Hi all.
hopefully a simple question. When my c'van is hitched up to the vehiclle it sits a bit high,at the front.
If i reverse the tow hitch it sits a bit low. Which is better? A bit high or a bit low. Maybe 30cm either way.

Johnw



-- Edited by jandas fun on Monday 31st of January 2011 10:22:10 PM

That seems to indicate you have not fitted a Hayman Reese weight distribution hitch. If you had done so you would not have had this problem. As regards to reversing the tongue, you have not given details of your van and tug. We are therefore not in a position to comment. One of the manufacturers was having their hitch crack up when people reverses them. They offset the pin in the receiver to prevent that happening. I therefore would recommend you don't reverse it.

Maybe if you replace the tongue with one that sets the van at the correct height. This should be available at a trailer/towbar shop or perhaps through a Hayman Reece outlet, check their website. You would need to check that the tongue is rated for your load. Re Peter's comments about possible issues with reversing the tongue, my Mitsubishi supplied tongue is placarded not to be reversed and the towball cannot be fitted if it is. (I presume your 30cm is meant to be 30mm, not a problem we know what you mean) Jim PS: ok now I'll confuse the issue!!! If the towball is sitting too high, is the towball already in the "wrong" position??? It seems to me that in the "correct" position the ball would be in the low position?

Hi Peter, tug is a 99 prado towing a 16'coromal atm 1550kg. HR tow bar set up years ago to tow horse floats, in the lower position. When i bought this van, i was told it did not need a wdh. BUT i refused to leave without at least sway bars fitted. The dealer then put the ball at the higher position, said it was a bit high but was o.k. My main gripe is when on the higher position it is difficult to open the rear door when hitched up, getting to old to lift gear over the back seat and out the side doors. What difference if any would there be to the handling of the van and tug if on the lower position? I guess i could just hook it up that way and try it. Hi Jim, yep couldn't find an antique ruler. so took a guess. meant a bit over an inch. 30mm. Don't really know which way is correct,i see lots of vehicles with the tow ball in either position. Johnw

jandas fun wrote:

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Don't really know which way is correct,i see lots of vehicles with the tow ball in either position.


Johnw

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The use of a question mark at the end of the relevant sentence was quite deliberate!

Here's a piccy of the Mitsubishi tongue (with Treg instead of towball).  Note the height of the towball plate is in an intermediate position.  Maybe something like this is what you're looking for?

 

In the absence of any better info I can't help but feel that the rig would tow better in the lower position.  You would also have a better departure angle (ground clearance) at the rear of the van.

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 2nd of February 2011 06:31:22 AM

JohnW
Most vans illegally exceed the ATM when the owner loads it ready for a trip and fills the water tank.
But assuming your van is loaded to its legal maximum weight of 1550Kg (ATM),
then ther Ball Weight should be 155Kg.
Toyota recommend a 10% Ball Weight and a that a WDH be used.
10% of 1550Kg is 155Kg.
If your Sway Bars (WHD) are 2 round bars then they are only suitable for a Ball Weight of 80Kg max.
The 4 round bar modesl are only suitable for a Ball Weight of 110Kg or upto 120Kg if it's a Hayman Reese (HR).
For any Ball Weight over the above you'll need a HR550 WDH (or similar) which will support a ball weight up to 250Kg.
The HR550 Hitch is adjustable for both height and angle which will allow you to get your van level and will also improve steering ability and braking as it distributes weight back to the front wheels of the Prado that was removed when the van was attached to the tow ball. 
Thus it improving safety.
Cheers, ozjohn. 

Thanks for the input guys. Guess it confirms what i have always known, but have been avoiding. Looking into the HR550, best price seems to be about $800. Will start saving. In the meantime i will run with the nose slightlty down, using the 4 bar WDH. Yes Jim, i have given the rear stabalisers a workout over the last 5 years coming out of some s/stations and in some free camps. Thanks again. Johnw

Hi John, Check on ebay. I recently sold one and got $350.

Cheers
Patto

Hi John!
I have a 17' caravan about 1500k unladen & I tried it without the HR hitch just taking it for repair & noticed quite a difference, now I always recommend using one (plus a caravan brake fitted) with these sort of weights.

Cheers
Jon