Tow Ratings and the Law
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Tow Ratings and the Law
With all the custom rear bumpers around here - I'm looking into a project myself - anyone know what the rules are for non-tow rated hitches (built into custom rear bumpers)?
In the highly unlikely event of getting it inspected roadside - is there a fine or something for using a hitch you made yourself vs. the Draw-Tite??
Would appreciate the insight....
In the highly unlikely event of getting it inspected roadside - is there a fine or something for using a hitch you made yourself vs. the Draw-Tite??
Would appreciate the insight....
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Re: Tow Ratings and the Law
Very good question, and I don't know. I have used my bumper mounted hitch to tow a trailer full of wood to AW, and to launch a boat, and have had no issues. That said, in terms of the legalities, I couldn't even guess. I do wonder, however, if it would be any different than some of the older trucks and SUVs that had bumper mounted hitches. I'd say unless it failed, I can't see anyone saying anything.
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Re: Tow Ratings and the Law
I took a quick look at the HTA regs, and of course, trailers have very specific rules and parameters. But nothing on the hitch itself.
And really, unless you get pulled over and a very inquisitive constable decides to snoop around the hitch - its likely never an issue. But I wonder, given how highly regulated driving is.....
Has anyone here ever heard of custom bumper made at local fab shops failing somehow??
Ever since I was told by a fabricator I'd have to waive any liability against his hitch, I started thinking other than the obvious insurance issue, did anyone here ever have trouble with the police. I've never been asked about lights, and I have an array of 4 across the hood of my xterra.
And really, unless you get pulled over and a very inquisitive constable decides to snoop around the hitch - its likely never an issue. But I wonder, given how highly regulated driving is.....
Has anyone here ever heard of custom bumper made at local fab shops failing somehow??
Ever since I was told by a fabricator I'd have to waive any liability against his hitch, I started thinking other than the obvious insurance issue, did anyone here ever have trouble with the police. I've never been asked about lights, and I have an array of 4 across the hood of my xterra.
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Re: Tow Ratings and the Law
You would think the hitch would be tow rated to the max. allowance of the vehicle.eg. 5,000lbs if it was say a ARB.
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Re: Tow Ratings and the Law
I would not expect any issues unless something happened, ie: the hitch failed, and your trailer hurt or killed someone.
As a regular roadside stop, the officer would have to be able to prove that the bumper and/or hitch was not built/welded by someone certified to do so.
On that note, if you are building a bumper, and plan to incorporate a trailer hitch, make sure you get someone that is qualified to weld it for you, if you dont already have the skills yourself
As a regular roadside stop, the officer would have to be able to prove that the bumper and/or hitch was not built/welded by someone certified to do so.
On that note, if you are building a bumper, and plan to incorporate a trailer hitch, make sure you get someone that is qualified to weld it for you, if you dont already have the skills yourself
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Re: Tow Ratings and the Law
Insurance aside, what do you mean by certified? You can be trained, certified in welding CNC. But to for example sell trailers that are certified by MOT for road-use you have to get an engineer to stamp the design, then each trailer gets a serial number and so on. I suspect it might be similar with hitch receivers as well. But again, this is all a question of liability and insurance.
The HTA is something else. Wonder if the MOT can answer the question...
The HTA is something else. Wonder if the MOT can answer the question...
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Re: Tow Ratings and the Law
you can be certified as a welder (there are more qualified people on the board here that can answer that part of the question better than I can) I just meant for a custom bumper w/hitch, I would have a certified welder do the welding that will carry the weight of a trailer, weither they have the qualifications or not as far as the HTA is concerned for a trailer hitch is another matter. I certainly wouldn't trust my own splatter welds to hold a trailer hitch onto a bumper, but that's just my opinion.
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Re: Tow Ratings and the Law
As far as I know trucks with ball-mounts built into the bumper always come with a rating on them or in the owners manual. My truck has a spot to mount a ball directly in the bumper (and eye-lets for chains on the underside), you just have to punch out a circular piece of plastic on the step cover over top of it to put the ball in. I would have to double check what it is but I remember reading a specific rating for it somewhere, I believe it was 1,000 or 1,500 lbs (Class 1?) but would have to double check to be sure.Simon wrote:I do wonder, however, if it would be any different than some of the older trucks and SUVs that had bumper mounted hitches. I'd say unless it failed, I can't see anyone saying anything.
I never paid much attention to it because I have a hitch which gets used.
I would also tend to believe that you won't have a problem with it (inspections, etc) unless you have a problem with it (the thing falls off).
There's a custom hitch shop in town here. He fabricates his own hitches for pretty much any vehicle. I believe he sells them with a rating, but now sure if they're labelled or how he goes about with the rating.
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