P38 swan neck tow hitch.

Datatek · Jun 19, 2023

Even with the suspension locked at motorway height, the tow ball is too high for my 4 wheel trailer. Does anyone know of a fitting to use in place of the swan neck that has a drop plate instead of the ball?
I have looked but have been unable to find anything.
The last resort will be to butcher the swan neck, cut it off at the low point and get a plate welded on.

DanClarke · Jun 19, 2023

Datatek said:
Even with the suspension locked at motorway height, the tow ball is too high for my 4 wheel trailer. Does anyone know of a fitting to use in place of the swan neck that has a drop plate instead of the ball?
I have looked but have been unable to find anything.
The last resort will be to butcher the swan neck, cut it off at the low point and get a plate welded on.

Alter the end of the trailer to suit instead?

Datatek · Jun 19, 2023

DanClarke said:
Alter the end of the trailer to suit instead?

That would invalidate the CE approval and would be harder than cutting the swan neck.

Henry_b · Jun 19, 2023

Something like this Keith? https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai...vXa6c__AhVvhP0HHTr6BVoQ9aACKAB6BAgDEBw&adurl=

Grrrrrr · Jun 19, 2023

The only Dixon drop-plates I have seen are where someone has fitted an aftermarket kit like Witter. I guess you could get some box-section of a decent guage and knock up something that bolts through where the swan-neck does?

Datatek · Jun 19, 2023

Henry_b said:
Something like this Keith? https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai...vXa6c__AhVvhP0HHTr6BVoQ9aACKAB6BAgDEBw&adurl=

No, nothing like that Henry, thanks all the same. I don't want to replace the complete tow bar, just the swan neck.

romanrob · Jun 22, 2023

How far do you need to drop? I had a few ideas but now not sure any wd work...but perhaps you cd use a bracket to lower the receiver mounting itself a couple of inches, rather than do anything to the swan neck

stemac33 · Jun 22, 2023

Maybe one of these.

Universal Towbar Trailer 3.5 Ton Adjustable Height Coupling 4.5 Inch Max Adjust | eBay

Universal 3.5t Adjustable 4.5 Inch Max Height Coupling With 3.5 Ton Ball & Pin.

www.ebay.co.uk

Datatek · Jun 22, 2023

romanrob said:
How far do you need to drop? I had a few ideas but now not sure any wd work...but perhaps you cd use a bracket to lower the receiver mounting itself a couple of inches, rather than do anything to the swan neck

That's a possibility but more complicated that just being able to swap the swan neck when I need to hitch the trailer.

Datatek · Jun 22, 2023

stemac33 said:
Maybe one of these.

Universal Towbar Trailer 3.5 Ton Adjustable Height Coupling 4.5 Inch Max Adjust | eBay

Universal 3.5t Adjustable 4.5 Inch Max Height Coupling With 3.5 Ton Ball & Pin.

www.ebay.co.uk

I have one of those on my Transit but it cannot be fitted to the swan neck on the P38.

kermit_rr · Jun 22, 2023

Is it a standard trailer? I thought they were all made to a nominal height?

Datatek · Jun 22, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Is it a standard trailer? I thought they were all made to a nominal height?

It's a 750kg trailer but with twin axles. A 2 wheeler would be no problem running a bit nose up. Unfortunately hitched to the P38 it runs on the rear axle imposing too much weight on the nose.

Mark Piercy · Jun 22, 2023

Datatek said:
Even with the suspension locked at motorway height, the tow ball is too high for my 4 wheel trailer. Does anyone know of a fitting to use in place of the swan neck that has a drop plate instead of the ball?
I have looked but have been unable to find anything.
The last resort will be to butcher the swan neck, cut it off at the low point and get a plate welded on.

Is it a braked trailor Keith?

Datatek · Jun 23, 2023

Mark Piercy said:
Is it a braked trailor Keith?

No.
You have seen the trailer, the Quad came down on it. Normally I never use the P38 to pull the trailer, but it may become necessary if I have to scrap the Transit.

pwood999 · Jun 23, 2023

I had one of those adjustable drop plate towbars on my old Classic. Really useful, & wish the P38 had one.

Keith, do you want permanent lower ball, or adjustable ? If adjustable, then it's def gonna be easier to fit a complete new mount. Otherwise your idea in first post is probably the only way ?

Pete

Mark Piercy · Jun 23, 2023

Datatek said:
No.
You have seen the trailer, the Quad came down on it. Normally I never use the P38 to pull the trailer, but it may become necessary if I have to scrap the Transit.

Is there any way the tow hitch on the trailer can have spacers below it to change its height in accordance to the rr?

Datatek · Jun 23, 2023

pwood999 said:
I had one of those adjustable drop plate towbars on my old Classic. Really useful, & wish the P38 had one.

Keith, do you want permanent lower ball, or adjustable ? If adjustable, then it's def gonna be easier to fit a complete new mount. Otherwise your idea in first post is probably the only way ?

Pete

No I don't want adjustable just the possibility of swapping the standard swan neck for an alternative with a drop plate and back again as needed.

oakey · Jun 24, 2023

Hope you find one and publish here
The swan neck is a pain
I wish Dixon Bate did one that fitted in the mounting

kermit_rr · Jun 25, 2023

Used to be a pub near me, the swan with two necks

Ian S · Jun 30, 2024

Datatek said:
No I don't want adjustable just the possibility of swapping the standard swan neck for an alternative with a drop plate and back again as needed.

I know this is way old, and you must have sorted it by now - but are you still looking ?

I have a (commercial, not home weld up) drop plate for P38 - straightforward swap out for the swan neck

Just clearing out my old P38 bits and was just about to start on eBay

P38 swan neck tow hitch.

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