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I have noticed the tow bar is lying lower and lower and found out the problem!!
After the exit from the ferry in Dalian with a big bang as the trailer hit the metal ramp, I frequently followed the tow bar getting lower and lower.
Now thinking afterwards, this design is not good as there will be great forces to the support. There are additional supports underneath but where the hitch failed was on the top part by bending the hook down.
The support must be some shitty wrought iron or similar. I measured the thickness of the support plate, and it was around 5mm. And thinking it should be OK. I was so wrong in this.
Finding a repair shop urgently in Manzhouli for car towing hitch support was not an issue with the correct app.
We urgently needed to fix the Car towing hitch support Repair issue as there was a risk of the spare tire and the hook getting lower.
Friends took the kids for some sightseeing, and the wife started to check on the mobile suitable repair shops. After looking for recommendations on the internet, we ended up at the repair shop above. The personnel was very professional, and we found the issue immediately after removing the plastic bumper. The hook support has been bent quite a lot, and after some consultation, the hook was removed and taken to some metal workshop.
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Only the hook part is now original; stronger steel plates replaced the bent part, supports, and additional supports according to the original hook.
The total cost of removal, cutting, re-welding, and installation was 1200CNY, which was quite reasonable. The problem is the time wasted one day on this activity.
Now, the towing hitch is much more robust, and the height is correctly positioned compared to earlier.
I will just link the maps here if someone requires a repair shop in Manzhouli. The name is Jiling Auto Maintenance Center.
Strange equation from the repair shop
One strange thing came up while discussing with the owner. He was wondering how this car could pull the trailer as per his experience, this small car should not pull any.
I needed to explain that KIA Sorento 2.2CRDi can easily pull 2000kg legally in Finland. Then, I made a counter-question by asking him why several of the SUVs in Manzhouli have towing hitch and what they are pulling.
The answer was: It is for fashion, they don’t pull anything, just for looks…..!
So, what did we learn here? Buy an original or well-known brand, and you will, in the end, save time, money, and mental health.
I am not experienced with caravans; learning is a long way. The caravan’s ball weight is essential; several persons have recommended around 80kg. KIA maximum is 100kg, we had 130kg and no name towing hitch. The caravan also had a water tank in the front (145L) and no storage space in the rear except for a small cabinet. It is very difficult to balance the caravan. We usually had milk and drinking water there, but the space was so limited that it was not enough.
Ensure your tow ball limit is within the car manufacturer’s recommendation. Quick check-in Taobao, China’s biggest online retailer, shows it can be found in China. Tow ball scale.
After the Car towing hitch support Repair, we still had some time for Manzhouli
Went to the nearby border Manzhouli Sino-Russian Inter-Trade Tourist Area to visit the Russian border. Unfortunately, only Chinese with local ID cards were allowed to visit. Children with Finnish passports and I were not allowed, so I spent some time visiting the shops in the area and having a break at McDonald’s. Don’t go if you don’t have a local ID card.
Afternoon, for dinner headed for Lubuli restaurant. According to the internet, this is the best and most famous in the city. I can underline this. That is true. Delicious and Russian-style Šašlik skewers and borscht soup with rye bread. You have to wait outside for a while, about 30 minutes.
