as many of you will know, towing with the pajero has some challenges with regards to being able to open the rear door when hitched up.
There are a few solutions like a extended hitch and the spare wheel lift.
The option I went with was the Alko 360 off road hitch.
I can, with due attention now hook up without whacking the spare wheel or the rear cover.
I went this route because it didn't only give me the rear door access but it also allows me better articulation when towing in off road scenarios (mild- onroad van) and when coming out of my steep driveway.
The tolerances are still pretty close for clearance but everything works as it should and makes the whole experience that much easier.
I can't tell you how much faffing about I've done trying different things before coming to this solution.
Mind you, every time I made a change to the van or Paj, I needed to start again.
Those adjustable hitches will only get you so far.
Whilst I only paid the princely sum of $45 for this one, I can whole-heartedly recommend this option to the problem
As always, here's a vid showing the install, with the clearance before and after and some challenges I found along the way.
cheers Brett
-- Edited by denmonkey on Monday 3rd of September 2018 09:43:30 PM
Yep, know the problem only to well,I just recently fitted a Hitchmate, so when hitching up I would open the back door, when the pin on the van is located with the receiver on the car, lower the jockey wheel, bingo ! door opens and closes.
We returned yesterday from a 8,0741 K trip into the N.T. but on way from leaving home we were around 50 clicks out of Blackall when there was an almighty bang from rear between car & van, looking around under the tow bar and hitch i noticed that the tongue had dropped to a near 45 deg angle, two bolts holding the tow bar onto the chassis had snapped clean off leaving just two bolts holding the bar to the chassis! after a very slow drive into Blackall and finding an engineering shop fixed and replaced all the bolts [the remaining two bolts were only hand tight ???] Back home know and getting the whole lot double checked & possible replaced.
Yes Dave, drilled through and I used 2 flat head type nuts on a straight thread that we used in joining furniture work stations together, any type will do the job, only 5mm hole.