Caravan Tow Hitch - Question

Submitted: Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 15:31

ThreadID: 56811 Views:3264 Replies:3 FollowUps:11

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Member - Lewis K (QLD)

Gday all,

The first step to my getting on the road has happened. The new van was collected yesterday. Towed home on a conventional tow bar rather than the Hayman Reese as it was only a couple of K's and I new it would take time to set up on the HR.

So to the issue I now have, and yes I have searched the other forums. The HR tow hitch when on the troopy is some 200 cm above the tow ball. I have a little room to move the ball down on the HR but not a lot, one bolt hole only.

The tow hitch on the van is bolted to a plate welded on the bottom of the 125 mm A frame. From what I understand, and I may well be wrong, is that it is illegal to attach the tow hitch to a plate welded to the top of the A frame, but is it legal to weld a plate across the top, put a block or spacer between the two plates and run long bolts thru to the bottom plate, so in effect bolting to both the top and bottom of the A frame.

If this can legally be done then my issue is all but resolved.

Any knowledgeable input would be very welcome.

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Reply By: Member - Jiarna (NT) - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 16:06

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 16:06

Hi Lewis

Adjustable hitch

Check out the link - it might be what you need.

Cheers
John

Those who say something cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.

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AnswerID: 299446

Follow Up By: Member - Lewis K (QLD) - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 16:15

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 16:15

John,

Thanks for the follow-up. I already have the Hayman Reese hitch and it is on the second lowest hole, with the long neck turned down. I have one hole left to go but this is not anywhere near enough to give me the 200 odd mm that I need to lower the hitch by. The only solution I can see is to either buy a HR hitch with a longer neck or move the ball receiver on the A frame.

Lewis

FollowupID: 565611

Follow Up By: Member - Lewis K (QLD) - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 16:17

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 16:17

Sorry forgot to add that as far as I am aware their is no other HR tow hitch with a longer neck

FollowupID: 565613

Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 18:02

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 18:02

The 'T' hitch in this pic is what HR call standard. They make a variety of droppers all the way down to 150mm lower than standard. Customised even further if required but 150mm droppers are readily available off the shelf.

Not entirely sure what you are trying to say regarding the van hitch (pics please?) but any drawbar hitch modification requires an engineer serial number stamp.

Much easier and safer to use an off the shelf HR modified dropper.

FollowupID: 565632

Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 18:05

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 18:05

Woops! Forgot to add the pic I was referring to -

FollowupID: 565635

Follow Up By: Scrubcat - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 19:07

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 19:07

I have a hitch the same as picture/drawing from Dunaruna above
and although I haven`t tried it I reckon it would be possible to strip all parts off the hitch and turn the main part over so that the long section was downwards thus lowering the holes, re-assemble and that's it.
Worth a try and if it works cost is zero.
Scrubcat.

FollowupID: 565651

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 19:30

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 19:30

Hi All

We have the same Hitch, and thats exactly what the supplier did to
ours, when we purchased our van. reversed application, perfectly
legal.

Cheers
Daza

FollowupID: 565656

Follow Up By: Mr Fawlty - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 19:43

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 19:43

Yep turn the hitch over....

FollowupID: 565661

Follow Up By: geriatricgypsy - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 20:10

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 20:10

i have a hr tow hitch that isnt the standard one you are talking about. it is a longer shank to allow me to drop the tow ball down lower than the standard hitch.....have been using it for years and works fine...probably because its a hr....go as a hr dealer if they have differet size shanks.....bye the way, turning the standard one over still didnt lower my ball enough so now i have a different hr hitch......Geri

FollowupID: 565685

Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 20:18

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 20:18

100mm dropper, many other sizes available.

FollowupID: 565691

Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 20:20

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 20:20

As already stated, can be used either way.

FollowupID: 565692

Reply By: Member - Lewis K (QLD) - Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 20:26

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 at 20:26

Thanks for the responses from all. I had not seen the longer L shaped head before only the normal with the long and the short side. I have the long side down already hence the question in the first place.

Looks like I will head ti a HR dealer in the next few days, with the rig in tow, and see if I can get hold of a head that will drop low enough for the van. Will be much easier than trying to get the van modified.

Once again, thanks for the responses. It is this free flow of information that makes this site the great site that it is.

AnswerID: 299511