Why would a car have a tow-ball on its front bumper?
December 13, 2004 9:00 PM Subscribe
Strange sight seen recently in a car park: A small car (a Toyota Echo, I think) had a tow-ball sticking up from the left-hand side of its front bumper bar. Why could this be?
I was thinking the same thing.... but why on the left side? Shouldn't it be in the center?
posted by Doohickie at 9:09 PM on December 13, 2004
posted by Doohickie at 9:09 PM on December 13, 2004
"Shouldn't it be in the center?" Car is not as wide as the motorhome so offsetting the hitch to the left sets the car to the right or shoulder side of the hiway away from traffic during right turns. At least I think that's it.
posted by arse_hat at 9:16 PM on December 13, 2004
posted by arse_hat at 9:16 PM on December 13, 2004
It could be for the maneuvering of a trailer for short distances or in tight spaces. I grew up in the country and it was not uncommon to see vehicles with front mounted tow balls.
posted by geekyguy at 9:49 PM on December 13, 2004
posted by geekyguy at 9:49 PM on December 13, 2004
Response by poster: Car is not as wide as the motorhome so offsetting the hitch to the left sets the car to the right or shoulder side of the hiway away from traffic during right turns
It seems to me though, and I'm not sure about the physics of this, that if the car is towed from a position not in the centre, the car would pulled along at a nasty angle?
posted by Jimbob at 9:57 PM on December 13, 2004
It seems to me though, and I'm not sure about the physics of this, that if the car is towed from a position not in the centre, the car would pulled along at a nasty angle?
posted by Jimbob at 9:57 PM on December 13, 2004
Was it really a tow ball? Then it's almost certainly for short-distance maneuvering of a small utility or boat trailer, for someone who isn't comfortable doing it all in reverse. If it's an a-framed tow-bar with a ball receptacle on it, not a ball, then I don't know. Doesn't seem like you could effectively tow a car with an offset like that.
posted by Tubes at 11:55 PM on December 13, 2004
posted by Tubes at 11:55 PM on December 13, 2004
Response by poster: It was an actual tow-ball - sticking up out of the middle of the bumper, almost infront of the headlight, so I guess it must be for manouvering a trailer.
posted by Jimbob at 8:10 AM on December 14, 2004
posted by Jimbob at 8:10 AM on December 14, 2004
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posted by arse_hat at 9:04 PM on December 13, 2004