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Offline hempo

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Rusted Tow Bar
« on: February 13, 2015, 11:08:54 AM »
At work yesterday and saw this car coming down the wrong side of the road.  As he got closer noticed he was dragging his trailer by the chain.  He pulled up outside, noticed no tow ball, stood there scrathing his head, looking around, confused.  Then I noticed his tow hitch had snapped in half.  Rusted out.  So as I am sure you all would have done also- I took a photo.

Lucky he was doing maybe 40km in a suburban street and not 100km down the highway with a boat or caravan.

I always take mine out when finished with it (wait for the puns) and only stick it in when needed......... Tow hitch that is.

I have seen a few people have theirs rusted in and not able to remove, first one I have seen snapped.

Hopefully photo works, can't seem to upload to photobucket. 

Cheers
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Offline Beachman

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Re: Rusted Tow Bar
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2015, 11:34:39 AM »
I keep mine in all the time as there have been many times I’ve found paint on my towbar from other cars hitting me in car parks, so I keep mine on as a form of insurance. But seeing I have a second towbar tongue with a bike carrier means they get swapped every month or so.

I’ve had a couple of occasions I’ve needed a hammer to loosen things up before it would come out.

But your photo is a classic and hope that never happens to me.
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Offline hempo

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Re: Rusted Tow Bar
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2015, 11:52:56 AM »
main reason I take mine out is so I don't hit my shins on it.   
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Offline GGV8Cruza

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Re: Rusted Tow Bar
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2015, 11:55:14 AM »
Mine is a solid piece of steel, no chance of rusting out in my lifetime, its so high as well you knock your knee on it.

Not good for the picture above though

GG
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Offline Azz

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Re: Rusted Tow Bar
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2015, 11:57:42 AM »
Thats some serious neglect there.

What was the car?
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Offline hempo

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Re: Rusted Tow Bar
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2015, 12:19:41 PM »
I think it was an old Prado from memory.
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Offline ATC

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Re: Rusted Tow Bar
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2015, 12:40:27 PM »
Probably on his way back from getting a Roadworthy signed off for the trailer, might have been the same people who passed the brakes on my trailer.

I had the boat in for a service a few months ago, and they charged for brake pads + labour.

Fast forward to Australia Day long weekend when the trailer keep pushing the truck as I was slowing down fast behind an ELGAS truck that had just been cut off on a round about - stopped 50cm of back of him.

Note that did identify a wheel bearing that had to be changed, guess they didn't look at the pads through.
They claim they did, and the mechanic made a note to say they'll need to be replaced on the next service.

Due check your eyes, when I pulled the out I found this:-

This was the good set of pads (on the side where the bearing was replaced):-








Given how hard it was undoing this - it clearly hadn't seen a spanner for a while!


Love living in an Apartment!


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Offline ATC

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Re: Rusted Tow Bar
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2015, 12:41:26 PM »
Quote from: ATC on February 13, 2015, 12:40:27 PM
Probably on his way back from getting a Roadworthy signed off for the trailer, might have been the same people who passed the brakes on my last boat / trailer service.


I had the boat in for a service a few months ago, and they charged for brake pads + labour.

Fast forward to Australia Day long weekend when the trailer keep pushing the truck as I was slowing down fast behind an ELGAS truck that had just been cut off on a round about - stopped 50cm of back of him.

Note that did identify a wheel bearing that had to be changed, guess they didn't look at the pads through.
They claim they did, and the mechanic made a note to say they'll need to be replaced on the next service.

Due check your eyes, when I pulled the out I found this:-

This was the good set of pads (on the side where the bearing was replaced):-








Given how hard it was undoing this - it clearly hadn't seen a spanner for a while!


Love living in an Apartment!

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