Offroad-Express

Since most people use there 4x4 to tow I figured I would post this up here .
Short story is my co worker pulled his tow ball off to steal my 50mm ball . When he removed it , it was loose and hard to remove the nut . Thats because the shank was bent , due to it being a 3/4 shank ball in a 7/8 tounge . He imported the vehicle from Japan and had the towbar installed by toyota

Also we had a major getting the removable tounge out , after said worker said he had it out not so long ago ( transpired to a couple of years ) . It finally came out but is rather rusted and not in good shape .

So keep an eye on your tow balls and make sure they are not loose and if you have a removable tounge either only install it when needed or remove them frequently and rust treat them .

Chris

And check the bolts on the bar!
My dealer fitted bar seemed to have 4/10 bolts only hand tight after 2 months. Even last week, vehicle is nearly 3 years old, I got another turn out of half of the bolts. Granted I do often carry heavy loads, but can you recall the last time you checked yours?

Factory tow bar on my 2011 ford ranger had elongated the removable tongue
Around the pin, only done 28000 Kms .
Notice the new model has a different design .

I do a lot of heavy hauling and replace the tow bar mounting bolts every 2years and the tow ball. Properly over kill but it makes me feel better. I also I also check them for tightness (including tow ball) every service. I also change between 3 balls regularly depending on what I am hauling - 1 7/8, 50mm and 60mm, when I change them I always check them after a 10or so km's down the road

Suza wrote:I do a lot of heavy hauling and replace the tow bar mounting bolts every 2years and the tow ball. Properly over kill but it makes me feel better. I also I also check them for tightness (including tow ball) every service. I also change between 3 balls regularly depending on what I am hauling - 1 7/8, 50mm and 60mm, when I change them I always check them after a 10or so km's down the road

i bought a interchangeable ball system from appco

as im going from 1 7/8 to 50mm all the time
they come out as std 19mm or 25mm stud
this save changeing the complete unit all the time and the ball locks in place by a 1/4 turn and a locking tab
the 25mm unit is rated to 3t stamped onto the base, pretty encouraging as std towball units dont normally have anything stamped on them

mudlva wrote:

Suza wrote:I do a lot of heavy hauling and replace the tow bar mounting bolts every 2years and the tow ball. Properly over kill but it makes me feel better. I also I also check them for tightness (including tow ball) every service. I also change between 3 balls regularly depending on what I am hauling - 1 7/8, 50mm and 60mm, when I change them I always check them after a 10or so km's down the road

i bought a interchangeable ball system from appco

as im going from 1 7/8 to 50mm all the time
they come out as std 19mm or 25mm stud
this save changeing the complete unit all the time and the ball locks in place by a 1/4 turn and a locking tab
the 25mm unit is rated to 3t stamped onto the base, pretty encouraging as std towball units dont normally have anything stamped on them

I looked at something similar a while ago but because I use 3 different size's and 60mm is odd it didn't work for me

From memory, those change-a-ball things come factory on newer landy disco's. well thats were I got one from, very handy