Tow balls being to high , fitting drop plates

Shouldn't the manufacturer be supplying a hitch which, when fitted, complies with the regulation towball height of between 390 mm and 420 mm from the ground, with the car in a laden state?   How can a hitch which is outside this range fit in with the EC Directive?  Surely the hitch as supplied by Ford would be considered illegal?

Vehicles that meet certain criteria as being 'off road' vehicles are exempt from the regualtions relating to towball height.

My ex shogun which was fitted with factory tow bar 07 model came with a drop plate are you telling me l was illegal for 9 years when towing

For many decades Messrs Dixon Bate have sold a ladder type of height adjuster to match various different trailer and vehicle heights.

Nothing on their web site today to suggest it is not legal to use one on the highway. Which is a good thing as I use one with a selection of sliders fitted with different hitchs. Not everthing in the universe has a 50mm ball coupling.

It is my understanding that drop plates cannot legally be fitted to towbars on cars. Towbars are 'type approved' and any modification negates the approval certification.

Some bigger 4x4 vehicles with ladder chassis were exemp from this ruling, as in Heethers case, but that may well have changed as outlined by Banff.

That is correct that's what I thought but the caravan will still be nose high so a drop plate is required and then that's a whole new ball game has I stated earlier that they have to be tested together at the time of manufacture and witter says that's it's still to high for the ranger plus after 2014 they are illegal so yes they are exempt from it but still require a plate to tow safely but then it's a catch 22 situation what do you do ! I decided the best thing was to not take a chance with losing a 35k caravan and a 35k pickup with the chance the insurance could find a get out clause in case the worst happened but you never know , not many people are aware of this certainly the caravan technical team are not but witter towbars are 

Illegal on commercial vehicles after 2014 , plus has to be tested at time of manufacture with the towbar and drop plate together on all vehicles  so if it's a aftermarket drop plate not tested with the towbar if the worst happens and yes I guess hope it won't the insurance could find a way of not paying out it's well worth researching I was amazed by it 

It makes obvious sense that a towbar is tested when made has soon has you add a drop plate it changes the way forces act upon the towbar only if they are both tested and stated that it has been done at point of manufacture together can an insurance company not void it and hence not pay out , we all now what insurance companies are like 

Not illegal to sell one but has it been tested with the towbar and rated as one unit unfortunately you will only find out when the worse happens it's a very grey area which people don't know or even think about has I said ford give me my 2k deposit back on a vehicle they shipped in for me from South Africa with out any hassles 

work this one out. my lunar delta states in the handbook the hitch height of 440mm???2016 model.