Towing Hitch

[rovie]

Maybe only for Germany?

found this in German by Google:

„Die Kupplungskugel der AHK muss im beladenen Fahrzeugzustand in einer Höhe von 350 bis 420 Millimeter vom Boden entfernt sein“, sagt Thomas Caasmann von der Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung (GTÜ)
Zugkugel-Kuppllungen für Anhänger werden nach DIN 74058 bzw. ISO 1103 mit einer Höhe von 430 ± 35 mm gebaut

translation:

"When the vehicle is loaded, the coupling ball of the hitch must be at a height of 350 to 420 millimeters from the ground," says Thomas Caasmann from the Society for Technical Monitoring (GTÜ).
Ball couplings for trailers are built according to DIN 74058 or ISO 1103 with a height of 430 ± 35 mm



So we have a standard in Germany that should be met when Ineos is approved!?

The ball is at 53 cm above the ground.

 

[bemax]

The ball is at 53 cm above the ground.

I woke up from a dream this morning:

So that’s the reason for the delay? The didn’t thought of the right height for the towing hitch, which now is mounted roughly 10 cm over the prescribed height?
A feature ordered by presumably over 99 % of the customers stopped the delivery. Ineos Automotive now starts to deliver the 17 Grenadiers without a towing hitch to the customers (press photos from the front only!) while they desperately try to design a lower-mounted trailer hitch that doesn't get in the way and gets fast-track approval…

End of the nightmare…

 

[Hannes01]

The ball is at 53 cm above the ground.

That would be bad!

 

[WhiteBear]

The ball is at 53 cm above the ground.

Did you measure it?
I think it is at the right height when I recall my impression of the car I saw.

 

[rovie]

Did you measure it?
I think it is at the right height when I recall my impression of the car I saw.

Yes.

 

[rovie]

The ball is at 53 cm above the ground.

Btw. on my Disco 2 it's 47 cm and on my Disco 4 it's 40 cm. The height 40 cm is ideal for the double-axle trailers.

 

[Eric]

The ball is at 53 cm above the ground.

Firstly was that to the centre of the towball and I presume that this was a PT02 vehicle. The EC Directive 94/20/EC states that the tow ball height (to the centre of the ball) should be between 350 and 420mm from the ground with the vehicle in a 'laden' state.

On my Discovery 4 which has a demountable LR towball fitted. The towball height is 420mm. The vehicle has air suspension so there is no difference in height between laden and unladen state whilst the engine is running.

At this height, coupled, my horse trailer loaded could do with an extra 50 -100 mm so say 500 mm acceptable

My 3.5 T trailer is a pain in the butt, I have to jump on the drawbar to lower it to connect it (yes I could just raise the air suspension to connect) but it runs nose low and when empty the back tandem vehicles can on some gradients be off the ground. So an extra 100mm wouldn't go amiss. Again 520 mm acceptable.

The IG has coil springs so when "with the vehicle in a 'laden' state." with a trailer attached it is conceivable that the towball drops to the 420mm height. Thus complying with EC Directive 94/20/EC. As laden state isn't defined that bit is rather subjective.
I am not worried about single axle trailers, they are only 0.75T.

I think IA know what they are doing and are happy to wait till I get my hands on one.

 

[rovie]

Firstly was that to the centre of the towball and I presume that this was a PT02 vehicle. The EC Directive 94/20/EC states that the tow ball height (to the centre of the ball) should be between 350 and 420mm from the ground with the vehicle in a 'laden' state.

On my Discovery 4 which has a demountable LR towball fitted. The towball height is 420mm. The vehicle has air suspension so there is no difference in height between laden and unladen state whilst the engine is running.

At this height, coupled, my horse trailer loaded could do with an extra 50 -100 mm so say 500 mm acceptable

My 3.5 T trailer is a pain in the butt, I have to jump on the drawbar to lower it to connect it (yes I could just raise the air suspension to connect) but it runs nose low and when empty the back tandem vehicles can on some gradients be off the ground. So an extra 100mm wouldn't go amiss. Again 520 mm acceptable.

The IG has coil springs so when "with the vehicle in a 'laden' state." with a trailer attached it is conceivable that the towball drops to the 420mm height. Thus complying with EC Directive 94/20/EC. As laden state isn't defined that bit is rather subjective.
I am not worried about single axle trailers, they are only 0.75T.

I think IA know what they are doing and are happy to wait till I get my hands on one.

Hi Eric, thanks for detailed answer. I can understand the explanation well. I didn't realise that according to the directive, the height is measured when the vehicle is loaded. Yes, the air suspension on the Disco 4 compensates for this.
I see it the same way as you do. I have full confidence in IA, as I have said several times in the posts. Otherwise the height up to the middle of the ball would not have fitted the standard vehicle. As I said, I was not aware of the content of the guideline. Now everything fits and I can forget about this issue. Thank you!

 

[martinjmknight]

My concern is regarding attaching the removable rear winch to the tow-bar fitting. Ineos advised that if the tow ball was on the bottom of the three pairs of holes (I’ve previously published the reply) the winch would fit into the square pipe shown. From the photos of the the tow-bar, no way. So Ineos should either be offering a detachable towbar that meets UK regulations to swap with the winch, or the winch should have an option to attach to the fixed tow ball. The winch makers have other options that do much the same. Unclear if Ineos is aware of this at all. Surely it should have been tested before final snagging.

 

[CountyV8]

Not bothered as will be using 2 "receiver hitch with variable hight hitch . Even thought it comes with a 50mm ball

 

[Tinki]

Am I the only one who will be turning the bolts around on delivery?

Or can I specify this before delivery?

View attachment 7794421

To be honest i thought that i will screw some eye bolts in with some red threadlocker for the chain hooks . I thought it was very considerate of them to use long bolt

 

[Eric]

To be honest i thought that i will screw some eye bolts in with some red threadlocker for the chain hooks . I thought it was very considerate of them to use long bolt

That's what I was thinking @DCPU, and putting some nut caps on. But on some of the pictures I've seen and on the computer generated order confirmation picture/ video they are turned round and fitted with nut caps!

 

[Barney]

Interesting question about the height of the towball, unfortunately I didn't measure the height when I visited with @emax Krah & Enders. I'm currently considering screwing a step onto the trailer hitch. Something like the photo from Amazon

 

[bemax]

A nice idea! But it will not be road legal in my opinion. I do not see a big risk at all if the bolts are long enough. But I am not the TÜV (Technical Monitoring Association in Germany)

 

[WhiteBear]

Can be mounted in the holes above the ones for the hitch. I have already a selection of 3 steps and don’t know which to choose. Will wait until the car arives.

 

[Eric]

Interesting question about the height of the towball, unfortunately I didn't measure the height when I visited with @emax Krah & Enders. I'm currently considering screwing a step onto the trailer hitch. Something like the photo from Amazon

View attachment 7802461
View attachment 7802459

@DCPU oh look bolts right way round and nut caps!!

 

[MrMike]

Interesting question about the height of the towball, unfortunately I didn't measure the height when I visited with @emax Krah & Enders. I'm currently considering screwing a step onto the trailer hitch. Something like the photo from Amazon

View attachment 7802461
View attachment 7802459

Interesting, look at the tag on the extreme right and it shows GVM as well as max ball load @ 337kgs

 

[Hannes01]

I read 350 kg

 

[MrMike]

I read 350 kg

The tag says 337kgs I couldn't find anything about 350kgs

 

[Hannes01]

The tag says 337kgs I couldn't find anything about 350kgs