Towball mass
Submitted: Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 09:25
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Brian (Montrose, Vic.)
Morning all,
We've been looking at buying a small Jayco pop-up and after checking the towball weights of various vans and my vehicle I have noticed a large discrepancy in the supposed maximun weight allowed on my towbar.
I have an '05 TD Mitsi Triton with a heavy duty Hayman Reece bar fitted, the discrepancy is that the bar is listed as a max towball weight of 100 kg but checking Mitsubishi's info I find a max weight of 190 kg. Does anyone know which is correct and/or how much over the minimum 100 kg we can safely go?
Regards, Brian T
Reply By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 09:28
Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 09:28
Brian,
I think you would be restricted to the Tow Bar manufacturers specs, it may pay to
check the specs from a genuine Mitsubishi tow bar as a comparison.
Cheers Kev
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AnswerID:
342385
Reply By: troopyman - Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 10:42
Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 10:42
Always go with the minimum specs . This goes for towbars or
winches etc .
AnswerID:
342394
Reply By: Brian (Montrose, Vic.) - Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 11:10
Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 11:10
Thanks for the replies so far, looks like I may be putting Her plans on hold for a while.....
But to add a twist to the equation, The owners manual for the beast says 100kg for towing with just a ball hitch, but can go up to 190 kg with a weight distribution hitch.
SO... if I was to fit say a Treg style coupling to the trailer etc how does that affect load ratings...
AnswerID:
342400
Follow Up By: Lex M - Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 11:31
Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 11:31
A treg coupling is not a weight distribution hitch.
This is.
If the plate on the towbar on the vehicle says 100kg then that's the legal maximum and you'll have to change the towbar to a higher capacity one.
cheers
FollowupID:
610088
Reply By: ozjohn0 - Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 17:08
Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 17:08
Kev.
A heaver tow bar maybe available as you can't legally exceed the stated tow bar capacity. You should also not the following:
The Triton's Max Tow Weight is 1900kg with a Ball Weight of 190kg used with an approved WDH. But Mitsubishi does allow the Tow Weight to be increase to 2200kg, but reduces the Ball weight to only 100kg. Go figure that one.
ozjohn0
AnswerID:
342439
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 22:17
Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 at 22:17
Yes u may not exceed the LESSER capacity. EG a lighter capacity towbar over rules the cars capacity.
Likewise a towbar thar exceeds the cars capacity is a waste of time as then u must not exceed the cars max capacity..
FollowupID:
610173
Reply By: Wombat - Sunday, Jan 04, 2009 at 20:55
Sunday, Jan 04, 2009 at 20:55
Brian,
A number of us had a similar issue back in '04 and the solution is an email or letter to Mitsubishi Australia with your registration and vin, requesting confirmation of an upgrade to the towball download rating.
Of course you will then need to get similar documentation from your towball manufacturer to be entirely legal.
AnswerID:
342627
Follow Up By: Wombat - Sunday, Jan 04, 2009 at 22:14
Sunday, Jan 04, 2009 at 22:14
I hear there's a pretty good Coromal Silhouette in the trader section of this site if you're looking for something better than a Jayco! ;-)
FollowupID:
610326
Reply By: Brian (Montrose, Vic.) - Sunday, Jan 04, 2009 at 23:51
Sunday, Jan 04, 2009 at 23:51
Tanks all for the replies so far,
Well I think I have solved the problem at hand, it seems because it is an '05 4x4 TD Triton I can have up to 100 kg towball weight without a weight distribution hitch or up to 190 kg with one. However this assumes a standard ball and cup style hitch unit. The dilema I now have is I want to fit an off road type coupling (eg Treg, Hyland etc) but does that bring me back to the lower towball weight limit and also with a standard style hitch how much articulation will I lose with the weight distribution hhitch.
regards
Brian.
AnswerID:
342651