updating a hitch

[Rick n]

They sit very low and only weigh about 1,400 pounds so very easy to tow, I would suggest updating the hitch on the trailer to a modern latch and lock style though.

GL,
Rick.

[lahuber]

What's the benefit of a modern latch and lock style ? Any idea where I might see one on the web?

[Rick n]

My new Mod is an updated hitch on my trailer, I cut the old scary one with the horse shoe latch with no way to lock it one off and installed a new modern latch and lock one.

Just bolted for now but will be permanently welded today with any luck.

I'll attach pictures of old and new so you can have a visual of the mod.

Black is old, Silver is new.
Attached Thumbnails






As you can see from one of my rebuild posts on the modifications forum these are the pictures of the mod, I'm just off to work now but if you need more info I'd be happy to help out later today.

[Carol H]

Good Update Rick! If I am not mistaken its the law in most places that a hitch pin be in place while towing - looks like as you said that wasn't possible with your old hitch.

[Rick n]

Originally Posted by Carol H

Good Update Rick! If I am not mistaken its the law in most places that a hitch pin be in place while towing - looks like as you said that wasn't possible with your old hitch.

When the old hitch popped off the ball after hitting a bump whilst traveling at about 10kph I, with terrified encouragement from my wife decided it was a "really" good idea to do before towing it anywhere again

I think you may be right about the law as it pertains to newer trailers but my guess is the older trailers are probably grandfathered in like seat belts in old cars.

[lahuber]

Rick, I still haven't heard from the seller. I did see your images of the 2 different type of hitches. Very helpful. Thanks.

LeeAnn

[Rick n]

Originally Posted by lahuber

Rick, I still haven't heard from the seller. I did see your images of the 2 different type of hitches. Very helpful. Thanks.

LeeAnn

Well if for some reason you don't get the Beachcomber don't lose the faith I'm positive there's a great little fiberglass trailer out there for you.

Rick.

[BCDave]

Just as a "by the way"....

With your old hitch, (same as what's on my son's Surfside 14) it is easy to prevent it coming undone - and lock it up, too!

Just drill a hole through the "flange", immediately behind where the lever sits when closed.

Put a padlock through the hole. Done.

(In case any others have that style coupler......)

[Rick n]

Originally Posted by BCDave

Just as a "by the way"....

With your old hitch, (same as what's on my son's Surfside 14) it is easy to prevent it coming undone - and lock it up, too!

Just drill a hole through the "flange", immediately behind where the lever sits when closed.

Put a padlock through the hole. Done.

(In case any others have that style coupler......)

And as you say it might work but because that style of hitch is adjustable and 30+ years old it just seemed prudent to update it to a modern (in my opinion better safer design) hitch unit and take away any stress related to the fear of losing the trailer whilst towing it.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Rick n

I think you may be right about the law as it pertains to newer trailers but my guess is the older trailers are probably grandfathered in like seat belts in old cars.

Rick after you mentioned that I thought to myself hummmmmmm I wonder what the law is it turns out in my neck of the woods any car manufactured or assembled after December 1, 1963 must have seat belts so they have to be added even if the car has been issued Collector plates. Have no idea what the rules are in the rest of the world.

Suspect if the fine for not being able to secure the hitch with a pin is greater than the cost of a new coupling it might be a worth while thing to do and as you correctly pointed out its even more worth it in regards to added safety. Glad to hear the only serious down side to your unplanned disconnect was a little bit of encouragement from the wife

[Rick n]

Originally Posted by Carol H

Rick after you mentioned that I thought to myself hummmmmmm I wonder what the law is it turns out in my neck of the woods any car manufactured or assembled after December 1, 1963 must have seat belts so they have to be added even if the car has been issued Collector plates. Have no idea what the rules are in the rest of the world.

Suspect if the fine for not being able to secure the hitch with a pin is greater than the cost of a new coupling it might be a worth while thing to do and as you correctly pointed out its even more worth it in regards to added safety. Glad to hear the only serious down side to your unplanned disconnect was a little bit of encouragement from the wife

Seat Belt Exemptions

Seatbelt exemptions continue to include:

• Driving a motor vehicle in reverse
• People with medical certificates saying that they are unable to wear a seatbelt
• People engaged in work that requires them to exit from and re-enter the vehicle at frequent intervals, as long as they are traveling less than 40 km/h
• Police or peace officers while transporting a person in custody
• Person in police custody while being transported
• Employees and agents of Canada Post engaged in rural mail delivery
• Ambulance attendants and any other persons being transported in the patient's compartment of an ambulance
• Firefighters in the rear of a fire department vehicle while engaged in work that makes it impractical to wear a seatbelt
• Taxi cab drivers while transporting a passenger for hire. When travelling alone in the vehicle, taxi cab drivers must wear a seatbelt.

For vehicles that were not manufactured with seatbelts, the following exemptions apply:

• Buses (including school buses)
• Other large commercial vehicles (over 4,536 kg), which do not require seatbelts to be installed in rear seating positions at the time of manufacture
• Historic vehicles that were not manufactured with seatbelts

So I wonder if the vehicle is registered in Ontario and let's say it's a 1964 Ford galaxie and it did not come with seat belts, will you be charged or fined in BC?


Rick.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Rick n

Seat Belt Exemptions

Seatbelt exemptions continue to include:

• Driving a motor vehicle in reverse
• People with medical certificates saying that they are unable to wear a seatbelt
• People engaged in work that requires them to exit from and re-enter the vehicle at frequent intervals, as long as they are traveling less than 40 km/h
• Police or peace officers while transporting a person in custody
• Person in police custody while being transported
• Employees and agents of Canada Post engaged in rural mail delivery
• Ambulance attendants and any other persons being transported in the patient's compartment of an ambulance
• Firefighters in the rear of a fire department vehicle while engaged in work that makes it impractical to wear a seatbelt
• Taxi cab drivers while transporting a passenger for hire. When travelling alone in the vehicle, taxi cab drivers must wear a seatbelt.

Rick.

Boy, these folks shouldn't buy a Subaru. If you aren't buckled up, the buzzer keeps going until you do. Damn annoying. Raz

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Rick n

[B][/LIST]So I wonder if the vehicle is registered in Ontario and let's say it's a 1964 Ford galaxie and it did not come with seat belts, will you be charged or fined in BC?
Rick.

Dont really know but if its legal in Ontario to not have them then there is a good chance you are probable ok driving through BC! But I would check before doing.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by P. Raz

Boy, these folks shouldn't buy a Subaru. If you aren't buckled up, the buzzer keeps going until you do. Damn annoying. Raz

The old Subaru Brat even had seat belts in the truck bed.