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lambert.the.farmer



Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

England 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi PU Rutland Red
m16 holes
Quick question, how close together can I reasonably put m16 bolt holes in a 12mm thick drop plate such as to get a degree of fine ball height adjustment without making a piece of Swiss cheese and loosing any meaningful strength? Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
Post #326899 29th Apr 2014 5:49am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
The typical spacing is 50mm centre to centre but I'd say you could reduce that to 40mm without any adverse effects. That would still leave the same amount of steel around the holes as the hole diameters. I don't think I'd go any closer without some sort of calculation to prove it. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #326901 29th Apr 2014 6:58am
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william8



Member Since: 03 Apr 2013
Location: Motherwell
Posts: 259

Scotland 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
If your up for some dynamics:
http://www.ewp.rpi.edu/hartford/~ernesto/S...k-Ch06.pdf

I may do it tonight if i have some time, although i have exams coming up Rolling Eyes William
Post #326920 29th Apr 2014 9:25am
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
I usually allow a radius of the diameter of the hole as thickness around anything as a minimum. So if its a 12mm dia hole, from the same center I'll leave a 12mm radius of material around it (works well for steam engine bits)

What are you trying to do exactly it sounds like you might be better off getting an adjustable height tow bar?

If its fine up and down movement your after you can get an adjustable tow bar that works on a screw thread.
Post #326950 29th Apr 2014 12:43pm
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lambert.the.farmer



Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

England 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi PU Rutland Red
I have two twin axle trailers with different height couplings so ideally I'd like to have two positions about 27 ish mm apart. I have an adjustable tow bar but it fouls the nato hook and it rattles lik a rattling thing. The screw type would be cool but I have yet to find one. Hence a fixed plate one with holes precisely where I need them is the way forward. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
Post #327009 29th Apr 2014 6:21pm
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Ragerover



Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: In a land far far away
Posts: 145

United Kingdom 
In the trade it's 1.5 x diameter of the hole
Post #327635 1st May 2014 9:21pm
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JWL



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

England 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Coniston Green
Have you not got the option of swopping wheels/tyres round on the trailers to equalize the hitch height?
Post #327648 1st May 2014 10:03pm
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RFT



Member Since: 13 Nov 2010
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 674

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 HCPU Zermatt Silver
Surly it would be better to fit a a packer to one of the trailers hitch to equalise the heights, unbolting and re bolting 2No M16 bolts every time is going to be a right pita and compromise the integrity of the tow ball attachment, unless you carry a significant sized torque wrench with you at all times.

or split the difference so one trailer is 14mm high and one 14mm low. 130 Puma HCPU with an Artica 240LR Demountable Camper
Post #327705 2nd May 2014 1:04am
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Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
shaggydog wrote:
If its fine up and down movement your after you can get an adjustable tow bar that works on a screw thread.


Any more details on this?
Post #328012 3rd May 2014 1:16pm
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lambert.the.farmer



Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

England 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi PU Rutland Red
Unfortunately as with most of my life it is not as simple as that. The big trailer only gets used in summer but the smaller one is used all year but by 2 other cars one of which has a non adjustable hitch so it's the easiest option to adjust the defender twice a year. The screw hitch was made by a firm called peter lea but they are not trading, and the hitches are super rare. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.

Last edited by lambert.the.farmer on 3rd May 2014 6:41pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #328018 3rd May 2014 1:58pm
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Cant find the manufacturer (from memory Witter?) But they pop up on ebay from time to time.

Found this rather ratty looking one but nicer ones are out there http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Screw-adjustable...7675.l2557

Really I would just get a 2 pin adjustable tow bar as they seem to rattle less than a single pin.

I have seen a mod where you drill and tap a hole in line with the slider to put in a grub screw so once it is set at height you tighten the grub screw and it takes out any slack and secures it tight.

I haven't needed it on mine but I managed to find a long slider which I used the top for a tow ball and bottom for a pin type though I suppose there is nothing stopping you from doing a pair of tow balls on one slider?
Post #328022 3rd May 2014 2:08pm
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Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
Thanks Thumbs Up

never seen one of those before so added to my memory bank (and wishlist!).
Post #328085 3rd May 2014 6:10pm
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lambert.the.farmer



Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

England 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi PU Rutland Red
Yay problem solved, brink do a 4 bolt tow ball which is the same fittings as my 5 tonne pin and ball but the ball is almost the exact height I need without drilling more and more holes in my drop plate. Woo hoo! Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
Post #328448 5th May 2014 7:32am
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