Caravan Anti-sway bars - Legality

Yeah, I agree, I have one installed. The question arose when CONCEPT Vans welded a Treg Hitch to the UNDERSIDE of the A-Frame, making it impossible to fit the Anti-Sway bars. On querying this to Concept, they stated Anti-Sway bars were NOT Nessassary. (Question is: where do you stand in an accident without them).

Their is a product called Equalizer hitch. Their are no one selling them at present in Australia.

I purchased one from a place in Brisbane about three years back, but they have given up the dealership.

It fits into a hayman reece tow bar.

This device is for anti sway plus a weight distribution.

See www.equalizerhitch.com

They claim it make towing a caravan the same as towing a fifth wheeler. And I agree.

Check them out on the web site.

They will send them to Australia to private buyers.

Motherhen,

Some manufacturers actually say a WDH MUST be used over a certain weight. Therefore if you tow over those weights without the WDH you are (technically) driving outside the manufacturers specs which could be then said to be unroadworthy/uninsured!

Ford for one do this. I think the Falcon has to have one fitted over something like 1750kgs. Actually, now I could be wrong on this, but.... I think the F250 is actually under the same restrictions (though many would not know/care). In this case I think it was anything over 2250kg and it's either recomended or compulsory, to fit a WDH. Not sure but if I'd just bought one I'd be checking it out ;-) Although now I think about it I wouldn't - having towed the van with and without I'd never go without it for anything more than afew k's.

Cheers

Matt

Hi Matt; we've always towed with - even on the tight turns and steep ups & downs (which we usually come on unexpectedly) where it is recommended to take them off. They haven't bent yet and it has always towed steady and well. We are of course reading up on Ford.

Hi Thanks Guys, for all the responses to this subject. My Insurance policy has no mention of WHD's, but COULD this come into contention if an accident occurs WITHOUT having them fitted and the Vehicle & Trailer are written off ???, Hmmm....Food for thought.
Kinggeorge.

Doug T
Its rubbish that YOU don't need one a 20ft van would probably weigh 2000 plus kg`s, which means a ball weight of about 200kg. Would defiantly need WDH regardless of towing vehicle. You might get away with it but you never know one day you may not. AND it may be a innocent party that is hurt or worse. WDH is cheap insurance.
Cheers
Chass

Chass
I was trying to work out when it was that you had a drive in my Landcruiser pulling the van . If it were to sway then I would look at getting a set, or is it the way some vehicles drag the ar$e on the ground when the van is on,yeh Ive seen them,If my unit were like that I would get a set , My unit sits straight, it might drop 1 inch when the van sits on the tow bar, And what is a sway bar got to do with tow ball weight , I have towed my unit from Bundaberg where I bought it, to Brisbane, then to Townsville, Mt Isa, Alice Springs, back to Cloncurry. My Isa , to Pt Augusta, Pt Lincoln, to Perth which is where it's at now ,and not once did i experience any sway .

Russell,

That is scary. No matter how many computers and servos the D3 or new Crusier have, they cannot defy the laws of physics. A WDH does more than level the rig, it distributes the weight over all 4 wheels-hence the D and the H bit bit. Alot more than the the maybe 250-350kgs of ball load when sitting still. From from what I've read this figure could be multiplied by up to something like 8 TIMES when undulating down an uneven road. From what I've felt towing a caravan weighing in over 3000kgs I agree.

I was aware of this situation with the D3 as a member on another list actually managed to BREAK his tow hitch doing just that. The fact that Land Rover are flat out rejecting their fitment.............as smart as giving a vehicle a 4 tonne tow rating but only allowing 125kgs ball weight, land rover again :-( Surely the self levelling suspension could have its fuse pulled or something?? Even if only for towing. When they broke down on a couple of 4WD monthly tests I was dissapointed, but was still thinking about it, then I heard of this fella busting his hitch I lost interest. Perhaps if you can dissable the system, safe towing of large loads would be possible.

Doug T, you might have no need for one but I hope anyone thinking about towing a 20ft caravan doesn't read your post and think it applies to them. If you're going to tow your van afew hundred k's every 18months or so, on dead flat near emtpy roads, it might not pay to bother with a proper WDH, anybody else-get one.

Cheers

Matt

It's the Pathfinder that has had the problems. The Navara has a different type of bar.

PeterD