What kind of reinforcement does a vehicle need in order to install a ball joint to tow a light trailer? S.Bike
Even a lightweight trailer is likely to weigh several hundred kilograms, plus the weight of its load. When traveling at a constant speed on smooth, level ground, most of this weight is borne by the trailer’s wheels themselves.
With a recommended towing weight of 40kg, the only impact on the touring car is that of having two suitcases in the trunk.
But things can change – dramatically – in the way the car pushes, pulls, bounces and twists, if the car accelerates, brakes, swerves, goes up or down, or hits bumps.
So it’s not just the weight of the trailer, it’s also the kinetic energy of “motion” that it can demand or provide. And even on a light trailer, that energy can amount to tons (!) of force from one moment to the next.
The exact formula is complex, but the general rule is “half the mass times the velocity… squared!” In dramatic circumstances this force can be achieved like the punch of a wrecking ball or the jolt of an anchor catching on a coral reef.
So, the reinforcement bar that the hitch is attached to must be able to handle this, including the leverage created by its extension and the force of how it is attached and what it is attached to.
These mounting points should be welded and bolted (!) to strong frame or chassis components, preferably in four places to minimize leverage.
It’s not just about the three dimensions of the bar, but also the quality and thickness of the steel it’s made of.
Pull-up bars should be mounted on sturdy joists, not on fancy furniture pipes.
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