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MG TD TF 1500 - trailer Hitch

Hey all, I have a very light, (read Plastic), tow behind trailer. I used to pull it with an MGA that is now gone. I was thinking of pulling it with the TD but could find no hitch information. Has anyone put a trailer hitch on a TD? Thanks, Tom
Thomas McNamara

There is evidence on mine that it had one.

Two plates with holes are welded to the rear of the chassis legs.

Getting a photo might be tough right now, let me see what I can do.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

I have seen a number of pictures of trailers behind TD's on this forum, a good number from down under in OZ.

Jim
James Neel

I have a piece of angle iron clamped under the bumper irons. I then cut 2 90deg wedges out of another piece and bent it into a square "U" and bolted it to the other angle iron protruding just beyond the bumper. The other end is "U" bolted to the tubular cross member. I tow a motorcycle trailer or a trailer to go to the tip (dump). I have towed a 3/4 ton trailer but with difficulty (it was an emergency) I will try to dig out some photos.
Ray TF2884
Ray Lee

According to Anders Clausager, the 1958 parts list for the TD listed a drawbar attachment for the TD. Towing capacity was 763 KG (1682 lbs)

I have never seen any other mention of a factory drawbar in any TD information or brochure.

Here is a web copy of the 1958 parts list.
https://www.canevet.org/IMG/pdf/mgtd-parts-manual.pdf

Page P.3 does list a Drawbar Attachment.
Bruce Cunha

I have a heavy flat bar welded ahead of the rear tube crossmember on TD-4834. The rest of the hitch was missing. The rear apron also had a hole drilled in it to accept a light plug connection
W A Chasser

G'day Dave,

Nice boat!

Just on another note Dave, a huge thankyou for the TF wiring diagram that you sent me many years ago. I used it a few months ago when doing the TF1500 rebuild and
fitting up the colour coded/cloth covered harness.
Brilliant!

I have had it laminated.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

It's always interesting to see how the parts manual grows over time; I see that this 1958 version has such things as "Carburetter (for Shorrocks [sic] supercharger)" and "Vertical magneto (4VRA)" [Lucas], and the "Drawbar", noted on p. P-3, unhelpfully between "Speedometer pinion" and "Oil thermometer gauge."

And what are "Extra shock absorbers - front (special low setting)", which are quite distinct from the Andrex shocks, listed later? Along with the manual distributor advance, they are something I have never seen - or the factory drawbar, for that matter. The only hitches I have seen are clearly home-made - could "Drawbar" refer to something else? Then again, that Clausager mentions the TD's tow capacity suggests the "Drawbar" is a true factory part.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

LaVerne I was thinking that. Is there a possibility that lists got mixed up with other MG parts?

Anders apparently spends a lot of time in the British Car Museum. When I contacted them on a TD related question, they put me in touch with him. I would assume he researched the part about towing capacity. I did not see it in the parts book.

I know that even the VW beetle had towing bars that you could add, so it would not suprise me if someone designed one specific for the TD.
Bruce Cunha

My TF came with a tow bar fitted by the first owner that I used for a number of years, but now removed. Looks to be locally made. I have a small wooden trailer that I have towed quite successfully and comfortably across Australia. Now considering selling trailer and bar.





M Magilton

Central Australia on rough unsealed roads.
Note the splinter sticking out the top of the spare tyre (second spare in the trailer, and of course the trailer wheels can go on the TF if needs be).




M Magilton

That is a great picture. Just looking at it says a lot.

Bruce Cunha

Wow, those pictures are grear! exactly what I needed to attempt fabricating one for the TD. Could you post the angle iron dimensions? Thanks, Tom
Thomas McNamara

As an aside, Matthew - I believe I remember seeing your TF at dear old Ray Skewes' workshop in Melbourne round about 1991, when I think you had not long completed that epic trip - would that be right? He and Fritz Norden had just finished the mechanicals and body assembly of the TD which I bought from Paul Malone, and still have. John.
J P Hall

Hi Mathew
Just out of interest, I've noticed previously and again with your pics, the rego number of the trailer and the car are the same, Is that what happens in Vic. ??, we have standalone numbers for trailers here---curious.
willy
William Revit

Bruce -Thank you.
Thomas -I will see what I can do.
John -Yes 1991 sounds right for the round Australia trip, the Central Australia trip with the trailer was in 1995.
William -In Victoria, if the dimensions of the trailer are small enough then no extra rego required, just a clearly painted duplicate of the car number. Surprised I have never been challenged interstate .





M Magilton

Sketch is a bit rough. Does this work?





M Magilton

Thomas,the TC that I bought from Chris Gannon (Melbourne) in 2017 was an ex hillclimber with all metal instead of wooden frame, but interestingly it also had worn since the 1960s a solid-looking towbar, which I have put away for safekeeping. Whilst it's not TD/TF, it might interest readers here.
John.
J P Hall

a big Thank You to everyone. I now have enough information to fabricate a trailer hitch for my beloved TD. ( it has been under my care since 1999)

The next issue I should look at is replacing the rear springs as they may be original.

again, many thanks, Tom
Thomas McNamara

This thread was discussed between 15/07/2021 and 21/07/2021

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.