Towbars/Towballs

How often do you tow a trailer??
Can you not just remove the ball when not using the trailer?
I presume you may be thinking of an adjustable plate type hitch or just a drop plate therefore it will probably cover the number plate.
Unfortunately a square plate doesn't fit on the door like a discovery as there is not enough room.
Possible solutions are
Put it on the spare wheel
Use a roof bar or roof rack and mount it up there
Make up a bracket to mount it on your hitch so that it can be plugged in to your socket but be removable when using a trailer.
Make up a bracket so that it can be mounted on your spare wheel bracket above or below the wheel.
Stick it in the window and tap in to the loom
In all cases when mounted on the outside of the car it just needs a light with a short lead to plug in to the trailer socket.
This can be unplugged when a trailer is in use.
I'm not sure about the legality of the stick on number plates but that might be a possibility??
Of course all this depends on how worried you are about being 100% legal and how high you need the towball.
Personally I'd get the towbar sorted then see as I think there are many ways to get round it so don't worry too much.

Reg plate must be illuminated so that has to be taken into account if I was to move it.

I did think about a drop plate, unfortunately they are only legal to drop the towball down, your not allowed to use it to raise the hitch (daft considering it doesn't materially raise the stress imparted on the coupling brackets)

Trailer gets used very regularly, we tow stationary engines to rallies twice monthly on average, plus other general use, the Land Rover does the bulk of the work, but the Jimny makes a useful alternative that's slightly less thirsty.

Paul.

They are measured to the centre of the ball so when looking at towbars that is what you are looking for.
The Jimny towball noseweght is 75kgs
Re the light on my number plate on the wheel I used a waterproof 2 pin plug then ran the lead through the spare wheel and using sticky tabs stuck it along the inside bottom edge of the door lip towards the hinge.
I then ran it behind the bumper and in to the r/h rear light grommet and scotch clipped it to the wires there.
I ran it for a couple of years like this with no problems.
I did consider using the coiled type lead and just plug it in to the towing socket.
All I can suggest is that you take a tape and look for Jimnys in your area and measure the height??
I'm sure if you are in to stationary engines making up simple brackets would not be a problem.
Why not measure your trailer hitch height then enquire at a few tow bar manufacturers and ask them the height of their towbars??
They might be able to help if it needs to be slightly higher??
If you got a detachable one I believe some of these are slightly higher but it would certainly solve the number plate issue.
The Jimny does not have a lot of rear overhang so doesn't go down much when using a trailer and even if it did coil spring assisters are less than £20.
My jimny isn't here at the moment but I'll measure my caravan height as that tows level!!

OK just measured the caravan hitch and it comes out at app 450mm to top of hitch so I assume it is around 420mm to centre of the ball which is indeed the top EU standard for towbars of 350-420mm.

marvellous. thank you.

what make/where did you buy your hitch from please?

Paul.

Can't remember the exact make but it's a fixed flange bought off ebay and it's either Tow-Sure or Tow-Trust.
Either way I think they are all much the same.
On ebay they usually give you the instructions so you can have a look and see what is involved in fitting but it's a straight bolt on job.
Usually you loosely mount the side plates then lift up the cross bar and loosely mount then tighten everything up.
As said before it's not usually required to remove the bumper but it will make it easier but no bumper cutting/trimming is required.
I found the towbar went on quicker than sorting the wiring out lol