Like all crucial rating info on a given component , the ratings on a tow bar must never be obscured , painted over or otherwise defaced .
It ’ s worth touching on the ball mount here , too . Also known as the ‘ tongue ’, this is the section that slides into the hitch receiver of the tow bar assembly before being secured by a hitch pin . There is very little that can go wrong with this component . However , it ’ s important to note that they are not all created equally . Some will provide ‘ drop ’, either fixed or variable , which can be helpful in terms of ensuring the van sits level .
Couplings rated above 3500kg ATM will require a more specialised tow ball mount . The 4500kg-rated DO45 , for example , requires a 32mm hole to suit the shank of that coupling ’ s tow pin , as opposed to the 29mm hole found on ball mounts designed for trailers up to 3500kg .
Couplings rated above 3500kg require a special ball mount .
Further , ball mounts that obscure the tow vehicle ’ s licence plate must be remove when the vehicle is not hitched up .
Another thing to remember with regard to tow bar ratings : for some vehicles , the rating decreases depending on the weight of the trailer .
While on the subject of tow bars , underneath your hitch receiver you ’ ll probably find a small bolt . This is the anti-rattle bolt and there is some confusion as to its purpose .
Essentially , this bolt is there to prevent the tongue of the tow ball mount from rattling around inside the hitch receiver when there is no load attached to the vehicle . The idea is to tighten this bolt when driving unhitched – finger-tight should be fine – but there should be no need to tighten this bolt when hitched to a van . In fact , by tightening this bolt when hitched , you could end up doing it damage as it will , to an extent , be subjected to the shifting loads of the trailer .
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