Prado 120 Recall - Tow Bars/Load Distribution Hitches

Hello

I think you attributed the accidents to the number 41 :)

Without knowing any details of the specific incidents it is impossible to say it is related to this (tow bar) issue (or any other) but its a possibility. Would have thought it would have been recognised as a significant problem long ago though if it was causing/contributing to rollovers - 120 Prados have been around for over 10 years. I wonder if 90 and 150 owners also got a letter?

Cheers
Greg

Only mentions replacing a 3rd party Load Distribution hitch, nothing about replacing an aftermarket towbar. So I assume if you are using a Toyota towbar with HR WDH then they will replace the HR WDH with a Toyota one.

Who makes the towbars and WDH for Toyota?

Is it the WDH which is faulty, the receiver in the towbar, or the bolting of the towbar to the chassis?

Nearly all loose towbars are caused by poor fitting by fitters who can't fit.

Ross,

On the Prado point website, I have seen photos of receivers wrenched from their mountings by HR wdh equipment.

First of all, these hitches shouldn't be used over rough ground as anyone who has seen the Kedron videos will have witnessed the same problem with the 100 series hitch also being wrenched off when driving over rough ground. Having said that, the photos on Pradopoint were of the Toyota cast receivers, which literally broke apart under the stresses of the wdh. I believe there have also been instances of the bolts coming loose. The best fix, as far as I remember, was to replace the Toyota cast receiver with a steel HR one.....but why anyone would employ a wdh over such terrain and travelling at low speeds is beyond me. I suppose it's just a case of bothering to de-hitch and hitch up again as conditions demand.