Adjustable tow hitches

Brente1982

Active Member
Oct 7, 2019
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Why is it that all adjustable tow hitches have the worlds longest shafts on them? Not all towbar assemblies have a hollow section for the shaft to go all the way through. Infact the bar on my ranger only has a distance of 62mm from back to pin hole, and then these adjustable hitches have a futher 300mm+ distance from pin hole to tow ball hole.
Just means you generally have to extend your safety chains just to reach their fixing point.

Has anyone found a suitable one that isnt 500mm in overall length?
 

Brente1982

Active Member
Oct 7, 2019
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Shank. I don't need a WDH
My current adjustable is way too long, it annoys me. i had to cut the end off it because it didnt align with the pin hole. But its still exessively long, like they all are.
 

Crusty181

Well-Known Member
Feb 7, 2010
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Mentone, VIC
Ok, i have a Reece V5 wdh, and the horizontal outside dimensions of the shank is around 300mm overall, the pin centre is around 80mm from the inserted end. Overall shank thickness is around 70mm so not much use for you, but an example of at least one shank of limited length.
 

Brente1982

Active Member
Oct 7, 2019
281
183
43
Epping
I have one very similar to this. The picture doesn't make it look that long, but it is.
I'll keep looking but once I get my car back from the repairer I may have to do some proper measuring of the difference and get a fixed heigh model.
images (15).jpeg
 

Bushman

Forum Moderator
Staff member
Nov 9, 2010
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Wollondilly Shire NSW
My WDH stuck out way to far, which was fine on The Pajero to clear the spare but caused to much pitch with the ball weight to far back from the axle.
On the Trailblazer with stock springs and suspension it was a lot worse.
Managed to have it shortened and redrilled, the difference was amazing, not perfect but a huge improvement.
IMG_20191026_112055.jpg
First pic shows how far it sticks out (previous van attached), 2nd after the shortening
20200720_133237.jpg
 

Crusty181

Well-Known Member
Feb 7, 2010
6,854
13,971
113
Mentone, VIC
My WDH stuck out way to far, which was fine on The Pajero to clear the spare but caused to much pitch with the ball weight to far back from the axle.
On the Trailblazer with stock springs and suspension it was a lot worse.
Managed to have it shortened and redrilled, the difference was amazing, not perfect but a huge improvement.
View attachment 65676
First pic shows how far it sticks out (previous van attached), 2nd after the shortening
View attachment 65677
Same hitch, mines the opposite. Goes too far in, zero room to mount the stomper bracket