[Phil №❶]

Several people have installed a towbar onto their vehicles. I'd like to offer a suggestion which will protect their Bumper Bars. For anyone with a welder and a couple of hours to spare, it may save some expense later on.

I have not made this device, I just thought it up. Get some chequer plate metal in a strip, slightly wider than the tongue of the towbar. Drill a hole at one end centrally, large enough for the towball to go through it. Bend the plate into a shape that allows the end to project up behind the tow ball and in front of the bumper about 75 mm higher than the tow ball, shaped like a Reverse   L . Align it so it's straight. Mark 2 lines under the tongue and remove. Run some spot welds along the marked lines so it wont slide around, once fitted.

This will stop the trailer or van to be towed from hitting and damaging your expensive rear bumper, as it approaches the tow ball during hook up.

[Just Rick]

Already made a few for friends,need a very elongated triangle of 10mm plate,two pieces of 10mmx100mmx150mm,drill towball hole in triangle plate,75% from point toward base of triangle,then weld the two 10x100x150 plates to long sides of triangle and like you said once it is made,couple of welds on the bottom to stop the triangle turning sideways,I actually found welding a couple of keyway squares the width of the towbar works better,using the triangle system it protects your bumper and acts like a hitching guide,much like a truck ring feeder. but both systems would protect your bumpers.I'll have to draw a picture mine sounds a little weird if you don't know what a ring feeder is.

[rustynutz]

I'll have to draw a picture mine sounds a little weird if you don't know what a ring feeder is.

Sounds a bit rude to me...

[Just Rick]

I'll have to draw a picture mine sounds a little weird if you don't know what a ring feeder is.

Sounds a bit rude to me...

Your thinking of the wrong Ring Rusty 

[rustynutz]

Perhaps you had better post that drawing...   

[The Gonz]

... in the sealed section.

[Phil №❶]

I still claim the idea, 'coz I thought of it all myself.

Actually, I thought of you Rick, just the sort of thing you'd fabricate in your shed. 

[Doggie 1]

... in the sealed section.

Which we do have.... 

[Ugly Mongrel]

Perhaps Phil & Rick should go on "The New Inventors". You'll get a crate load of votes from the forum. AND we'll all be able to say we knew you before you were famous.

[Doggie 1]

 

[Phil №❶]

  It seems I'm too late though. 

[The Gonz]

Is it like any of these?

Google Images

[Dazzler]

Is it like any of these?

Google Images

 

No such thing as a new Idea, just old ideas recycled 

[Phil №❶]

Sort of, 

[The Gonz]

 

I hate being a creativity killer. Keep developing your idea as a better option.

[Doggie 1]

We have piles in W.A.

[The Gonz]

We have piles in W.A.

That's OK, I'm sure you have proctologists there, too.

[Just Rick]

I still claim the idea, 'coz I thought of it all myself.

Actually, I thought of you Rick, just the sort of thing you'd fabricate in your shed. 

You can claim the idea all you want,but you have to follow up  I've made all sorts in my shed,Trailers,welded fence panels,Gates,ute tool boxes,ute roof racks,not in my shed but where I used to work years ago on the farm,truck trays,grain bins,seeder conversions,harrow bars,you can make anything you want,all you need is a good design and if it doesn't work properly the first time you just keep tweeking the design,used to make a lot of our own furniture years ago,but a bit rusty on woodwork these days

[The Gonz]

Yes, Rick, like the quote says, 'Vision without action is hallucination'.

[Doggie 1]

Yes, Rick, like the quote says, 'Vision without action is hallucination'.

And I always thought it was dreaming. 

[Just Rick]

Perhaps Phil & Rick should go on "The New Inventors". You'll get a crate load of votes from the forum. AND we'll all be able to say we knew you before you were famous.

Don't know about me being famous,but I have had a few dog's who have been very well known,one years ago was voted most photographed dog in WA, few years ago,PPL where calling me the dog man,as we had an article posted in the papers and on the TV,just before our Royal show,as they were at that time promoting the Avon valley,they needed PPL who had a long term going to the Royal,at the time I was one of the more successful breeder/show PPL in the Avon Valley,even now some PPL say aren't you the bloke with the big dog's in the back of the station wagon,from a couple of years ago

[Just Rick]

Is it like any of these?

Google Images

yes the ones I've are a damned side more substantial than the ones on there,I made my first hitch guide over thirty years ago,PPL have been making them for years,in one form or another,the ones on this page I have seen PPL using and one decent mistake and it and the trailer hitch is through your plastic bumper

[Just Rick]

We have piles in W.A.

That's OK, I'm sure you have proctologists there, too.

You beat me too it 

[Phil №❶]

 

When I hook up our trailer to the Commodore, it is very slightly up hill, so I have to put a bit of juice into the approach of the tow ball. This is what made me think a protector would be a good idea.

Haven't ever had an accident yet but a bit of insurance is always a good idea.

[agentr31]

ive seen heaps of them, what a brilliant idea!!

i only tow a 6x4 box trailer, so i just hook it on manually ALTHOUGH i almost hit the bar once... the trailer came down out of the garage, and there is 2 20mm steps about 150mm apart... it was close to tears!!