I'm losing the skills required to reverse towed vehicles.
I'm considering the idea of installing a tow hitch to the front of my 2006 Hilux.
Please share experiences/advantages/disadvantages of such a set-up.
Yuglamron said
12:15 PM Dec 17, 2016
Sorry cannot help,but an older guy had one welded to his steel Bullbar. It was on the left side of his bar. He told me it was better to see behind the Van when backing it up. In the centre it would make seeing behind the van harder.
I am sure someone will come along that has one and will advise you properly.
tomaz1940 said
12:59 PM Dec 17, 2016
Thanks. I think a hitch, welded like that, to the front would probably be illegal in most States.
Some (all) States have legalized front-end tow hitch fitting. I've not yet read the rules but suspect the tow-ball probably has to be removed when not in use.
macka17 said
02:42 PM Dec 17, 2016
Yrs ago. Big vans.
Most of us fitted a ball to front bar.
Normally at end of L\Hand chassis rail to take the load.
It DOES make it a lot easier to back any size trailer
Todays laws. yes. Probably removal is a good idea.
PeterD said
03:37 PM Dec 17, 2016
tomaz1940 wrote:
I think a hitch, welded like that, to the front would probably be illegal in most States.
It's not so much a hitch at the front that upsets the authorities, it is any projection that is likely to injure others. Look around for a bit of RHS with a 50 mm square inside measurement in it. Weld that back underneath so it's not a hazard. Use that to relocate your hitch from the rear hitch receiver to the front of your tug when you wish to use it to push the van.
If you go to the Hervey CP they have a little Suzuki Jimny hardtop with a hitch like that that they use to put your van on-site for you.
C00P said
12:31 AM Dec 18, 2016
We used a ball inserted into the front bumper of our old Series III Land Rover to shift our van in and out of its storage space. Made getting it lined up really easy,and in Low Range we could move it in nice and slowly (it was a tight fit). We just removed the ball when it wasn't needed. (We tow with a Land Cruiser- the Land Rover isn't rated to pull the van- or much else.
tomaz1940 said
04:27 AM Dec 18, 2016
Thanks, ppl. You've confirmed my thoughts. I will go ahead with an installation.
Cupie said
10:41 PM Dec 18, 2016
When I first got a van some 18 ears ago, I was going to fit a pusher bar but never got around to it, I just improved my reversing skills.
I have never found the need for one except perhaps for one location, at a pub somewhere in WA where it would have been possible to reverse up a rise & around other vans to a spot in the back corner.
I think that it's hardly worth the effort to unhitch then hook up again.
But I suppose that it's worthwhile especially if you carry another tongue & don't have to remove your WDH.
I'm losing the skills required to reverse towed vehicles.
I'm considering the idea of installing a tow hitch to the front of my 2006 Hilux.
Please share experiences/advantages/disadvantages of such a set-up.
Sorry cannot help,but an older guy had one welded to his steel Bullbar. It was on the left side of his bar. He told me it was better to see behind the Van when backing it up. In the centre it would make seeing behind the van harder.
I am sure someone will come along that has one and will advise you properly.
Thanks. I think a hitch, welded like that, to the front would probably be illegal in most States.
Some (all) States have legalized front-end tow hitch fitting. I've not yet read the rules but suspect the tow-ball probably has to be removed when not in use.
Most of us fitted a ball to front bar.
Normally at end of L\Hand chassis rail to take the load.
It DOES make it a lot easier to back any size trailer
Todays laws. yes. Probably removal is a good idea.
It's not so much a hitch at the front that upsets the authorities, it is any projection that is likely to injure others. Look around for a bit of RHS with a 50 mm square inside measurement in it. Weld that back underneath so it's not a hazard. Use that to relocate your hitch from the rear hitch receiver to the front of your tug when you wish to use it to push the van.
If you go to the Hervey CP they have a little Suzuki Jimny hardtop with a hitch like that that they use to put your van on-site for you.
We used a ball inserted into the front bumper of our old Series III Land Rover to shift our van in and out of its storage space. Made getting it lined up really easy,and in Low Range we could move it in nice and slowly (it was a tight fit). We just removed the ball when it wasn't needed.
.
(We tow with a Land Cruiser- the Land Rover isn't rated to pull the van- or much else
When I first got a van some 18 ears ago, I was going to fit a pusher bar but never got around to it, I just improved my reversing skills.
I have never found the need for one except perhaps for one location, at a pub somewhere in WA where it would have been possible to reverse up a rise & around other vans to a spot in the back corner.
I think that it's hardly worth the effort to unhitch then hook up again.
But I suppose that it's worthwhile especially if you carry another tongue & don't have to remove your WDH.