Increase max towball weight

Blue,
I would have thought that it would be the vehicle that whould be limiting factor in the ball weight. If dual wheels were to be fitted to the back of your ute then you might have a case bur apart from that I can not see how the back of your vehicle can take tha extra weight. If the springs were beefed up that would only mean that the back would not sag as much, it does not mean that the vehicle can carry more weight. The other thing that would have to be looked at is stopping the vehicle. If more ball weight means towing more weight than the brakes would have to be looked at. Extra weight on the back would also mean the steering and braking on the front wheels would also be effected.

Wayne

The very moment an engineer puts his name to anything like that he becomes liable if something goes wrong, and you are the user which he has no control over, mitsubishi engineers are the only ones that could do that and they have already done it, its on the compliance plate, so you wont find one.

If you get onto Cameron Caravans SA (08 8276 5444) they can put you onto a bloke named Tom Olthoff - he's a consultant and trainer in all matters towing.
Tom may be able to connect you with an engineer in this game in Vic....he's very much into the caravan industry.

Hello Blue

Not sure if I completely understand what you want to do, however the following may help.

The towing capacity of a vehicle is set by the vehicle manufacturer. The capacity of the towbar is set by the towbar manufacturer and has to be stated on the bar.
If the bar is rated differently to the vehicle then you go with the lower figure.

The vertical weight allowed on the towball for towing is usually between 5 & 10% of the trailer weight. Outside this range you are normally into load levelling systems etc.

The towbar itself is manufactured to take up to half its rating on the towball, however this is a strength requirement, not a figure you would use for towing. This is to take into account the strength of the vehicle attachment and structure as well as the bar strength. It also allows for the dynamic loadings which the bar designer has to take into account.

If you want to increase the towing capacity of the vehicle then an engineer will usually have to upgrade your suspension system and vehicle structure to allow it to be re-rated. This can affect axles, wheels, tyres, springs and mounts and require subframes or other structural modifications.

VicRoads can send you a list of recognised engineers if you fax a request to them on Fax 9854 2668

regards

A

With my experiences with tow bars, you can't increase the pulling weight of the tow bar. Hayman Reece fabricate the tow bars to the pulling capacity of the vehicle. But you can increase the ball weight with their weight distribution hitches.You want to tow more than the tow bar is rated too. Buy a bigger vehicle.