Member Since: 05 Nov 2016
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 128
Fixed towbar bolts
I want to fit a maypole 1.5” spacer between my towball and plate to give extra clearance but the existing bolts are not long enough to accommodate the spacer so need to purchase 2 new bolts is there a bolt standard in tensile strength I need to adhere to and where would the best place be to purchase these, also what is the torque setting for towball nuts and bolts,
is there no marking on the head of the existing bolts ?
30th Aug 2018 11:22 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4400
8.8 as a minimum.
I prefer to use 10.9 for the bolts and the nuts. Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
30th Aug 2018 11:26 am
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10297
there are some regs about how thick a spacer can be used. I will see if I can find them.
I'm fairly sure 1.5" is too thick
This is from Witter I think
EC Type Approved :
EC Type No. : 00-5672
Max Coupling Packer (mm) : 25
Max Drop Plate Size (mm) : 0
Others are similar. See it says "Max coupling packer 25mm".
also - if it helps, the Alko towball (for use with Alko hitchead stabiliser) is longer than a standard towball to give more clearance.
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
30th Aug 2018 12:00 pm
Houghta
Member Since: 05 Nov 2016
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 128
The spacer is an off the shelf spacer produced by maypole and their blurb does say for spacing off a towball to give extra clearance though my concern was the fact my caravan weighs 1700kg and I only really need the spacer for when I put my bike rack on as the end of my handlebar touches the rear window
30th Aug 2018 12:10 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10297
just because you can buy a larger one doesnt make it right
How does your bike rack fit, is that already attached to the towbar, as the thickness of that also contributes to the "spacer" thickness.
I have a witter bike rack on mine:
Click image to enlarge
I have now taken the spacer out that you can see in the pic and moved the bike rack bracket down so that its between the ball and the bar.
My 'van is 1800kg
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
30th Aug 2018 12:22 pm
Houghta
Member Since: 05 Nov 2016
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 128
It mounts directly onto the tow ball and locks down very similar to a caravan hitch(it’s a Thule rack) when you get good tension on it the rack sits nice and level how it should but then the bar hits the window I can slacken off the tow ball slightly allowing the rack to sit slightly tilted but this leaves a little bit of play in the rack on the ball which I am not comfortable with
30th Aug 2018 12:38 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10297
OK, how about trying a 25mm spacer then as this wont be an issue with your 'van.
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
30th Aug 2018 12:51 pm
Houghta
Member Since: 05 Nov 2016
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 128
Yeah I think an inch should give enough clearance I will pop out and experiment to gauge if it will work and hopefully this will mean I can keep my existing bolts
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
