How many of us are legal with towball height?
Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 16:14
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Member - Boo Boo (NSW)
OK my little saga with the troopy and raising the height of the van has hit a snag.
How many forumites are towing a van with a large 4wd including those with a 50mm lift?
How many are towing a big off-road van that has got a really big lift?
Mt troopy has a 50mm lift.
Herein lies my problem, and probably yours as
well.
My current tongue has a drop of 210mm, which puts the ball at the legal maximum height of 460mm.
But, I have only 225 clearance at the back door which is next to useless.
If I want to undersling the axle on my 12' van I will raise the height 85mm.
By doing this I would have to raise the tongue to get the van level, which then makes it illegal, as far as I am aware.
I have towed a bigger van with a standard tongue but the middle of the ball height would have been about 550 of the ground (I just had a look at where the height of the tongue would be if I had about a 50 mm drop on the tongue.
So my question is how has everyone got around this problem, or am I the only one that will go higher than 460?
Reply By: Member -Dodger - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 16:33
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 16:33
My only suggestion would be to go to a van repair business and see if you can get the van tow hitch fitted on the underside of the A frame if possible.
I have seen a few vans on the road with this done.
If this can be done legally then you could undersling the axle.
I am lucky as my ball height like you is near max height. But I do have a little more height at the van back side door of 340mm.
Ball height when laden 450mm.
AnswerID:
451894
Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 16:48
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 16:48
Dodg
The lack of height at the back door is really a problem (340 would be wonderful).
Even If I stayed legal and replaced the existing drop axle with a straight one I would only gain 50mm, which would only bring me up to 275mm.
I reckon its a design problem and I never thought about it when we bought the van.
Everything else about the van is great, it suits our needs really
well.
FollowupID:
724514
Reply By: Shaker - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:17
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:17
A lot of offroad campers would be higher than 460mm, I am pretty sure that the Vista RV is 530mm.
AnswerID:
451899
Reply By: Lex M (Brisbane) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:19
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:19
I believe the height restriction only applies to a ball hitch.
Get an offroad hitch. A DO35 is a good replacement for a tow ball.
AnswerID:
451900
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:56
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:56
Correct.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
FollowupID:
724521
Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:56
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:56
Lex
Someone else has also suggested an off road hitch.
I am looking at the archives for pros and cons and then the price.
Thankyou.
FollowupID:
724522
Follow Up By: Hairs & Fysh - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 19:02
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 19:02
Cheers Lex for mentioning this.
I guess like others I've gone out and measured our Hitche(We've an AT-35) and to the bottom of the C section(bottom of the coupling), looking at it from the side, it is 570mm. And the Cruiser is stock as a
rock in
Suspension height.
Boo Boo,
We have an AT-35 Hitch which suits us and the previous owner of the camper had dragged it around
the Block twice with out drama. There are a few different variants to the same idea. some are easier to hook up then others.
Cheers for bring this up, there would be as you mentioned a lot of setups out there and people would know.
FollowupID:
724528
Follow Up By: Mark S (cns) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 19:29
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 19:29
I thought this too re off road hitch, however, is it actually written anywhere in any rules stating that the 460mm height specifically does not apply to off road hitches???
FollowupID:
724531
Reply By: Member Al (Sunshine Coast) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:25
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 17:25
BooBoo, would a pair of
suspension air bags fitted to the van raise it enough to fix the problem?
AnswerID:
451902
Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 18:06
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 18:06
Mate I've got no idea, but when we get to
Griffith I
check it out.
I never dreamt that such a simple thing could be such a pain in the butt.
FollowupID:
724524
Reply By: guy007 - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 18:19
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 18:19
Hi Boo Boo,
The regulations state that the ball height has a maximum height of 460mm.
However it can be higher to suit your van but must be capable of being adjusted so that it complies with the 460 rule , if for instance you were to sell the Troopy.
As others have stated the height of an off road coupling is unrestricted and is probably the way to go.
For your information this is discussed at length in the Jayco section of the
forum at
www.supertramp.com.au
Thread id is 3313
Hope this helps!
regards
Guy
AnswerID:
451906
Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 18:46
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 18:46
Hi Boo Boo,
My 200 tow hitch is some 635mm off the ground!!! Now thats from the factory, give or take ~20mm. While I do have a 2" lift and marginally larger tyres, my lift was actually 3" front and 1" rear to give an average 2" - but the effect was the towbar height remained the same, if not lower!
So how can Toyota can legally produce a vehicle with a >600mm towbar? Only thing I can think of is that my factory hitch is clearly marked "OFFROAD". Toyota offer 2 options on the 200, the ONROAD hitch by Toyota is around 100mm less, but still seems to exceed the 460mm max???
Cheers
Captain
AnswerID:
451907
Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 21:46
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 21:46
Just to clarify - the heights quoted are to the top of the flat of the tow bar, does NOT include ball height.
Cheers
Captain
FollowupID:
724556
Reply By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 20:58
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 20:58
Hi Boo Boo,
My 96 model 80 series, as far as I know, is stock standard.
To the top of the tow ball it is 570 mml. With WDH my van sits level and the van has not been modified either. I recently replaced all springs and bushes and the installation was/is standard.
The van came out of the factory that way and so did the cruiser.
Given the Australian Design Rules (ADR) they would not be able to get that through, I would have thought, if they did not comply.
If the rules are as you state then that makes every 80 series cruiser illegal apparently. Not to mention all the others which are higher such as your 2 inch lift and there are plenty of them out there.
Must be some mix up there surely.
It will be interesting to see where this finishes up. I will be checking in with a certified engineer in the not to distant future and I will put it to them.
Cheers, Bruce.
| At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.Lifetime Member
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AnswerID:
451931
Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 21:00
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 21:00
spring and bush replacement was on the caravan.
| At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message |
FollowupID:
724549
Reply By: cycadcenter - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 00:53
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 00:53
Trailer regulations per VSB 01
12.2 Couplings
Couplings must be of a positive locking type with provision for a second independent device.
The locking must be readily verifiable by visual inspection.
Trailers having an ATM of up to 3.5 tonnes must have a quick release coupling which is
designed to be engaged and disengaged without the use of tools.
12.2.1 50mm Ball Couplings
Ball couplings used on trailers with an ATM of up to 3.5 tonnes must comply with the Australian
Standard AS 4177.3-1994 and be installed so that the height of the centre of the body of the ball
coupling is between 350mm and 420mm from the ground when laden.
Does your trailer comply???
Bruce
AnswerID:
451953
Reply By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 06:44
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 06:44
Thanks for your help fellas.
After reading the info here and on the Jayco site it appears I have a few options.
1. Stay legal by puting in a straight axle and getting a 2" lift, which will give a level van, but only 275 at the back door.
2. Sling the axle under the van and get an 85-90mm lift which will give me about 310mm at the back and get another tongue which will make the van level but make m illegal.
3.As per #2, try and get the coupling under the A frame and that might make we legal.
4. Get an off road hitch then I can have my cake and eat it as
well.
AnswerID:
451960
Reply By: Ray - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 07:46
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 07:46
I don't think Mr. Plod would worry too much about ball and coupling height as long as they are compatible and safe. I've never know a cop on the road with his tape measure out measuring ball heights. (no pun intended)
AnswerID:
451964
Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 09:08
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 09:08
Ray
You are probably right.
I have been looking at rigs passing through Murgon, late yesterday and they look like they would all be over 460mm.
I'll let everyone know what I end up doing when I get to
Griffith.
FollowupID:
724586
Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 10:39
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 10:39
G/Day Boo Boo
Our Off Road van has tow hitch on the bottom of the draw bar, which is a 3.500 kg Hyland Hitch, I measured the height of hitch and it's 460mm exactly.
CheersImage Could Not Be Found
AnswerID:
451973
Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 11:06
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 11:06
Gotta tell ya Daza its a mixed bag.
About 30 minutes ago I rode back to the temporary abode and spotted a big rig parked near
IGA, so I went over to have a look and while than van was way off the ground the coupling at the front looked legal. Bugger.
Then got into my street and there was a cab chassis with a towball at least 600 off the ground.
I think some off the sugestions about Mr Plod and no tape measure are probably correct, however I would be concerned about insurance.
Unless someone comes up with a better idea I think I will have to go for an off road hitch.
FollowupID:
724600
Reply By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 12:01
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 12:01
I am just looking at off road coupling and wondered if the light weight 'sway' bars can still be fitted to these hitches?
AnswerID:
451979
Reply By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 15:30
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 15:30
I have just been informed by hayman Reece that 4 bar WDH cannot be fitted to off-road hitches.
Another spanner in the works. I'll have to look at the other options. I'll post a result in the next few weeks.
AnswerID:
451994
Follow Up By: snoopyone - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 17:52
Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 17:52
Doubt that advice as I have seen several off road vans on my travels with offroad hitches and 550 or 750lb WDH fitted.
Might be different with the shepherds crook things
Asked owners who said they are fine but only on the blacktop.
Always remove when off road.
FollowupID:
724644
Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Friday, Apr 22, 2011 at 19:32
Friday, Apr 22, 2011 at 19:32
Yeh Snoopyone it's the shepherds crool ones that are the problem.
My guess is that I''ll end up lifting the van 50- 90 mm
and adjust the towbar to suit. Whether it's legal or not.
FollowupID:
724777
Follow Up By: snoopyone - Friday, Apr 22, 2011 at 19:38
Friday, Apr 22, 2011 at 19:38
Buy a set of the other ones then I guess Have a look on the C & M
forum for sales Was a couple of sets on there cheap.
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