Launching towball

[paddlers]

You were trying too hard ....

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by paddlers

You were trying too hard ....

you could well be right

[treerat]

Our dive club trailer has a third wheel on the front that can flip down and acts as a front wheel rather than a jockey wheel. One of these to a good rope to the tow eye would do the job.

I do like the idea of a tow ball welded to the tow eye.

[Landlockedpirate]

The OP has got me thinking. I have always fancied a front mounted tow ball for maneuvering in tight spaces . I would never justify the expensive of specific Range Rover one at £500+ but I think I might give this DIY approach a try

[Trailer Guy]

What model and year Range Rover?

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by treerat

Our dive club trailer has a third wheel on the front that can flip down and acts as a front wheel rather than a jockey wheel. One of these to a good rope to the tow eye would do the job.

I do like the idea of a tow ball welded to the tow eye.

machine mart do a rigid tow pole that folds for storage, I've used one for years on rally stages, good kit, maybe that could also be adapted to do the job

[TRevor Lawson]

tow ball mounted to tow eye might work with 4 wheel trailer, but wth a 2 wheel trailer there will be a lot of weight on the screw thread designed to drag a car but not to carry any weight, could poss use jockey wheel or make up a third wheel for support, and think you would need a safety strap in case it fails( trailer/boat off down slip on it's own risky)

[mick]

Originally Posted by treerat

Our dive club trailer has a third wheel on the front that can flip down and acts as a front wheel rather than a jockey wheel. One of these to a good rope to the tow eye would do the job.

I do like the idea of a tow ball welded to the tow eye.

+1 for that

[Trailer Guy]

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

The OP has got me thinking. I have always fancied a front mounted tow ball for maneuvering in tight spaces . I would never justify the expensive of specific Range Rover one at £500+ but I think I might give this DIY approach a try

Have a look at Watling Engineers. I've used them quite a bit for front towbars and I think a Range Rover one would be about £150 +vat, supplied as a kit.

[IanH]

Originally Posted by mister p

Example, for one reason or another ended up taking Mercedes 240 miles to Cornwall where the SR4 is now ( on her trailer). Merc doesn't have a towbar. Neither does my 1972 Rover 2000 or missy's MGB. Disco does, Freelander does and funnily XJ6 does. But the cars with bars guzzle and sometimes don't fit the plan.

I may still have a complete rear bumper/integrated tow bar for a chrome bumper MGB GT if you are interested.

The whole bumper assembly is just held on with two large nuts. Not sure I would trust it for long journeys without an additional brace to prevent twisting, but launch/recovery ok. It would probably be original tow ball - not sure how easy to swap to modern size but probably a bit of WD40 and decent socket/spanner set.

[Landlockedpirate]

Originally Posted by Trailer Guy

Have a look at Watling Engineers. I've used them quite a bit for front towbars and I think a Range Rover one would be about £150 +vat, supplied as a kit.

Cheers, just seen your post, thats a lot better than £500+ I was quoted by LR.

[mister p]

Originally Posted by IanH

I may still have a complete rear bumper/integrated tow bar for a chrome bumper MGB GT if you are interested.

The whole bumper assembly is just held on with two large nuts. Not sure I would trust it for long journeys without an additional brace to prevent twisting, but launch/recovery ok. It would probably be original tow ball - not sure how easy to swap to modern size but probably a bit of WD40 and decent socket/spanner set.

The bumper for the MG sounds appealing for the B.

[Poly]

most tow eyes are not mounted centrally. Not sure how that would impact the ability to steer?

[mister p]

Originally Posted by Poly

most tow eyes are not mounted centrally. Not sure how that would impact the ability to steer?

Yes, they are mounted off centre to ( at the rear) attach directly to a chassis leg and clear space for a tow rail proper when fitted. And at the front to attach to a chassis leg and clear the rad.
There are rumours of them being offset to allow for driver vision when towed but that's nonsense.
Poly, the offset would affect steer but not as much as one thinks and only at 90 degrees in one direction, the other direction would actually benefit. What would be more of a hindrance is the increased combined vehicle width going straight ahead.......and again this would only ever be no more than the distance from centre to offset, say two feet max.
So having pondered on the construct, a detachable towball that fits onto the eye of any detachable towring and positively lockable in the upright. Couple of collars above and below the eye should see to that.
That way it would be truly universal without the need a universal thread for the eye.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by mister p

.and again this would only ever be no more than the distance from centre to offset, say two feet max.

Some of the slipways I use are tricky enough without an offset to worry about.

[Mcd22]

Only thing about using the towing eye to mount the ball onto is the threaded part on the car will bend quite easily. They are only designed for a load applied in a straight line. Any twisting will either bend the eye or start twisting the frame.

[simsy]

It's do-able but.

The forces at launch and recovery can be high.
Public are around the beach very often, and people get funny about their kids being run over by loose boat trailers.

Have used a carabina on my towing eye to trailer handle, but it may scratch bumper or break with load....

My Dad ran me over as a kid when the rope snapped on our express pirate trailer on a concrete ramp.

[mister p]

Originally Posted by Mcd22

Only thing about using the towing eye to mount the ball onto is the threaded part on the car will bend quite easily. They are only designed for a load applied in a straight line. Any twisting will either bend the eye or start twisting the frame.

Understand your point, however if the bit is designed to tow a 1.5 tonne car, then it should manage an SR4 up a soft slip. No?

[Mcd22]

Its not designed to take any weight pushing down on it though as a hitch would do, or pushing or pulling at an angle as would occur as you pushed or pulled the trailer around a corner. They are only designed for a straight line pull, not force from another direction.

[paddlers]

A bit of common sense when using it will go a long way !! Recognise the fact that it's not for a lot of towing but suitable for occasional short movements at low speeds & avoid stressing it would in my opinion be fine!