Talk to me about pinball tow hitches

FlyingPete · Sep 30, 2015

I've gained a dixon-bate hybrid tow bar for my 90, rated at 3500kg.

The intention is that the pin section will be used occasionally for towing with a tow rope, and recovery off road. Presumably this is much safer than using a standard tow ball for this purpose. The pin is missing its safety clip so I'll need to get hold of a replacement.

What sort of trailers do you find that use a pin/eye coupling? Anything I've towed so far has obviously had the standard ball/socket coupling. It seems less likely the trailer and car will part company on the road, and I guess it makes a trailer marginally harder to steal. If I ever get on and build a half-car trailer for camping I might stick an eye coupling on it...

jamesmartin · Sep 30, 2015

a local farmer moves haylage long distance over 6 ton train weight using those

Marmaduke · Sep 30, 2015

As said it's usually agricultural or industrial/commercial trailers that use pin/eye couplings

jamesmartin · Sep 30, 2015

farmer uses the ball ,youll get more noise as eye shunts against the pin

zeaphod · Oct 1, 2015

Would the Sankey trailer eyes fit this type of coupling?

ShaunLWB · Oct 1, 2015

zeaphod said:
Would the Sankey trailer eyes fit this type of coupling?

Short answer is no, as it won't fit the pin. Needs a proper NATO hitch.

discomania · Oct 1, 2015

FlyingPete said:
I've gained a dixon-bate hybrid tow bar for my 90, rated at 3500kg.

The intention is that the pin section will be used occasionally for towing with a tow rope, and recovery off road. Presumably this is much safer than using a standard tow ball for this purpose. The pin is missing its safety clip so I'll need to get hold of a replacement.

What sort of trailers do you find that use a pin/eye coupling? Anything I've towed so far has obviously had the standard ball/socket coupling. It seems less likely the trailer and car will part company on the road, and I guess it makes a trailer marginally harder to steal. If I ever get on and build a half-car trailer for camping I might stick an eye coupling on it...

Often farm and plant uses a ring hitch rather than a ball hitch - means a ball/pin hitch on a 4x4/Van can tow it but so can a tractor or 8 wheeler etc. which are most often fitted with a pin.

I have towed compressors and trailers fitted with ring hitches using the pin. It can be a little knocky as the ring will slop around a lot more but you get used to it and careful driving will ease this.

discomania · Oct 1, 2015

ShaunLWB said:
Short answer is no, as it won't fit the pin. Needs a proper NATO hitch.

Which is a dangerous thing. Change the sankey to a ring.

flat · Oct 1, 2015

discomania said:
Which is a dangerous thing. Change the sankey to a ring.

A da key is dangerous? How so?

ER1C · Oct 1, 2015

Christ I didn't realise this.
NATO hitches are not EU approved and if using one you could be in breach and the whole insurance may be voided. Military vehicles are exempt from this type approval.

ShaunLWB · Oct 1, 2015

I think I'm right in saying that if the vehicle is pre -98 then it isn't law to have an EU approved tow hitch.

zeaphod · Oct 1, 2015

Interesting, as I have been thinking about a Sankey converted into a trailer tent.

ER1C · Oct 1, 2015

Yeahh there must be more to it as I have NATO hitch as well and shedloads do , I yanked that from a forum from someone with an 03 disco.

Found it

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/towing-equipment

If your car was first used before 1 August 1998, your tow bar doesn’t need to be type-approved.

Mcclegend · Oct 3, 2015

Never tow a car or use a ball for recovery.

My dad used to change the ball to a hoop on all his old trailers so (as someone else said) so he could hitch it up to the tractor. Plus it has the advantage of if someone asks to borrow it chances are they don't have pin and can't use it.

Paul D · Oct 3, 2015

FlyingPete said:
I've gained a dixon-bate hybrid tow bar for my 90, rated at 3500kg.

The intention is that the pin section will be used occasionally for towing with a tow rope, and recovery off road. Presumably this is much safer than using a standard tow ball for this purpose. The pin is missing its safety clip so I'll need to get hold of a replacement.

What sort of trailers do you find that use a pin/eye coupling? Anything I've towed so far has obviously had the standard ball/socket coupling. It seems less likely the trailer and car will part company on the road, and I guess it makes a trailer marginally harder to steal. If I ever get on and build a half-car trailer for camping I might stick an eye coupling on it...

I have exactly the same thing that I mount very occasionally to tow a water bowser and petrol jet washer round school grounds .. and you're right, it's best to use the pin, not the towball for recovery, especially if you're thinking of snatch recovery.

Turboman · Oct 4, 2015

I also have DB tow hitch, I sometimes use the ball for trailers. Pin for recovery ropes or just gentle pulls on the farm.
I have occasionally toed ring trailers on a pin, but it knocks around a bit on the back of the vehicle. All my farm trailers have a ring, which is lifted byt the pick up hitch on the back of the tractor. Much thicker than the towhitch pin, and has massive spring to stop the ring rattling around. That is what the rings are for really, not towing on the road with a pin.
Never fancied Nato hitches myself. look a bit clunky and unwieldy. The usual agricultural methods work fine for me.

Talk to me about pinball tow hitches

FlyingPete

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jamesmartin

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Marmaduke

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jamesmartin

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zeaphod

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ShaunLWB

Member

discomania

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discomania

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flat

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ER1C

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ShaunLWB

Member

zeaphod

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ER1C

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Mcclegend

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Paul D

Old, nackered 'n broke, but the Landy is fine . :)

Turboman

Mab An Gov

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