TJM still on sale until the end of this month. I think I'll be getting one as the GL-R genuine is rubbish. Out of interest my clearance is 315mm - slightly less than shown in the photo a couple of posts up. I worked my departure angle out to be 14.9 degrees.
Personally I think for a 4wd that is marketed as such, this really isn't fit for purpose. As such I had a long correspondence with Mitsubishi that I've pasted below (tried to condense it as best I can). You may infer from this that I have too much time on my hands and like writing letters. I got mildly confused with the Australian Design Rules but have come to the conclusion that even if the Triton meets all required rules, that is not necessarily an endorsement that it is all ok.
I'm interested in you opinions regarding if there is any point trying to take this to the ACCC or equivalent on the grounds that the towbar is not fit for purpose. I am also happy for you to poke fun at me if you think I'm an idiot.
And I love this forum even if I don't post that much. Wish I'd come here before buying the car.
Thanks,
Alex
Re: Mitsubishi Genuine Towbar on MN Triton
In 2011 my wife an I bought our Triton GLR from Melville Mitsubishi as well as some genuine accessories. Unfortunately since this time we have had significat issues with the towbar. The MN Triton has served us very well overall but is a particularly long car. With the rear step that came with it, the towbar had to be redesigned to come out underneath it. As such it sits particularly low. When you couple this with the length of the car, the trailer hitch bottoms out on slopes and bumps that it simply should not have any issues with. This causes damage to the towbar and potentially to the car.
To make matter worse, the trailer hitch and grub screw are mounted on the underside of the towbar. The trailer hitch is particularly vulnerable, given it is held on by 2 small screws. I have had to replace it once already. Further, on a recent drive we had to do a u-turn on a small slope. When reversing back onto the road the towbar bottomed out, damaging the trailer hitch again and snapping the grub screw off. Our friends were with us at the time and performed the same u-turn in their car. They were extremely surprised that any car would have issues making this turn. We have not being doing any offroad 4wd trips –and all our issues have been in normal driving environments.
When I spoke to Brett (surname not supplied) at the service department of Melville Mitsubishi on 23/4/14, he said he had never heard of any issues with this towbar. This is simply ridiculous – if you look at any of the Triton owners website it is the single most despised feature of an otherwise loved car. Many owners have simply switched towbars but I don’t feel I should have to buy another towbar.
We had the genuine towbar fitted as we were told it was the best option. According to your website, “Mitsubishi genuine parts and accessories ensure a perfect fit and optimal performance for your vehicle. Mitsubishi Genuine Service using Mitsubishi Genuine Parts is the best way to protect your investment” and “Mitsubishi genuine parts and accessories are designed, engineered and manufactured to ensure a perfect fit and optimal performance, first time, every time.” This simply has turned out to be not true. The design to compensate for the rear step is flawed, leaving the towbar far to low, causing excessive bottoming out when it should not be expected. I would note that on the cheaper GLX model, without the rear step, the towbar sits up higher.
I understand consumers are entitled to expect products they buy to be fit for the purpose for which it is acquired. As you can see from the problems I have described, this is not the case. I have had the towbar checked by the local Mitsubishi dealer here in Launceston and they confirm it has been installed properly and has not moved.
To resolve the problem, I can see 2 solutions. Either a full refund of the cost of the towbar, following which I will sort out a replacement. or, provide me and have fitted a GLX towbar that sits up higher. I know this is not compatible with the rear step.
I look forward to your reply and a resolution to my problem.
5/5/14
Receipt of your correspondence dated the 30th of April 2014 is acknowledged.
Naturally, we regret to read of your dissatisfaction with the genuine towbar fitted to your vehicle and your comments have been noted and are respected.
All vehicles and accessories introduced into the Australian market are required to be designed and certified to many safety, environmental and consumer protection regulations including Australian Design Rules (ADR) under the control of Department of Transport and Roads (DOTARS).
Both Melville Mitsubishi and Launceston Mitsubishi have confirmed that there is no manufacturing defect with the towbar or issues with the fitment and therefore, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) will not be providing a refund.
Please be advised that MMAL continually improves and updates it product range to maintain its position at the forefront of technology and design and your comments have been forwarded to the Product Planning Department for their consideration.
13/5/14
Thank you for your email. I certainly do not dispute that the towbar has not been designed to the correct standard, nor that it has been installed correctly. My concern is that it is not fit for its intended purpose, for the reasons I outlined previously.
Please respond to my particular concerns about the extremely low nature of the bar, compounded by the length of the vehicle, and in particular housing the wiring harness and grub screw underneathm where they are most likely to be damaged.
Kind Regards,
6/6/14
Receipt of your correspondence dated the 2nd of June 2014 is acknowledged.
The towbar fitted to this vehicle was designed according to the rear step position and could not be raised without removing the rear steps.
There has been some customer feedback regarding the position of the trailer harness to which Mitsubishi Motors Austrlaia Limited (MMAL) introduced a bracket and trailer harness kit which can be purchased to raise the height of the trailer harness.
As the towbar is designed to correct specifications and comply with Australian Design Rules (ADR) and is fit for purpose, MMAL will not provide a refund, nor replace the towbar.
16/6/14
I believe that the Triton comes under the category of OFF-ROAD PASSENGER VEHICLE (MC) in regards to the ADR. One of the features of the ADR for Off-road vehicles is that the departure angle must be "not less than 20 degrees". Without a towbar in place I understand that the departure angle is 21 degrees. When I measured my Triton, using the base of the rear wheels and the lowest point of the towbar, the departure angle was 14.9 degrees. This is clearly unacceptable.
As you say below "The towbar fitted to this vehicle was designed according to the rear step position and could not be raised without removing the rear steps." This is your design flaw and the cause of this issue. It was easily foreseen and should have been adjusted for.
Further, merely meeting minimum design rules does not render a vehicle or its accessories fit for purpose. The fact you have designed an alternative wiring harness would suggest that MMAL agrees with me.
I still feel I am warranted a refund. I will await your reply.
17/6/14
Your correspondence below is acknowledged. Nemyra is currently on leave and therefore, I will respond on her behalf.
In regards to your enquiry, we wish to inform you that your Triton does not fall under category MC, but rather under the category of Light Goods Vehicle (NA).
Under the Australian Design Rule – Definitions and Vehicle Categories 2005, Compilation: 5, your vehicle falls under the following:
4.5.5. LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE (NA) - A goods vehicle (commercial vehicle) with a ‗Gross Vehicle Mass‗ not exceeding 3.5 tonne
Certification Approval is NA category, see DOTARS RVCS web site below
http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/perl/355 ... 123044.cmd Therefore, we wish to reiterate that the Towbar on your vehicle is to correct specifications, complies with Australian Design Rules (ADR) under the control of Department of Transport and Roads (DOTARS) and is fit for it's intended purpose.
The introduction of the bracket and trailer harness kit, as mentioned by Nemyra, was based upon customer feedback and in no way implies a design flaw. As a result, MMAL stand by their initial decision and wish to inform you that we are unable to provide a refund or replacement of your Towbar.
We would like to thank you for allowing us the opportunity to review this matter and explain our position and will now consider this matter closed.
