Toyota Towbar Failure

[Spokeweal Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Spokeweal]

Re: Toyota Towbar Failure

Hi guys. I am brad new at this, so excuse any errors.
I am considering a 2008 Prado and noted the Cast Tow Hitch Reciever. I am currently in a quandry as I refuse to take delivery of the vehicle with the genuine hitch, as the evidence on forums clearly indicate is it is not reliable when utilising WDH. Curiously, the Toyota dealer claims there are no known issues with the geuine cast hitch, even when presented with the evidvence I had compiled. I must say the H/R unit doesn't feature much better.
Today I found what I think is the answer and want to share it with as many as possible. Parkside Towbars of W.A. manufacture a full side to side chassis mounted bar that is also bolted to the rear chassis crossmember where both the Std. Toyota cast one & Hayman Reese units just bolts on.
Parkside unit part no. is UC118. Check it out at the site below, they even recomend utilising WDH with it. Truly hope this helps. I know which bar will be going on the Prado should we go ahead with it. Dealer will be getting some advise about being informed & honest also.
http://www.parksidetowbars.com.au/Produ ... roductName
Should you want to deal with Parkside, ask for Scott McKay.

[Dustybum Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dustybum]

Re: Toyota Towbar Failure

Looks good Spokeweal! Although I'm interested in information on any problems with the HR hitch receiver that your alluding to.
Still, its a pity I didn't know about these Parkside ones last year when I was going through all this stuff!!

[Spokeweal Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Spokeweal]

Re: Toyota Towbar Failure

Hi Dustybum.
I have perused many site today and would have no idea of where to retrive all the info.
Found one chap whose issue was memorable. Other issues where distortion in fabricated brkt.
Check it out
http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/516 ... ow_up.aspx

What I liked about the Parkside one, apart from being semiconcealed out of sight it is a full width towbar as we all understand a towbar should be bolting onto the side chassis rails and then the centre of the rear cross member. This places the load over a far greater area of the rear of the vehicle.
Hoping I'm onto a good thing.

[Dustybum Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dustybum]

Re: Toyota Towbar Failure

Well looking at those pictures of the failed HR it would appear that it is of an older version. It looks like the lower two bolts were never used and that the rear 2 were not done up tightly or had perhaps become loose over time. ie. it might have been rattling up and down over a period of time until the metal failed across the front of the hitch and the whole thing fell off. The latest HR hitches have had more gussets put in place to give them more strength. I cannot see those same gussets in these pictures. Going by the rust the lower 2 bolts dont appear to have been in use or they certainly weren't in place at the time of failure so that particular hitch was not off to a good life from the start.
It also looks like the steel plate used in this failed hitch is thinner than what is used in the newer hitches from HR.

I still see the HR hitch receiver as a good option as the sub member that it bolts to attaches in the same places to the rear sub frame that the Parkside one does and providing all the mounting bolts are used and tightened correctly and occassionally checked there should be no reasong to have any problems.

[Spokeweal Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Spokeweal]

Re: Toyota Towbar Failure

Hi Dustbum. I'm not wanting to drag this out, but from what I have seen of images of the H/R hitch receiver, it only attaches to the centre of the rear cross member of the 120. Being a previous H/R distributor/installer I was truly disappointed to see their only option was a unit that just bolts to the centre of the rear crossmember. From what you say there is a newer version that I'm not aware of. Does it run full width of the chassis attaching to the side chassis members as well as at the centre of the rear cross member as the parkside unit does. If there is, can you direct me to images of it, cause I would certainly go with it. Maybe I need to contact H/R again and try to establish if their 150 bar is capable of fitting the 120. It is harder these days as all my previous contacts whom would answer this instantly from their vast development knowledge have either moved on or are gone, (as in deceased).
I'm yet to be convinced the parkside unit is not the best option I've found thus far but obviously if there is a better option available I'd go with it. I'm sure as hell not hanging my pride and joy with WDH off of the original Toyo hitch receiver.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Toyota Towbar Failure

My colleague had a HR towhitch on his old 120 and it was bolted to either side of the chassis.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I called HR today as I am motivated to swap my towbar. After numerous checks and looking at diagrams the only HR towbar made for the 120 is the small unit that bolts to either side of the cross member. Looks like a U shape from the side profile. They do not and have not made a towbar that fits to the chassis.

My question is, who has a 120 towbar fitted that bolts to either side of the chassis and if so what brand is it. Pics would be good to.

[russellb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close russellb]

Sorry to revisit an old topic, but has anyone tried shortening the H-R hitch shaft? In fact I'm considering just redrilling the holes for the locating pin. This would shorten the distance from the rear face of the towbar socket to the ball centre from 225mm to 172mm.
I own an original Toyota hitch, but that is some 3000 Km away, so not really available for comparison. Even if this did not reduce the overhang to exactly the same as original, it would substantially decrease the mechanical disadvantage.

We have done about 15000 Km with the present set-up, before I became aware of the hazards.

I would intend to put some weld in the original holes, so the pin could not be put in there, as presumable the shaft would be weakened for towing a original length.

Here's a couple of pictures which should show what is intended:





Thanks for any thoughts

Russell

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

That is probably a quick fix option. If you are towing anything you value I would replace the Toyota towbar with a HR.

[rocks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rocks]

G`day everyone,

The news is that H/R has released a revised towbar for the 120 series, not sure about 150.
I myself had a failure of the old shoebox H/R and after the usual to and fro got onto the right bloke in Melbourne.He told me to wait until early this year as that is when the revised one comes out.
My 120 is now fitted with the new bar and is attached to both side chassis rails as well as middle rear. Was told it is from the first batch. It looks strong and I believe I`d bend the back of the prado before bending the bar again.
Cheers

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Rocks can you post some pictures please

[rocks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rocks]

G`day Leigh,
I had 2 pics but lost 1 somewhere, hope this pic is good, the only thing don`t like about it is that it`s lost about an inch in clearance as you can see with the b/bar cutout of the old bar.
Gonna have to look at a raise somewhere down the track I think.

[rocks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rocks]

Here`s the other one

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Might be possible to move the trailer plug into the hole above the tow bar.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Interesting, I spoke with HR the other week as I am replacing my bar and they didn't mention this. What is the part number?