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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Rubyvale Qld Australia
    Age
    60
    Posts
    35

    Default Tow Bar welding who can safely do this?

    I have a tow bar on me 2004 RTV Ford tray back Ute and I'd like to update the hitch part.
    I see the only way to properly weld the bar is to remove the entire thing and am wondering since I'm a capable TAFE taught Mig and Tig welder when it comes to welding a tow bar and tongue would I need to hand it over to a certified welder.
    I'd like to do away with the hitch parts and replace them with a flat tongue and not one of those rattly square shaft hitches.
    I'll only need to tow a 6 x 4 high side box trailer but safety first.

    1. 2004 RTV Ute - Trailer Hitch .JPG1c. 2004 RTV Ute - Trailer Hitch .JPG

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Loxton
    Age
    54
    Posts
    37

    Default

    I used to make towbars and I have no formal welding qualifications, so assuming you are capable that shouldn’t be an issue. Modifying the tow bar on the other hand would not be legal. They need to be tested and certified, the test requires a prototype that is stressed well beyond normal limits and therefore becomes scrap metal. The test also runs into several thousand dollars. It’s a long time since I read the rules but I don’t think the flat plate tow hitches meet current standards, so I doubt your plan would be legal regardless.

    cheers Andrew

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Near Rockhampton
    Posts
    270

    Default

    One of those shackles has had a good work out.

    I've got a flat tongue tow bar on my BA ute so they were available. Should be too hard to find one if you decide not to modify your existing one.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    54
    Posts
    825

    Default

    It looks to me like the pintle hook mounting bracket is held on the tow bar with two bolts. Can't it simply be unbolted and replaced with a bolt on flat tongue, no welding required?
    Cheers,
    Greg.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    As someone mentioned, they go through a destructive test to make sure that they meet specifications. You say that you're only going to tow a 6X4, that's fine if you did the mods, but should you sell the vehicle and that person decides to tow a 8m X 2.5m trailer and something goes wrong, guess who the insurance company will be chasing, not the driver but the previous owner. By all means modify your towbar, but remove it before selling it, for your safety.
    Gone are the days when anyone could weld a couple of bits together and call it a towbar.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    It is just a bolt on replacement, any trailer shop would have one on the shelf.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,105

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Gone are the days when anyone could weld a couple of bits together and call it a towbar.
    Kryn
    I'm actually surprised a non competent individual is allowed to build a trailer.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Trailers in SA have to be inspected, if Home Built by a Police Officer.
    How would they know a good weld or not?????
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    AU
    Posts
    52

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kwijibo99 View Post
    It looks to me like the pintle hook mounting bracket is held on the tow bar with two bolts. Can't it simply be unbolted and replaced with a bolt on flat tongue, no welding required?
    Cheers,
    Greg.
    What he said

    A good trailer supply outlet will be able supply you a certified tougue of similar length in a variety of bends. Those bolt on tougue are only good for about 1200kg from memory so that will be fine for your use.

    Sent from my SM-A705YN using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by AJ. View Post
    the test requires a prototype that is stressed well beyond normal limits and therefore becomes scrap metal.
    I would have thought that being stressed well beyond normal limits does not necessarily render something scrap.
    Why would it be necessary to find the point of destruction?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Com_VC View Post
    I'm actually surprised a non competent individual is allowed to build a trailer.
    Maybe individuals are more competent than you give them credit for?
    A sad recent case was the qualified tester of hospital oxygen cylinders who screwed up with deadly results.
    There's no perfect system.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,105

    Default

    A lot of them are, but yeah there are a few that slip through. You don't here of too many trailer accidents which is a good thing.

    Quote Originally Posted by nadroj View Post
    Maybe individuals are more competent than you give them credit for?
    A sad recent case was the qualified tester of hospital oxygen cylinders who screwed up with deadly results.
    There's no perfect system.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    586

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Trailers in SA have to be inspected, if Home Built by a Police Officer.
    How would they know a good weld or not?????
    Well I guess that's good news for the rest of us.

    Spotted this in my travels. Had a good silent chuckle.
    Looks like he tows heavy.
    And looks like it'd be pretzel'd with even the slightest sniff of a rough road.

    IMG_1986.jpg

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Loxton
    Age
    54
    Posts
    37

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by nadroj View Post
    I would have thought that being stressed well beyond normal limits does not necessarily render something scrap.
    Why would it be necessary to find the point of destruction?

    they don’t test to destruction, if they destroy it then it was a fail. They test the prototype well beyond normal limits, if it survives that then it passes. However it may have been stressed to the point of making it unsafe for use. Those were the rules when I developed my product, which was a rear bar tyre carrier for a 4wd with integrated tow bar.

    I dug out an old photo of some of my welding on the hitch receiver.

    Attachment 386505

    Cheers Andrew

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Loxton
    Age
    54
    Posts
    37

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Trailers in SA have to be inspected, if Home Built by a Police Officer.
    How would they know a good weld or not?????
    I have “home built” at least 7 trailers in SA, not once have I been required to have them inspected by the police. A local engineering firm has passed most of mine, they don’t check my welds, the owner knows they will be up to scratch.

    Cheers Andrew

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