Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Guys,

Just a tip, check your tow bracket on your car before leaving home the next time! I had a close call on our recent trip. The actual tow bracket on my Patrol almost broke off completely. I tow a Jurgens Explorer very often and did some serious rough terrain over the last couple of years with it.

My last trip (June) was KNP, Swaziland and into Mozambique via Goba. As we exited the Elephant sanctuary on the way to Ponta Do Oura I got out to take a cool drink out of the fridge. At this stage I noticed the tow hitch was bent severely. I did had a good look and the only plan was to slowly make my way to help - Ponta Do Oura some 30 km away. Fortunately I made it all the way, 3 hours later.

I had to strip the rear bumper off completely at the camping site in Ponta. I used the high lift jack to bend the bracket up again and then reverse the Patrol into a tree to get it spot on in place. The local welder in Ponta next to the market place did the welding (R300). I made it all the way back to Witbank, via Ramsgate and all still good. Next step is to take the bumper off again and get it done properly with CO2 and some proper gussets.

It is quite difficult to see the cracks with the bumper on and only the bottom is visible. It is clear to see on the photos that the crack was formed some time ago. It started at the bottom and all I can think is that this happened when the caravan bottom out on the A-frame and load the tow ball in an inverse / upward direction.

Shoooo Dawid. you are very lucky for seeing that before something went realy wrong. is that the standard setup or after market Item?
thanx for sharing

Not lekke .....if you look on the rating plate that towbar is only rated at 1.1 ton don't like it really ....
that extra piece of steel is to get recovery point to bolt to outside of bumper ....with a drop plate on there and bad sand roads it will break because of lever action. ...piet will be better at explaining this ....i still say make it a 3 way split 2 bolts on each side and then a plate that hooks up with recovery point.....
glad you got it in time ....
maybe someone can send to nissan so they can stop putting those on???

Sjoe, dit lyk gevaarlik!

Goed dat Johannes van die See nie tevrede is met daai haak op sy Patrol vir die boot sleep.

Tinus that is why I asked if it is the standard setup. Nissan rates the Patrols for a tow capasity of 3.5 Ton. then the OE equipment should be up to the task. Toyota failed a huge test when one Prado owner suied them because they sold it under false pretence. he bought the car cause they claimed a 2.5 Ton tow capacity only to find out its 1.2ton. bottom line. Toyota had to buy back the Prado for the price they sold it initially. he also tows a Jürgen's explorer.

HELLS BELLS!!!

That could have been super K_K!



Lucky man.

Get a proper tow bar setup, bolted to at least by 4-6 large bolts to the under chassis - do not rely on that piddly little thing!
When I booght my Troll second hand it had the towbar but was attached to chassis with 4 M12 bolts, which would never have carried my boat!!
I drilled another 2 ie 3 each side, and put in much bigger bolts. I also inserted a 4mm flat bar into the chassis tubing with 3 aligned holes for extra strength.
I tow really heavy equipment and since have never had the proverbial K_K

You can not buy a new legit towbar from any supplier other than that one even nissan stock it as a part.....wrong on many levels.......

Nissan KingCab wrote:Sjoe, dit lyk gevaarlik!

Goed dat Johannes van die See nie tevrede is met daai haak op sy Patrol vir die boot sleep.

Jis Danie, nou praat jy!
Ek is baie bly ek sien die post want nou weet ek verseker ek maak die beste besluit om nie my skuit te sleep voordat ek n ordentlike sleepstang het nie.

David

Could you please try and reduce the size from 5mb down to 400kb? The quality is still way good enough to see.

I took that silly loop off my car as I had been told it is too weak to be of any good to anyone. Just in case someone else ever gets the idea of using it.