Towing Hitch

[245T]

I am thinking of adding a heavy duty tow bar with the removable towing hitch.

Does anyone have any pics of theirs? thanks

[filpee]

I got a parkside hitch fitted to my ute. ill take a couple of photos in the morning for ya.

[filpee]

OK here you go.

The hitch slides in and the locking pin is hidden behind the rear bumper.

Its not a bad setup as it looks quite neat when hitch is installed. But it does have its issues.

The most obvious ones being that there is nothing to hide the hole when the hitch is not installed and the socket for the lights sticks out like a sore thumb.

The other less obvious problems is trying to get the locking pin in. Unless you want to get on your back and slide under the tail you have to install it blind, after a few goes you eventually get the hang of it (removing is still pretty easy).

The final problem is with the location of the safety chain anchor point as this is also hidden behind the bumper. Originally I was going to install a short chain link to hang under the car but I was really worried about the chain rubbing up under the plastic and damaging my rear bumper. In the end I got my father in law to weld up some new anchor points on the hitch itself (which I need to paint with some anti rust).

I have seen other utes with better installs then this but I was on a tight budget. Speak to your installer to see what he can do.

When I got mine fitted there was another XR getting a Hayman Reese hitch fitted. When I picked up my car he recons he could have done 2 cars like mine in the time it took him to fit the Reese hitch.

Phil

ps. just remembered another lil issue. the hitch seems to move around alot. loads of clunking noises whenever I tow. You get used to it but it would be nice if it was a tighter fit.

[245T]

OK here you go.

The hitch slides in and the locking pin is hidden behind the rear bumper.

Its not a bad setup as it looks quite neat when hitch is installed. But it does have its issues.

The most obvious ones being that there is nothing to hide the hole when the hitch is not installed and the socket for the lights sticks out like a sore thumb.

The other less obvious problems is trying to get the locking pin in. Unless you want to get on your back and slide under the tail you have to install it blind, after a few goes you eventually get the hang of it (removing is still pretty easy).

The final problem is with the location of the safety chain anchor point as this is also hidden behind the bumper. Originally I was going to install a short chain link to hang under the car but I was really worried about the chain rubbing up under the plastic and damaging my rear bumper. In the end I got my father in law to weld up some new anchor points on the hitch itself (which I need to paint with some anti rust).

I have seen other utes with better installs then this but I was on a tight budget. Speak to your installer to see what he can do.

When I got mine fitted there was another XR getting a Hayman Reese hitch fitted. When I picked up my car he recons he could have done 2 cars like mine in the time it took him to fit the Reese hitch.

Phil

ps. just remembered another lil issue. the hitch seems to move around alot. loads of clunking noises whenever I tow. You get used to it but it would be nice if it was a tighter fit.

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Thanks for the info and pics Phil