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[oilstain]

I perhaps have to much time on my hands but looking at my drop plates, all of which bear the marking TOP  and then numbers-
96/5
88/10
90/3
90/10
05/3
01/11
these ate the ones that spring to hand but I may have more and seem to remember a wider one but where
(some of these markings are not clear so may be wrong)

some have holes for 1 mounting pin and some 2

Are these part numbers and if so what do they mean or are they dates they were made?

[GHOBHW]

i always thought they were dates personally

going year then month

[Big-chris]

You definitely have too much time on your hands, come over here I have some jobs you could be pottering with, I might even feed you 

[GlenAnderson]

They’re manufacturing dates in the yy/mm format.

Single pin ones rattle like mad. It’s well worth drilling a second set of holes in them and using two pins.

[oilstain]

They’re manufacturing dates in the yy/mm format.

Single pin ones rattle like mad. It’s well worth drilling a second set of holes in them and using two pins.

I thought the rattle was the tools in the back and the 200tdi in the front

[Wittsend]

They’re manufacturing dates in the yy/mm format.

Single pin ones rattle like mad. It’s well worth drilling a second set of holes in them and using two pins.

2 pins are better than one 

I drill larger holes in the pin to take a padlock.

I bought a set of padlocks that use the same key; for the bonnet, fuel cap and tool box as well as the tow hitches.




 

[oilstain]

2 pins are better than one 

I drill larger holes in the pin to take a padlock.

I bought a set of padlocks that use the same key; for the bonnet, fuel cap and tool box as well as the tow hitches.




 

Looking at your red 'tow titch' I see it is not the more common what I call the nato type, what is the better/right type on a series (I think you have the right period type)
I did see one like yours at the car boot yesterday but felt the £30 price was high, he also had the nato type at £25 but as I have 2 walked away, perhaps I was wrong
Also the 'drop plate' you have on the chassis, is it upside down to get a lower towing height and is that the right series type I've read about on here that are no longer made as the new type dont I think have the gap for the body fixing plate on the cross member

So many questions and the more I look I think of more

[Wittsend]

Over the years there were several "design changes" for what is universally known as the "NATO" hitch.

These red ones were common fitting on Sankey trailers.
At the 2006 Club Rally member Tony Lucy demonstrated a Sankey trailer chain with 3 trailers in tow.

Unfortunately the picture of that got junked on an old HD 

The military experts will tell you what is correct for your MoD vehicle - they will need build date.

Yes - I have inverted my Dixon-Bate bracket.

I need to tow horse boxes/caranvans etc. and they tend to have a hitch height of 12" and my Sankey needs 20" If I remember correctly.

I like to tow with the trailer draw bar horizontal.
You see so many clowns with trailers at "impossible" angles - surely an accident waiting to happen

If you saw a NATO at £25 to £30 then go back and snap it/them up. They go for nearer £60+ on eBay and they are heavy things to post.

PS
I have a NATO hitch for sale on behalf of a member for £45 if anyone is interested drop me a PM.



Non-swivelling