Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: thorna on August 01, 2006, 01:01:27 PM

Title: Receiver Hitches
Post by: thorna on August 01, 2006, 01:01:27 PM
I know many of you guys have these fitted so I could do with your advice:

US bumpers which incoporate receiver hitches:
These aren't rated for towing in the UK; Right?  :(
As they aren't type approved etc etc.
But will they technically do it? I tow stuff regularily with the TJ
Eg if I fit one & hitch it to a 2t trailer will it work fine?
Albeit not legally?  Or perhaps not to 2t?
That said if I tell my insurers the TJ is modded with a Receiver towing hitch etc. & they accept it I will be covered by insurance.  
Just in the event an alert copper ever notices; I could be in for a fine (or in the event of a smash etc)?
Suggestions & ideas please.
I've had the bumpers & tow bracket off for cleaning & would like to clean up the 'rear end'.
Pro Comp Rear Trail bumper with receiver; any good?
Good price from Explorer uk?
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Post by: chrisjones on August 01, 2006, 01:18:49 PM
As far as I know, but I could be wrong, the reciever type hitches should be up to the job of towing.  You have to watch that the US ball hitch is a different size to the ones we use though.

As far as insurance goes.............you can tell them what you like, if you have a smash and they find that your tow bar is 'illegal'  you'll almost certainly find yourself uninsured.

So.............it's up to you.
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Post by: Mort on August 01, 2006, 01:27:06 PM
Remember that guy who fell asleep at the wheel of a Disco, which was towing a trailer with a car on it, and went down an embankment and hit a train?  He was jailed.  

If you knowingly (or unknowingly) tow using something that's not fit for purpose, and it causes an accident in which people are injured or die, then the Old Bill will be all over your vehicle like a rash - and you'll most likely be jailed too.

You wouldn't just be endangering yourself, but everyone else too - so you'd deserve all you get IMO.  :evil:
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Post by: Woody on August 01, 2006, 01:48:10 PM
Thorna

I can't remember the exact month so don't quote me but type approval for tow hitches only apply if you car is post Aug? 98.  Hopefully someone with a better memory will be along shortly.

Woody
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Post by: Anonymous on August 01, 2006, 01:54:48 PM
This has been covered elsewhere - might have been on J33P, I cant remember - I think the conclusion was, they weren't legal!!! - By the way the Disco was a 110 (sorry I'm an anorack)


Found it .... http://www.birtydastardsjeepclub.com/fo ... t=receiver (http://www.birtydastardsjeepclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2172&highlight=receiver)
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Post by: thorna on August 01, 2006, 03:31:28 PM
Great feedback & links; keep it coming!  :lol:
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Post by: Mort on August 01, 2006, 03:52:36 PM
My Warn rear bumper with receiver has brackets which bolt to the outside of the chassis rails.  

It also has a fecking great sticker which says that it must only be used for recovery, and must never be used for towing.  As far as I'm aware the sticker was attached by the manufacturer.
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Post by: ponyracer1 on August 01, 2006, 05:41:51 PM
Mort, the sticker is on there to release warn from any liability from some moron that hooks hit tj to a 20,000 lb caravan and gets killed. The same applies to most companys making bolt in rollcages, they call them "sport bars or light bars"

I've towed some huge trailers with a bumper mounted reciever, but the best hitch is only as strong as it's mounts.
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Post by: daggie on August 01, 2006, 05:45:53 PM
:imwitstupid:
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Post by: Mort on August 01, 2006, 06:44:40 PM
Quote from: "ponyracer1"
Mort, the sticker is on there to release warn from any liability from some moron that hooks hit tj to a 20,000 lb caravan and gets killed. The same applies to most companys making bolt in rollcages, they call them "sport bars or light bars"

I've towed some huge trailers with a bumper mounted reciever, but the best hitch is only as strong as it's mounts.


I take your point mate, but if the instructions say don't do it, the regulations say don't do it, AND it'll most likely invalidate my insurance to tow using it, then I won't risk it.  :roll:, or would actually use one if I had! :oops:
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Post by: PeteS on August 01, 2006, 08:10:39 PM
I don't think sankey type hooks are type approved either but they tend to be used in the commercial world and a lot of us tow with them, what's the difference between them and a receiver hitch?
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Post by: UKJeeper on August 01, 2006, 11:57:51 PM
While we are on the subject...


http://www.hotboat.net/forums/showthrea ... ge=1&pp=25 (http://www.hotboat.net/forums/showthread.php?t=123275&page=1&pp=25)


 :shock:  :shock:
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Post by: Anonymous on August 02, 2006, 01:43:52 AM
Jeeeeesus.... What is that guy thinking.....

How about a side bet of how many people he'll kill WHEN he looses control!

Hope a copper reads that and pulls him within a couple of hundred feet of the house!