A Trailer Hitch "Solved" !

B

Bumpy

Senior member
 Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Just saw this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BULCvyEpWC8

So it can be done!
Now to locate a Caravan :evil:

Bonus:
How to remove your rear bumper

Enjoy
Bumpy
 
At the risk of being condemned to hell, I am quite interested in that. Currently I use the DD when we go out on the bikes but that would provide a good solution to enable us to use the Z instead.
 
BRC said:
At the risk of being condemned to hell, I am quite interested in that. Currently I use the DD when we go out on the bikes but that would provide a good solution to enable us to use the Z instead.
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Don't want to play the Devil's Advocate here but :evil:

Looks like a well engineered bit of kit that mounts fairly discretely.
A trailer would be a bit of a stretch, but probably not impossible.
Maybe something ultra light to haul a motorcycle.
Or as this lad intended, to haul your bicycle.

Now most would be satisfied with this but ... :evil:
For the designers and free thinkers on here
There is an opportunity to consider possibilities.

Maybe one of those hitch mounted trays ?
You could haul your pooch or garden mulch on one of those.

For the track minded here,
Well there is a slight weight shift towards the rear.
Need more? Then use the receiver.
Or for the more rambunctious, a mount for a rear wing .

There has got to be some really great apps for this device
A free pint to the most ingenious idea.
:fuelfire:
Bumpy
 
I'm sure I read on here that in the UK it would be illegal to tow anything with a Z, something to do with the weight ? I could be imagining it though...
 
I towed a caravan with an MGB years ago!
Don't see any reason why you couldn't tow with a z4 - the general rule is that you can tow 80% of the cars weight.
 
Ah, ok - that must be it. Wouldn't want to get caught in strong winds towing a caravan with an MG though :o
 
Bing said:
I'm sure I read on here that in the UK it would be illegal to tow anything with a Z, something to do with the weight ? I could be imagining it though...
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I recall this too. Something to do with the fact it doesn't have approval to tow. Might be completely wrong though.
 
Looking at the fellas installation on the Z4 the attachment was made to the bumper mounts.
Aren't they for compressive loads. They certainly looked like they were deformable on the video clip.
 
Bing said:
Ah, ok - that must be it. Wouldn't want to get caught in strong winds towing a caravan with an MG though :o
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I didn't give it a second thought at the time! :D
Come to think it did wiggle a wee bit going over a very exposed high level river crossing. :o
 
srhutch said:
Bing said:
I'm sure I read on here that in the UK it would be illegal to tow anything with a Z, something to do with the weight ? I could be imagining it though...
Click to expand...

I recall this too. Something to do with the fact it doesn't have approval to tow. Might be completely wrong though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that was it. There's nowhere to mount the tow bar either - except the bumper mounts which is not great.
 
You wouldn't be able to buy or fit a proper tow hitch on a Z4 in the uk i'm afraid, but a bike mount is ok :wink:

cj10jeeper said:
Not sure if you are aware, but since Aug '08 there are specific UK regs on towbars:
Woth ensuring anything you do is compliant and you have the VIN plate marking

Type Approval and European Law 94/20EC

Most passenger cars registered after 1st August 1998 (S registration) must be fitted with a Type Approved towbar. These cars have an “e” mark on the VIN plate together with the maximum car and trailer mass. If the trailer mass is not specified then the car is not permitted to tow a trailer, however it may still be fitted with a support bracket to fit a cycle or motorbike carrier.

European regulations were introduced on 1st August 1998 to harmonise the testing and approval of towbars throughout the EU. The regulations apply to all passenger vehicles registered from 1st August 1998 (S registration) which have to have an "e" mark and its maximum vehicle and trailer masses stamped on a plate. The vehicle manufacturer has to nominate the mounting points for the towbar and the towbar manufacturer has to design to fit to these only. The towbar (not the vehicle or the trailer attached to it) is then tested on a jig, to a formula to ensure it is strong enough to pass the test.
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So ..
If the bracket 'U-Bolted" to the 'deformable' bumper support, was instead mounted under the base of the 'deformable' bumper support,
Am I to surmise you guys would be OK with that feat of engineering ?

And
With all those EU Regulations, you could only pull a micro mini caravan ?
(Seems to me via all those You Tube "Fail Vids" ..Lotsa EUers could give a rats arse about motoring regs - just an observation)

I guess the Uhaul Tow Hitch on has bicycle carrying application on a Zed..
And I guess I win the pint and will have to drink it alone in my caravan :(
 
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