ok, so I've been a little busy lately and haven't got around to posting up the pics of the towbar I've made for the van. This is what Tobermary and I came up with. Very very strong, and bolts inside the subframe, completley reinforced, and also just as a extra measure bolts up into the floor ova the subframe, and also at the rear valance. Will get pics of it on the car later this week. I wanted it strong for various reasons The car will rip apart before the subframe rips out.. It was originally made out of a sedan towbar, and cut and joined to suit our design. We have made it so that it tricks around the van fuel tank, brake lines, handbrake cable, and exhuast/ muffler. It will make more sense to you once I get some time to take some pics of it later this week, under the car.

If anyone on here needs a towbar for their van, come and talk to either me or Tobermary on here. Easily done once we knew what we were going to do. At the end of the day I'm really happy with what it came up like.

P.S. It tows really well to, nice and smooth

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

Ill be up for 1 and I love it...but just wondering why the front section is not welded but look like it will be bolted. Also the same section is it bolted to the floor as well as the sub frame

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

Nice work.
I'll be making a "heavy duty" / 50mm square removable hitch / 'Hayman Reese' style towbar for my Moke some time soon.
Gotta tow the boat & trailer I have plans for

I'll get pics of it under the car this week, it might be easy the some photo's to get the idea, rather than me rant away (pictures do tell 1,000 words )

It bolts on the front yes, only because incase I wanted to remove the tow hitch to another car, I could. Whereas if it was welded together, you wouldn't get it out once welded together, without cutting etc..

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

book me in Danno

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

can it be made with the tongue removable??

yep could easily be done. I didn't want that, cos I will be using it a fair bit, so no need for me. Plus I like it there, as it acts as a barrier if someone runs up my arse.. wish I had one on my sedan b4 the dude ran up my bum, would've saved alot of damage thats for sure.

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

Nice work, im about to do the same set up for my van.
Want to be able to tow my motorbike

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77' Clubman S "Bluebird"
74'Clubman estate "Cherry"
00' CBR929RR Stunt bike
96' Falcon Longreach ute "KillDozer"

Have you got this thing bolted on yet and where are the pics?
Also did yous check that you can still open the doors with a trailer on?

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

I guess your talking to me???

Yep the back doors open with the traliers on. It's all on and working, has been for about 3 weeks now i think. I just haven't had the time yet to get the car up on some ramps to take some pics with it attached. Been heaps busy lately with uni as we started back last week. I will get pics up on Monday or Tuesday for you.

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

Weevel,

The photos you found were taken by me when I was installing the hitch (for ball) when assembling the Mini sedan in 2006.

The photo of the UK style sedan hitch shows the UK vertical mounting for a bolt on/off cast ball. Here in NA folks typically bolt a ball through a horizontal flange.

Have 5 new hitches for sedan in inventory but shipping across the Big Pond would be problematic. $225 Cdn. plus delivery in NA (automotive black hitch, reinforcing angle iron, 1 7/8" ball with 3/4" threaded shank, bolts, nuts, washers).

My trailer (Hunny Pot) weighs approximately 200kgs. with hitch on the ball, so maybe 220 kg. on its own.

Do not know the trailer is there until rough road, then trailer tugs a little.

Appreciate seeing the Van hitch in the thread and have copied the photos - looks like excellent work.

Rick

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

Rick, just in case you are thinking about putting a trailer on the van over here, be aware that 50mm is now the 99% standard size for trailer couplings in Oz.
It's been 20 years since I saw an Imperial one..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Hi Kevin,

Not looking at a trailer hitch for the Aussie Van. Interested in the work done there because I get asked here, "Can you make me one?"

1 7/8" is 47.63mm so off the mark. Thanks for the info.

Imperial measurements are common in Canada because of the huge US market and its adherence to non-metric discriptions...the US gallon is also smaller than the Imperial etc. and they have their own dictionaries dating back to the revolutionary period, must create their own English.

Rick

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

Your welcome to see it in person and take pics at the muster when you come. He'll be there, along with my other mini. Side by side, standing proud, nice and tall As far as I can tell from asking everyone I am the only one who has one for a van here in QLD..

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

There are still afew 1 7/8 tow-balls and trailers around. A mate has a 1 7/8 ball on his ancient trailer. He forgot to change the ball once when he borrwoed my car trailer. The (fortunately empty) trailer jumped off on a bump and punched a neat hole in his rear bumper.

Cheers,

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2