Tow bar length. Does it matter?

[SamiFlyer]

I am planning to buy or make a towbar for my LWB project. Most of the ones you can buy have bars approx. 36" in length, some maybe colser to 4 feet. I was reading another thread here and came across this:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/892000-892999/892275_1_full.jpg

That towbar is about twice as long as anything I've ever seen.

What would be the advantages or drawbacks to such a long towbar? Could it be dangerous somehow even if it's properly fabricated?


Sean :question:

[Depot]

The longer the tow bar is, the more differently the tow vehicle will react... making turns wider, increasing sway effects and so on. In essence ur making ur "trailer" if u will longer.

Normally tow bar or tongue lengths are long enough to ensure u can make a sharp turn without ur trailer hitting the tow vehicle. there is no real benefit of making it super long.

Also, the longer ur bars are, the stronger they have to be to take the increase side loads and torque. Given that pic u posted I would at least weld in 1 cross brace in the middle where that comealong seems to be to prevent the bars from flexing or bowing in ememergency situations.

gl

D

[TheSarg]

As depot said, as short as u can get it without it bashing when u turn, its the only way

[SamiFlyer]

Thanks guys, I knew that the longer the bars, the more leverage there is against them. Just as a trailer with a longer tongue is usualy better behaved, I was wondering if the same would apply to a vehicle being flat towed?

Also, the likelyhood of having to tow my junk out of the trail is something that I am keeping in mind. Not that I expect to have to do it but with bootyfabbed stuff breakage is a real possibility. It just seems to me that a longer bar would be able to cope with uneven terrain a little better no?


Sean :cool:

[Depot]

ok, a longer tongue will give u more room to flex ur "trailer" b4 binding up the ball. Its simple physics. But if thats the reason u want a long tongue (trailer tongue that is, not the kind ur wifee asks 4 :brows: ) why not go with a pintow connection? its a big freakin donut... flex it all u want, up down left or right.. it'll never bind.

Ive seen too many 2" balls pop off when flexed too much.... just ask ZookVet :bringiton

D

[SamiFlyer]

You mean a pintle hook? How about a swiveling pintle?

http://www.off-roadinternational.com/images/cargo40.jpg

Basicaly just a u-joint. I think I've just figured out what to do with all those spare toyota yokes I have lying around! :brows:

http://www.off-roadinternational.com/custom_trailers.htm


Sean :cool:

[GearHead]

if your flat towing, to get to the trail and need that much flex then ...... well i dont know what to say. maybe take a paved road, or something with maybe some gravel, and try to turn only where there are intersections with another paved or gravel roads. :D :D

of off road it looks interesting, but pintly is street legal and not something that needs to ve booty fabed.

later
steve

[Canadian_zuk]

A longer tow bar definately make it easier to flat tow. especially around town. When you go around a corner with a short toe bar, it like pulling the towed vehicle sideways, the tires will drag and sometimes not follow the tow rig. With a longer bar, the turning radius is increased, giving a smoother more gradual arc for the towed vehicle to follow. Follow?

-CZ

[Lost Soul]

Could one make a Tow bar that goes into the 2" reciever on the front of the towed vehicle and then into the 2" on the back of the Tow vehicle.

[86Sami]

Could one make a Tow bar that goes into the 2" reciever on the front of the towed vehicle and then into the 2" on the back of the Tow vehicle.


Not possable to do this you need the "V" shape to keep the "trailer" from movin left or right and raming the tow vehical when you brake. the "V" holds the trailer off and directly behind the tow vehicle and the point of the "V" so to speak gives you the pivot point.

[Canadian_zuk]

If you had two 2" receivers on the towed rig this would work. I kinda like that idea actually. The only thing is, you would have to incorprate a vertical pivot at the towed end. Otherwise every bump/whoop in the road will be either lifting up or pushing down on the back of your tow rig, could be interesting on some roads not to mention the stress applied to your tow rig receiver.;)

[TheSarg]

Are you talking about the V open ends attaching to the tow vehicle and the ball sliding into a receiver on the front of the towed vehicle with the bottom of the V attaching to it??

Ifso yer smokin crack u fkn tourist!

[Canadian_zuk]

Are you talking about the V open ends attaching to the tow vehicle and the ball sliding into a receiver on the front of the towed vehicle with the bottom of the V attaching to it??

Ifso yer smokin crack u fkn tourist!


WTF?!?!?

no dude, the open V end goes to the towED vehicle, one leg on each side in it's own 2" receiver. The other end goes into the tow rig receiver.

I really don't get what you mean by "with the bottom of the V attaching to it??"

Don't make me bust out the etch-a-sketch.

[TheSarg]

i thought u hillbillies were sayin basically turn the tow bar around! lol sorry......dis shiat be some good stuff:dsm:

[Canadian_zuk]

LOL, no problem. I wuz savin this for Extreme's next post, but you can have it!:thefinger

[TheSarg]

oh yeah? Yer a

[Depot]

take ur pics and dribble to general dribble kiddies...


D