Towbar distance

Yella Fella · 18th March 2018, 13:02

I've just fitted a towbar to the ZT. I have a bumper protector fitted however to me the ball seems to close to the bumper protector.

Is there a minimum distance of clearance between the ball and bumper/bumper protector?

macafee2 · 18th March 2018, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveo

Hi
It depends if you are using a standard tow hitch or Alko etc
The Alko / similar have anti snake built in to the hitch therefore needing more clearance between the ball and the bumper
Steve

Do they?
I know there is a difference with the alko one but something tells me it is to do with clearance at the base of the tow ball

macafee2

Davy · 18th March 2018, 20:00

If using an alko hitch there is a flanged towball made to accomodate the extra lenth needed but i thought they were all made the same nowadays.If you are not towing a braked trailer it should be fine but if you nedd the other one or want to check it i can give you a brand new towball that is suitable for an alko hitch.
Davy

RPWC · 19th March 2018, 07:06

Glenn, you can buy a spacer block to 9vercome this, my bro in law had the same problem, you can get them from any caravan/trailer centre, or Go Outdoors sell them, you may need to buy longer tow hitch bolts for this mod though.

https://www.towsure.com/towbars-towi...owball-spacers

https://www.towsure.com/bolts-with-n...d-washers-pair You can choose longer bolts from the second link.

Number 6 · 20th March 2018, 07:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveo

Hi
Whats the difference between a braked trailer tow hitch and a non braked trailer
The brakes are operated independently of the hitch .
Steve

Non what so ever for a standard braked/unbraked trailer.

Jim Jamieson · 20th March 2018, 08:05

This issue does give me some concern at times. When reversing onto a site the hitch on the caravan pushes back into the braking position and it’s easy to forget to move the car forward again after reversing in to let the caravan hitch move back out to its travelling position.

Failure to do this results in the hitch fouling on the bumper of the car when you unhitch the van.

I’ve recently fitted my Merc CLS with a towbar and used the same Witter Quantum Vertical system that I had on my Jaguar XF and on my Rover 75

As I still had the hitch part from the XF in the garage (the XF was written off)
I decided to try it for fit and found that this may alleviate my concerns as when it is plugged into the receptor the ball distance from the rear bumper is at least one inch further out.
I’ve still to test it with the caravan hitched as I decide to use it I would obviously have to ensure I have sufficient 13 pin cable and breakaway cable length.

At the end of day it’s the same as fitting one of these spacers on a regular towball fitting.

Davy · 20th March 2018, 15:50

I was not implying there was a difference between the hitches ,all i ment was if using a standard hitch eg a small unbraked trailer the ball would be fine but if using an alko stabilising hitch a different towball may be required to give more clearance.

Dawn · 20th March 2018, 20:12

I have the Alko hitch and ball on my V6/folder, there is plenty of clearance, and I reversed it onto plot just this Saturday, then unhitched without it hitting my bumper etc. I don't have any kind of protective plates on, either. Everything was fine.

TourerSteve · 12th April 2018, 12:16

Depending on what you are towing a different make of hitches are employed . Most Caravans are now built on Alko chassis and are now supplied with a hitch designed to help prevent snaking. These hitches are slightly larger and require a different tow ball to allow clearence and are designated as a 50X towball .
By the nature of overun brakes which are fitted to trailer brakes , when you reverse they are designed to brake free when the car is reversed, you fell a slight bump when you do this . If you dont pull forward again before uncoupling once released from the tow ball the the hitch will spring forward to its original position thus hitting the car bumper . It can also happen if you are if facing down hill as overun brakes are still loaded against the towing vehicle . Ive attached a link of tow ball dimensions by alko

https://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/Downloads...ball_Guide.pdf

18th March 2018, 20:00	#3
Davy Avid contributor suzuki vitara Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 229 Thanks: 498 Thanked 47 Times in 42 Posts	If using an alko hitch there is a flanged towball made to accomodate the extra lenth needed but i thought they were all made the same nowadays.If you are not towing a braked trailer it should be fine but if you nedd the other one or want to check it i can give you a brand new towball that is suitable for an alko hitch. Davy __________________ I am not a number i am a free man.

19th March 2018, 07:06	#4
RPWC This is my second home 75 model car Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 20,193 Thanks: 4,008 Thanked 5,083 Times in 3,114 Posts	Glenn, you can buy a spacer block to 9vercome this, my bro in law had the same problem, you can get them from any caravan/trailer centre, or Go Outdoors sell them, you may need to buy longer tow hitch bolts for this mod though. https://www.towsure.com/towbars-towi...owball-spacers https://www.towsure.com/bolts-with-n...d-washers-pair You can choose longer bolts from the second link. __________________ Cheers. Rich… Last edited by RPWC; 19th March 2018 at 07:11..

20th March 2018, 15:50	#7
Davy Avid contributor suzuki vitara Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 229 Thanks: 498 Thanked 47 Times in 42 Posts	I was not implying there was a difference between the hitches ,all i ment was if using a standard hitch eg a small unbraked trailer the ball would be fine but if using an alko stabilising hitch a different towball may be required to give more clearance. __________________ I am not a number i am a free man.

12th April 2018, 12:16	#9
TourerSteve Loves to post Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Withernsea Posts: 436 Thanks: 43 Thanked 290 Times in 167 Posts	Depending on what you are towing a different make of hitches are employed . Most Caravans are now built on Alko chassis and are now supplied with a hitch designed to help prevent snaking. These hitches are slightly larger and require a different tow ball to allow clearence and are designated as a 50X towball . By the nature of overun brakes which are fitted to trailer brakes , when you reverse they are designed to brake free when the car is reversed, you fell a slight bump when you do this . If you dont pull forward again before uncoupling once released from the tow ball the the hitch will spring forward to its original position thus hitting the car bumper . It can also happen if you are if facing down hill as overun brakes are still loaded against the towing vehicle . Ive attached a link of tow ball dimensions by alko https://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/Downloads...ball_Guide.pdf Last edited by TourerSteve; 12th April 2018 at 12:19..

20th March 2018, 08:05	#6
Jim Jamieson This is my second home Rover less ! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tarbolton Posts: 3,442 Thanks: 393 Thanked 888 Times in 542 Posts	This issue does give me some concern at times. When reversing onto a site the hitch on the caravan pushes back into the braking position and it’s easy to forget to move the car forward again after reversing in to let the caravan hitch move back out to its travelling position. Failure to do this results in the hitch fouling on the bumper of the car when you unhitch the van. I’ve recently fitted my Merc CLS with a towbar and used the same Witter Quantum Vertical system that I had on my Jaguar XF and on my Rover 75 As I still had the hitch part from the XF in the garage (the XF was written off) I decided to try it for fit and found that this may alleviate my concerns as when it is plugged into the receptor the ball distance from the rear bumper is at least one inch further out. I’ve still to test it with the caravan hitched as I decide to use it I would obviously have to ensure I have sufficient 13 pin cable and breakaway cable length. At the end of day it’s the same as fitting one of these spacers on a regular towball fitting.

20th March 2018, 20:12	#8
Dawn I really should get out more....... MG ZT 180+ auto Join Date: May 2016 Location: Ilkeston, Derbys Posts: 2,743 Thanks: 285 Thanked 1,128 Times in 504 Posts	I have the Alko hitch and ball on my V6/folder, there is plenty of clearance, and I reversed it onto plot just this Saturday, then unhitched without it hitting my bumper etc. I don't have any kind of protective plates on, either. Everything was fine.