Friday, December 26, 2008

PIX For PlanetIsuzu


This is a u-joint-tow bar I am thinking of. As you can see, it will swing in all directions, even diagonally as a driveshaft can, but the problem I am having is that if this is attached to two vehicles and one vehicle moves UP, then it will also make the other vehicle move the same way.

It can bend in the middle for a driveway or a dip, turn left or right, but the parallel upward motion of one vehicle would mean that the other would have to move parallel too, keeping the two bars on either side of the u-joint, in parallel too.

What I believe I need is another hinged joint of some sort to allow the towing vehicle to raise or lower it's front and rear wheels together and not cause the towed vehicle to absorb the motion in it's front suspension.



Here's what I think might work:
This would have to be on the towing vehicle and it plugs into a standard 2"x 2" receiver with that standard hitch pin and keeper.The second part with the u-joint would then be inserted into this plate and it's pivot pin would allow up-and-down motion.

It will need all three planes for safe motion, the side plates will keep the whole assembly aligned and not let it wiggle. Designed in is a .030" tolerance for some low friction, and that might like to have some heavy grease from time-to-time.

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