be a bit worried about extending the towbar that far due to the extra leverage on the mountings. Could you not extend the drawbar on the trailer a bit easier with some thicker wall box section that fits inside the original main spar.


Nasher.

[Wayne Rogers]

Hi Andy,Have you thought about extending the draw bar on the trailer,this would be a very easy modification.This way the bows of the rib will clear your spare wheel.Sorry just see previous post.

[Ribald]

Hi Andy,

I would agree with Nasher & Mark about not extending the tow bar. If things were to go pear-shaped I think you may have an insurance problem regarding non-approved modifications..

That's the only trouble with the "life-style" type 4x4's - you can't put the spare on the bonnet or roof-rack or fit a front tow-ball.

[Tim M]

can't put the spare on the bonnet or roof-rack or fit a front tow-ball.

Oh, you can ALWAYS fit a front tow ball! I saw one fitted to a Peugeot 205 recently!

[Bittentobuggery]

Andy,

I had a 7 ft towbar extension and it behaved like a supermarket trolley on acid. Once the boat was launched, the trailer would overtake you at the top of the slipway and head for the most expensive car around.

I donated it to Stuart, who likes strong willed things. Borrow it once, when there's no one looking...


Brian