Why don’t we use 2” receiver type hitches in the UK?

[poppy21]

Hello

Not wanting anyone to repeat things they said but i am not a mechanic but it feels i have to know stuff as all of the mechanics or caravan people i have tried to get the advice out of just dont know what to do. 

So I live in the UK I have a UK car, i have a UK swan neck tow bar fitted and its the 50mm.  I imported my teardrop trailer over from Canada (I lived there) the trailer coupling has the 2inch coupling.

I am aware that 2inch is 50.8mm so the coupling will go over the 50mm ball.  Before I do this or think all my issues are solved is there any other issue as 0.8mm is so small.  

I have got here as I have had people say change the tow ball but to what, as the UK only seem to offer the swan neck detachable or not detachable, i brought my 2inch towball over and bar but as there is no square attachment here i cant connect it.  Then i was told remove the coupling and replace it with a new coupling.  But i am over complicating this.

Its getting frustrating.

Thank you

[rhyds]

Hello and welcome!

Others can give more reliable and complete advice, however I would personally look to convert the trailer to a metric/50mm coupler rather than modify the towbar/ball hitch on your car.

If your car has a detachable/swan neck tow bar you'll have to find a 2" version that fits your specific towbar and car, and do the same all over again if you ever change your car. Swapping the coupler on the trailer may be a bit pricier, but it makes your trailer compatible with standard UK/EU towbars. You're also going to have to modify the trailer wiring for lights and indicators for UK/EU use anyway

[valhalla]

Do not be tempted to drop the trailer 2" coupler over a UK 50mm ball; 0.8mm is too much to accommodate safely, and even at-best, it's going to rattle dreadfully unless you use ultra-heavy grease.

The problem is in the safety-catch, and many worn UK towballs have let the coupler ride upwards on bounce. I don't know exactly how your Canadian safety-catch works, but if it has any resemblance to the UK unit, it is designed fairly close to the major-diameter of the towball, hence the reason why 0.8mm is so important. If the catch came in lower down, it would nt matter so much, but it's done this way to allow articulation vertically between tractor and trailer.

[Rhubarb]

Personally I think both should be metric if used here, for ease of replacement and insurance reasons.

[oli]

Mar 20, 2024 19:33:57 GMT 1 poppy21 said:

Hello

Not wanting anyone to repeat things they said but i am not a mechanic but it feels i have to know stuff as all of the mechanics or caravan people i have tried to get the advice out of just dont know what to do. 

So I live in the UK I have a UK car, i have a UK swan neck tow bar fitted and its the 50mm.  I imported my teardrop trailer over from Canada (I lived there) the trailer coupling has the 2inch coupling.

I am aware that 2inch is 50.8mm so the coupling will go over the 50mm ball.  Before I do this or think all my issues are solved is there any other issue as 0.8mm is so small.  

I have got here as I have had people say change the tow ball but to what, as the UK only seem to offer the swan neck detachable or not detachable, i brought my 2inch towball over and bar but as there is no square attachment here i cant connect it.  Then i was told remove the coupling and replace it with a new coupling.  But i am over complicating this.

Its getting frustrating.

Thank you

Bump…

This is a case of two sizes not being compatible but being so close you can think they are. I’m sure I remember reading about accidents having occurred years ago in an indispension catalogue - back when you could build your own trailers.

2” coupler will fit over a 50mm ball, but isn’t safe. 50mm won’t fit over 2” (at least the one I tried out of curiosity didn’t) but it seems tantalisingly close.

It’s sometimes not very clear - my 2” receiver came with a 2” ball which I had to replace and I’ve even seen some advertised as 50mm/2” incorrectly suggesting they are the same. All the decent 2” ones I’ve seen have it written on the top.

I’d change the coupling to uk size (50mm) rather than the ball on your car to 2”. It’s probably easier and more convenient if you want to tow other stuff.

Incidentally, does your trailer need an IVA? (I know some US/Canada imports are exempt).

[oli]

Newsflash…

All the new Ford Rangers I’m seeing have 2” receivers just like the previous generation Ranger Raptors.

Ineos Grenadier also has a 2” receiver with surrounding holes to allow UK/EU tow balls to be bolted on.

Perhaps the tide is turning?!