DO 35 on Top ?
Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 07:01
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Lost and Frowned
I've had the new DO 35 hitch on for about 10,000 km now. Despite cleaning and regreasing at every unhitch/rehitch it shows the scoring reported by others. Despite this it's a vast improvement unhitching in awkward situations.I would not go back!
BT fitted the new hitch below the A frame and I had to buy a new HR 200mm drop shank to maintain the desired front down attitude. I was told that the decreased clearance would only result in minimal problems as it would be the bottom of the shank that bottomed out. Tow vehicle is a Land Cruiser 200 with upgraded suspension.
A recent trip along the Savannah Way had the hitch shank crunching in the creek crossings a number of times such that when back on even going the WD bar trunions would no longer fit into the recievers on the hitch shank. I had to get them rebuilt in Katherine.
Has anyone successfully mounted the WD 35 on top of the draw bar to regain the lost clearance? I note reference in other posts on the subject to WD bar modification plates. What are these?
I've been told "very helpfully" by BT that the WD will not work if I do this and the problem is with the tow vehicle. I'd rather not have to sell the Landcruiser to fix the problem. If any one can advise me I would really appreciate it.
Cheers, Nigel.
Reply By: Gone Bush - Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 09:13
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 09:13
Nigel you can't avoid that particular drop hitch because the tow point on the 200 is built into the chassis, and is therefore a bit higher than other towpoints. That means that the hitch must drop closer to the ground to get the drawbar at the right angle.
You'll never avoid the hitch scraping but you should have removed the bars before going thru any washouts.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Lost and Frowned - Thursday, Sep 02, 2010 at 07:12
Thursday, Sep 02, 2010 at 07:12
Thanks Stephen,
Yes the bars were out as usual over that sort of terrain but it was the lugs/wings/brackets whatever they're called, where the bars fit into that caught the rocks and got bent out of shape.
I have seen the DO 35 mounted on top of the A frame on other vans but didn't pay attention to how the WDBs were fitted. I was sort of hoping somebody out there might have done it already but maybe I've got to experiment.
The old AT 35 worked fine with the 150 drop shank on one hole from the bottom so I've effectively lost 50mm clearance under the bottom of the 200mm shank and about 65mm under the WDbs.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Cheers, Nigel.
FollowupID:
852822
Reply By: Lets went - Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 17:09
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 17:09
Hi Nigel
Will you be at the muster,if you are I will be up there this weekend and can show you what I have done to my hitch.I have a ring and pintel set up and had to move the ring to the top of the A frame on van to get the right height because I have changed Tow vehicles from F250 to the 200 series with a GVM up grade made the 200 a lot higher,it all works very well now.I know it is a different hitch but it could work.
AnswerID:
581082
Follow Up By: Lost and Frowned - Thursday, Sep 02, 2010 at 07:16
Thursday, Sep 02, 2010 at 07:16
Thanks John and Helen,
I was hoping that my investment of over $600 to swap hitches and drop shanks was not going to be wasted by going to yet another hitch type.
I might see how I can reconfigure the WDB attachments and check around a bit more.
Thanks again, Nigel.
FollowupID:
852823
