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 - 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.
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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
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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