Tow hitch question

[Ranz]

Below is a pic of my tow hitch. Vehicle is an 04 Y61 3.0. Question is whether the hitch has been sleeved down from 50 to 40mm and the sleeve is removable, or it’s welded in and I should leave it be. There’s enough rust there that I can’t easily tell, and it’s certainly well stuck.
I don’t plan on towing a monster (the 3.0 isn’t great for that, I hear), so a 40mm hitch might be fine.
I’ve not had the car long, so it’s all new to me. I put a note in your introductions thread today.
Thanks in advance…

[PeeBee]

Couple of observations. The amount of rust deserves a thorough descaling operation at the least. Check out your towbar mount bolts. I would hazard a guess the sleeve is simply cut off the original gooseneck - have never seen a hayman reece style hitch with a 40mm spigot. That towbar might need replacing get it checked by a towbar specialist would be my recommendation. My Hayman Reece has a 60mm outer to take a 50mm inner tongue.

[mihit]

Almost any tow system (ball, ringfeeder, drop hitch etc) you buy is going to be 2" aka 50mm box.

I really doubt anyone would weld that in. or how they'd get enough weld in to secure it...get your head in behind and check.

And while you're in behind the thing, if there's no weld...smack it out with a drift or punch.
Otherwise weld something to the inner box and use a slide hammer on it from the rear.

[Plasnart]

Couple of observations. The amount of rust deserves a thorough descaling operation at the least. Check out your towbar mount bolts. I would hazard a guess the sleeve is simply cut off the original gooseneck - have never seen a hayman reece style hitch with a 40mm spigot. That towbar might need replacing get it checked by a towbar specialist would be my recommendation. My Hayman Reece has a 60mm outer to take a 50mm inner tongue.

My thoughts exactly. That is a cutoff hitch still in the tow bar. How a 2004 tow bar rusts solid must be salty wet and ignored.

[BillsGU]

One of the Patrol's previous owners has spent a LOT of time putting boats in salt water and / or beach driving. I came across something like this in the Wonnangatta Valley some years ago. The rust in the Patrol was so bad he tore the tow bar off trying to get a camper trailer down the Zekka spur. We were on a Club trip and one of our members towed his camper to a Wodonga caravan park. I would get it looked at if I were you.

[Ranz]

My thoughts exactly. That is a cutoff hitch still in the tow bar. How a 2004 tow bar rusts solid must be salty wet and ignored.

Well, that’s 2 votes for a cut-off ordinary 50mm hitch, possibly because it was well rusted in place. Fairy Nuff, I say (to quote Mr Smith), tho in my defence I saw an identical picture somewhere else. Will attempt brute force…or farm it out. The rest of the undercarriage does not look like that…fortunately.
Thank you all.

[Plasnart]

Well, that’s 2 votes for a cut-off ordinary 50mm hitch, possibly because it was well rusted in place. Fairy Nuff, I say (to quote Mr Smith), tho in my defence I saw an identical picture somewhere else. Will attempt brute force…or farm it out. The rest of the undercarriage does not look like that…fortunately.
Thank you all.

Hi Ranz,

Mate your second photo shows the tow bar crossmember also rusted to the shite house. It has been launched and retrieved in salt water by the previous owner, and is stuffed. See if you can unbolt it and buy a new tow bar.

I would not trust its structural integrity as it is.

[geoffayres]

What's the chassis like??

[Ranz]

Chassis looks like the PO did what he/she said - cleaned it any time it got near a beach, tho Towbar might not have been treated so well.
Regardless, I take Plasnart’s point about the whole Towbar possibly being toast. Will get it off and assessed/replaced.

[geoffayres]

The 50mm hitch usually has a collar at the opening, but it's not present in your pic.

If you're in Melbourne I have a near new S4 tow bar that's surplus to requirements.

[MudRunnerTD]

Chassis looks like the PO did what he/she said - cleaned it any time it got near a beach, tho Towbar might not have been treated so well.
Regardless, I take Plasnart’s point about the whole Towbar possibly being toast. Will get it off and assessed/replaced.

While you are under there inspecting the Towbar for rust have a good look at the ends of the chassis and very specifically the steel brake line on top of the rear diff. I have seen both of these areas taking a huge hit from launching boats.

[BillsGU]

Strange that the tow bar would show so much rust but the rest of the chassis has none.

[mudski]

Strange that the tow bar would show so much rust but the rest of the chassis has none.

Not doubt its made from cheap steel, and/or not properly prepared prior to painting.