Tow bar stuck

Submitted: Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 19:29
ThreadID: 31950 Views:5388 Replies:6 FollowUps:6
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I went down to the tow bar shop today to have a chat about getting a new tongue made for my drawbar to help the trailer travel a bit flatter. i asked for a bit of advise to get the existing tongue out which is pretty well stuck in place.

The suggestion....

Connect my snatch strap to a tree and the other end to the tongue and try to "snatch" it out! believe it or not he was not kidding... would'nt mind seeing it but sure as hell would'nt wanna do it!
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Reply By: Ray Bates - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 19:42

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 19:42
If it is one of those made out of RHS I would give a good soke with RP7 or simular, leave it for a couple of days and then try to pull it out giving light taps with a ballpeine hammer. Usually works.
I have noticed that if those hitches are worked hard the sleave on the towbar can bend slightly and it only needs a slight bend to make them hard to get out.
AnswerID: 161741

Follow Up By: Batboy - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 20:12

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 20:12
Have tried giving it a good spray of wd40 but haven't tried soaking it as yet as this would mean removal from vehicle but may come to that. I can't even knock it further in with a sledgy so its stuck real solid.

Next step was to put winch on it, heat it, then tap side to side while under load if that doesn't work then it will have to come off. May be it can be pressed out. Then again I can probably get a hole new bar for less than $200 from a wrecker
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FollowupID: 416423

Reply By: howie - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 20:14

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 20:14
soak it with wd40 for 2 days then attach it with a snatch strap to the tow bar shops door handles, it will come off easy.
AnswerID: 161749

Reply By: Crackles - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:31

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:31
Now that it's soaked in CRC hook a drag chain around a tree to the tow hitch, 1st low & quietly drive forward. Normally pop out without any fuss. He had the right idea but was using the wrong tool;-) A snatch strap could send it flying.
Cheers Craig...........
AnswerID: 161773

Follow Up By: Batboy - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:41

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:41
Almost word for word the same advice! Must be right will try it tommorrow and let ya know

Cheers
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FollowupID: 416446

Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:32

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:32
What about a gentle tug in low range using a 5 metre drag chain around a large post? Snatching it out would be dangerous, but a gentle tug, taking up the slack gently first, should be okay.
AnswerID: 161775

Follow Up By: Batboy - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:39

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:39
Great advice Roachie much better than that Crackles fellow above!
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FollowupID: 416444

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 23:16

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 23:16
hahahahaha
He beat me by "that" much!!!!!!!!!!
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FollowupID: 416468

Reply By: Bros 1 - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:39

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:39
Batboy,
Had the same problem. Used CHEMSEARCH "Yield", another version of cats P!ss for loosening up rust. Left for two days and got into it with sledge and piece of hardwood. Hey presto, success. Now that i use one for the C/T and another for the boats i don't have any problem.
Cheers,
Bros.
Work is the curse of the down and out bludger.

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AnswerID: 161780

Follow Up By: Batboy - Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:59

Monday, Mar 20, 2006 at 21:59
Aye, that is my intention, one for the C/T and one for the 6x4 and boat
Would be great too but you know the story....
At the moment I have to keep swapping the ball for the off road hitch
Pain in the A#Se

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FollowupID: 416450

Follow Up By: Member - Jerry C (WA) - Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006 at 00:24

Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006 at 00:24
Hi Batboy, Try removing the pin and replacing it with a high tensile bolt which is 4mm smaller in diameter, then take the C/T away for the weekend. Find some road which will give give it a bit of push and pull, that may shake it loose.

Cheers, Jerry.
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FollowupID: 416784

Reply By: ellmcg - Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 at 10:03

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 at 10:03
Have you got a nice heavy trailer? We got caught out still hooked up to our stock trailer on the morning of a day-trip, without the key to the trailer lock. It took us a while to stop panicking and come up with a solution... We un-pinned the tow-bar, chocked the trailer well, and drove off (with a few revs). Probably not a method recommended by trailer or towbar manufacturers, but it worked.
AnswerID: 161873

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