Receiver hitch's

[ScottieJ]

Why don't more people use them in the UK?



I think I'm going to incorporate a receiver into my front and rear bumpers for recovery purposes, no more faffing around trying to undo/do up shackles with muddy hands, just slip the hitch in put the pin through will also mean I could run a demountable winch system to run on the front or rear

[Highlander]

I think its the type approval thing...

Cars made after August 1998 legally need to have "type approved" tow bars fitted.

I don't think these receiver hitches are type approved in the UK

No problem if your motor is pre- August 1998 but if you fit one on a post 98 vehicle its not legal unless approved

Won't fail an MOT with one fitted, just don't have an insurance claim!

[ScottieJ]

Ah but a lot of modern vehicles now like disco 2s have receiver hitch's so theft must be type approved now?

Anyway mine will be for offroad recoveries not towing so I can't see that it will matter, it's just like having a tow point fitted at the end of the day.

[Highlander]

Disco's must be approved then.

I know a guy who fabricated one into a rear bumper on a 2003 Hilux only to find out it wasn't legal to use as a tow bar because it wasn't type approved

Great idea too, he had all sorts of attachment ideas for his.

[turbo-tom]

hmm interesting havent seen that before but if i was to use it i would take it of for the mot then chuck it back on after,

they cant test it ifs its not there

[ScottieJ]

Yeah, they are useful! I'll prob make a few things that use it like a bike rack etc. Or one of these for taking spares along with me to p&p or camping gear etc.




Only hard bit is finding seamless box section, however I'm just going to weld two bits of angle together to make the receiver, should work a treat!

[ScottieJ]

hmm interesting havent seen that before but if i was to use it i would take it of for the mot then chuck it back on after,

they cant test it ifs its not there

It wouldn't be a testable item, it isn't a tow bar! anyway without the recovery hitch in it's just a square hole, i wouldn't leave the recovery hitch in anyway as it would just get nicked.

[Highlander]

Type approval isn't tested on MOT anyway so it wouldn't fail ( I did mention that )

The only problem would arise in the event of an accident/insurance claim.

If you were found to be towing with a non type approved tow bar in a post 98 vehicle your insurance company will walk away...

But yeah, a great idea for recovery/winches/jacking points/seats etc

[Cyprus Geoff]

I am thinking about a rear bumper with receiver hitch this year Scottie and was toying with the rear basket idea too!

Does anyone have pics of how they mounted rear bumpers. I have two thoughts at the mo but don't want to "re-invent the wheel"?

Cheers! Geoff

Oh and Merry Chrimbo!

[dan_2k_uk]

Mine is bolted to the towbar cross member mounts with side plates to brace the mounting brackets also doubling as the tow points. Have a flick through my build thread for some photos and rough paint sketches.