drawbar extention

[seabug]

Here is a photo showing the drawbar extension used on a Tasmanian Police boat trailer.

Regards
seabug

[Dignity]

seabug, nice and easy and I want to do something similar. In my case the main traier frame starts 1.5metres from the towball (just behind the jockey wheel). I wanted to add 300 mm of drawbar which was a total of 500mm incling towbar hitch. Took it to a few places and to do the mods required massive changes to the frame and the integrity of the galvanising etc it wasn't worth the effort. Still thinking of extending thge draw bar only by the length of the towing hitch as in your pics, at least it will stop the anchor rubbing on my trucks spare wheel.

[seabug]

Hi Dignity,
I did not check how long the extension was on that trailer.

But if one was to order a trailer it should be possible to have the inside tube a couple of metres long.

The trailer was for a Plastic type RIB boat.

[seabug]

Photos of the "plastic" police boat.

This was taken at Triabunna.
A local said that this one was visiting,but that Tas. police had a number of these boats.

Regards
seabug

[Dignity]

thanks seabug, the extension only appeared to be as long as the tow hitch. will probably do the same

[seabug]

For using the above tube idea ,would it work OK if one had lugs with large holes each side of the towball on the tube.

And have say a 2m tube on the inside.

And have 1.8m strong chain/s .one end welded to the outside tube and with strong D shackle/s on the other end.

The chain could be carried in a purpose built box on the outside tube.

When the extra length was needed just drop the chain, attach the D shackle/s to the lugs,pull out the restraining pin,and drive foward.

A pin could then be dropped in a hole drilled in the top of the inside tube, just in front of the outside tube, to stop the inside tube retracting.

OK, so it is a bit agricultural,thats where I came from.

Regards
seabug

[seabug]

A cleaner way would be to have the inside tube 2 sizes smaller than the outside one,providing that this gave enough strengh.

Weld a piece of the between size tube on the inside front of outside tube.

And another piece on the rear end of the inside tube.

When the towbar was extended the two welded on sections would meet

A pin would be need to hold towbar in both positions.

Regards
seabug

[Roughasguts]

If you only need about a 300mm extension, I have the tow ball tounge extended 300mm that part fits in to the Haymen hitch which extends the tow ball out 300 mm. I did that so my Bow sprit doesn't smash me back window on my Paj when driving down a ditch.

Just wondering if that could be extended to 600mm with out any risk of failure.
Going to have to extend your safety chain and wiring if you go that way, but would be an easy fix if structually sound.

[Dignity]

that sounds interesting rags. would have to investigate the matter

[phewy]

Indeed it would be a quick and easy fix. Something like this 18" extension maybe....even longer perhaps.


Although, in reading on these hitch extenders, one site mentioned that "Using a hitch extender will reduce your hitch's overall capacity by 1/3."

So, if a greatly reduced capacity was guaranteed, it would be something you would keep in the back of the car and swap over at the ramp/beach.

[Roughasguts]

In that case with the above extension phewy, you could have several holes or at least one extra hole, to just re locate the pin.

If you go that way, check the thickness of the square tube extension mine would be lucky t be 3mm thick, guess it's alright.
But compared to me old mans Haymen 34 years ago that was a solid steel extention !!! May be over the top but it does seem better than hollow.

[seabug]

Extension towbars are legal in some states of USA.
I saw one about 2ft long on a heavy Duty Ford F250 in Utah.
But the Towball Weight was only 60lbs.
The extension was 2 inch bar steel.

I asked a ***man Rhe*** dealer if they were legal in Australia and he told me they were not.
This was in 2003

If they were not legal(roadworthy)there use ,even at the ramp ,would be risky.

If anyone wants a definate ruling on these it is available from,

VicRoads Road Safety Team
Number 60
Denmark Street
Kew
3101

Regards
seabug

[seabug]

This is a photo of the H/D F250 that I saw in Utah

I wish we could get away with the same loads and hitches as they do.

Regards
Seabug