Caravan stabilizers

G'day Reetta & Joe
I'm not being smart but 17'6 does means it can't go Full OFF road purely because of the size not suspension.
However, it will be fairly capable in most situation normally encountered.
The size means there is extra ball weight on the tow hitch.

Make sure your tow tongue where the Hyland fits on is as close to the towbar as is possible. Most tow tongues are not as far forward as is possible. This causes the caravan to control the vehicle motion more than it should. Redrilling the pin hole and or replacement with a closer fit tongue is better. Loading cvan so ball weight is a bit less helps too.
Even though it is a Landcruiser, the shock absorbers will have been matched to ride quality and the towing weight now has to be catered for.
Over undulating roads and tracks the OE shocks probably won't handle the extra instantaneous mass of the cvan which is trying to flick the vehicle up and down.
Therefore, more capable shock absorbers will be required to cater for and control this mass. 200kg ball weight is when it is static and the shockers aren't being asked to work then. The 200kg will really be far more as the whole lot moves on the road.
It is better to have suitable shocks at the outset rather than find the shocks are unsuitable by accident.

Ross M

Reeta and Joe,

If by "stabilizers" you mean a weight distributing hitch, then yes, you can use a WDH with a Hyland coupling on dirt roads providing the roads don't call for more than normal articulation. eg you could travel the whole of the Great Central Road (Ouitback Way) from Laverton to Yulara and beyond with your WDH in place.

It's not the Hyland coupling as such that stops use of the WDH, it the amount of "flex" or articulation between van and vehicle. The Hyland permits more articulation than a standard ball coupling and if you're in a situation where that articulation is going to be used you need to disconnect the WDH. If the situation is normal then you can use the benefits of the WDH.

I used to have a van with a Hyland coupling and a WDH and it was fine.

Cheers

First thing is how much towing have you done with a load over 1400kg.

Second thing is how much does you 4x4 drop when the caravan if on the back and the vehicle fully loaded.

Third thing is how much clearance have you got between the diff and the bump stops when the caravan if on the back and the vehicle fully loaded..

As for not using weight distribution devices on dirt roads it depends on what you call dirt roads much the same as there is off road and then there is OF ROAD.

First thing is the determined the problem and what the cause of it is and go from there......