Toyota Hilux Tow Hitches
ACTIVITY:
TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS / DELIVERY
SUB ACTIVITY:
MOBILE PLANT
TITLE
Toyota Hilux Tow Hitches
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
WHAT HAPPENED
A member company has issued the following safety alert to its staff:
Whilst Changing the tow hitch on a Hi Lux pick up truck it was found that the factory fitted towball had been incorrectly mounted. Instead of the usual 2xM16 bolt mounting, the Toyota towball is mounted using 4xM9 bolts which pass through bolt holes in the tow bar that are intended for M16 bolts. A backing plate is employed to sandwich the tow bar to compensate for the smaller bolts used.
On some of our fleet, the backing plate has been fitted incorrectly and is sandwiched between the tow bar and the hitch allowing the mounting bolts to pull through the M16 holes in the tow bar. It was also found that some of the mounting bolts were mild steel, all tow hitches must be mounted using high tensile bolts to withstand the stresses of the loading placed upon them.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
Click image to enlarge
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
Do not use your Hi Lux for towing until it has been thoroughly checked by a competent engineer.
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
ACTIVITY:
TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS / DELIVERY
SUB ACTIVITY:
MOBILE PLANT
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