Tow ball!!

Hi, I have seen this Witter Towbars | Z46 Witter 3.5 tonne Black Universal Coupling
I assume it is ok to put the snap hook of a tow rope on the pin? At the minute I just wrap the rope around the whole tow bar bracket on my D2.
Does anyone have any experience of these?

What are you towing? On road or off?

I put it behind the pin then over the ball, extra metal bits arnt nice when stuff snaps

Mine has a larger uni tow ball,

Works fine towing by the pin, but like others have said, advise that you loop around the ball as well for added strength

DaveDisco2 said:

Hi, I have seen this Witter Towbars | Z46 Witter 3.5 tonne Black Universal Coupling
I assume it is ok to put the snap hook of a tow rope on the pin? At the minute I just wrap the rope around the whole tow bar bracket on my D2.
Does anyone have any experience of these?

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Very similar to Dixon Bate. Yes, use the pin for hooks and ropes, ball for trailers.

I'll post a pic of the genuine landrover one to got for £7 off eBay

SteNova said:

I'll post a pic of the genuine landrover one to got for £7 off eBay

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That sounds like a great buy, spect they are arms and legs new!
I would check the ball for wear before towing on it.

Turboman said:

That sounds like a great buy, spect they are arms and legs new!
I would check the ball for wear before towing on it.

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It's still as new

SteNova said:

It's still as new

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Nice, that is a good result!

SteNova said:

It's still as new

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You mean it doesn't fit properly and inexplicably leaks oil?

blue beasty said:

You mean it doesn't fit properly and inexplicably leaks oil?

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Not necessarily, I think the standard ones are made by DB not LR

The "link" does not work for me.
And, it is surely common practice to always check your ball.

DaveDisco2 said:

The "link" does not work for me.
And, it is surely common practice to always check your ball.

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Certainly a very good idea to check it regularly. Afraid I have met many peeps who have towed for years in blissful ignorance of this.
Also quite a few that never grease their balls.

Needless to say my ball does not get much use. If I fixed my tow bar electrics it may get more use!!
However something on the end of a rope does not usually need electrics!!

Yes it's lr one made by db

In the case of a trailer breaking away from the towing vehicle, it's more often a failure of the towing bracket on the vehicle that fails and breaks away. Usually corroded chassis or incorrect bolts failing, putting the safety chain around the ball hitch wouldn't be a lot of help in this kind of situation.

I witnessed the results of this around 3 months ago when the tow bar broke away from a D2 whilst towing a caravan, the D2 rolled several times killing the lady passenger. When it came to rest the D2's tow bar was still attached to the caravan.

The safety chain needs attaching to a secure point away from the tow ball. I've welded a heavy duty eye onto my chassis away from the tow ball, in the event the towing bracket comes off the chain will still apply the trailer brakes.

I think your getting chain and breakaway cable confused

SteNova said:

I think your getting chain and breakaway cable confused

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Depends on the type of rig you are towing and how it's configured, but I know what you are saying. Not all breakaway 'cables' are actually cables, and quite often are the only means of applying the brakes and restraining the trailer. Not ideal but it's surprising (or not) how many people do not attach any means of restraint to the trailer.

The fatal incident I referred to in my previous post, had a breakaway cable but was totally useless as the whole bracket had come off the D2. Amazingly the caravan remained upright, whereas the D2 rolled around half a dozen times.

Nigel-S said:

Depends on the type of rig you are towing and how it's configured, but I know what you are saying. Not all breakaway 'cables' are actually cables, and quite often are the only means of applying the brakes and restraining the trailer. Not ideal but it's surprising (or not) how many people do not attach any means of restraint to the trailer.

The fatal incident I referred to in my previous post, had a breakaway cable but was totally useless as the whole bracket had come off the D2. Amazingly the caravan remained upright, whereas the D2 rolled around half a dozen times.

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Yes, I have seen quite a few driving around with no breakaway at all, idiots really, they would be up **** creek if there was an accident.
As you say, I am often surprised by the flimsy attachment of some drawbars to often rusty xmembers, unsurprising they sometimes come adrift!
A couple of peeps I know have had the ball come off due to towballand coupling wear, luckily no injuries.

used my double purpose towball & pin yesterday with one of then solid towing bars with my sons fiesta hanging on the end.
works a treat.
its been well used in the last 5 years by me too.
gave up on normal ropes for highway use couple of years ago,
when I bought a machine mart towing bar.
I even use bits/strips of cut rubber mat between the pin/ and towing eye on car held with cable ties to stop the CLUNK on over run when the landie breaks,
then the take up of slack is minimal... jobs a good `en as they say..