So is that link above saying the nato hitch is not type approved and thus can not be used on the road or just the normal 50mm ball to nato adapter isn't approved?

As far as I can make out Nato hitches are not type approved. It is ok to use one on a vehicle pre 1st August 1998
as type approval is not required.
For those wishing to use a Nato type hitch on a FFRR would the following be of use ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350396634766?ssP...1423.l2649

Circa £120 but new and a one peice design in stead of cobbling something together. The only down side would be the low height, that can only be solved with a Dixon Bate type slider arrangement which looks cobbled together at best in my opinion. 

Click image to enlarge

I've got a Sankey Trailer that I have towed behind my D1 and D2. The plan for the FFRR is to use the Farmers hitch type affair, but with an extended shaft so it will sit out beyond the bumper instead of under it. This will then allow me to rotate it so it is a riser plate instead of a drop plate, which will keep the trailer nice and level.

Electrics will be an adaptor lead attached to the farmers hitch that I can plug in to the existing 13 pin socket. When not towing the sankey the whole thing can be removed.

MW

Heavy old things.

I've got a Noval (French tin one, similar to an Erde) which came from B&Q about 15 years ago, its been used and abused, carried everything from camping gear to scrap metal, bricks, and engines, i even moved a round hay bale a couple of times with it. the only thing its ever needed are a couple of tyres, when the old ones started to crack a bit. It's not even rusty!

Tbh the continental tin ones might look flimsy but they last well and you don't need two people to move the thing when it's empty. Plus you can stand it on its end for storage without the risk of killing yourself if it falls over.

Its a bit like when people talk about old Rice Horse boxes, they were great in their day and last well, but complete pigs to use compared to a modern one.

Old Sankey trailers are cheap for a reason. Saying that though they look cool and they're still a better bet than some of the rubbish you see up the tip made from angle iron and planks with old car axles on them.

Posted in error. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

i thought the same thing! Must tow mine more often.

In all honesty, the Sankey was bought to go with the 101.

Sadly family constraints have seen that go, but the Sankey remains, so I may as well keep using it!

MW

Sankeys can be towed behind a FFRR but they do rattle/bang/jolt and generally make their presence known. I was going to buy one which had been made up as a camping trailer, nicely done too.

Until I towed the damn thing!!! Never, Ever again. The NATO hitch is noisy, a legal 50mm ball conversion is expensive enough to justify buying a new IFOR Williams and un-galvanised steel means a lifetime of grinding and painting. Leaf springs from Boudica's war chariot add to the experience, an unladen weight which would make a D3 look positively light and overall about as pleasant as eczema on your old boy.

Honestly, there's loads better options. In fact all other options are going to be better than a Sankey.

JustinP wrote:

On the drive to the south if France, we saw many trailers being towed at 80mpg, and they all looked stable.

However I'm not sure how a heavy Sankey would cope at that speed.

I've done a lot of towing trips through France - and it really depends what you're towing.

A good quality boat trailer with a nice low centre of gravity would be good well past 80 - not that I tried it of course

But towing a Jeep - with a high centre of gravity, even properly loaded on a good Ifor Williams felt dangerous past 65

I expect a Sankey to be horrible at speed....

That's it, all trailers are different. I had an ancient beaver tail trailer, made from angle iron and with 16" land rover wheels and tyres. Used to wobble my volvo about all over the place at 60, was fine at 50.

mike whiskey wrote:

I've got a Sankey Trailer that I have towed behind my D1 and D2. The plan for the FFRR is to use the Farmers hitch type affair, but with an extended shaft so it will sit out beyond the bumper instead of under it. This will then allow me to rotate it so it is a riser plate instead of a drop plate, which will keep the trailer nice and level.

Electrics will be an adaptor lead attached to the farmers hitch that I can plug in to the existing 13 pin socket. When not towing the sankey the whole thing can be removed.

MW

A friend has agreed to make the modified hitch, but he's a busy guy so it may be a while.
I'll share when it is done.

MW