At first glance there appears to be a likelyhood of pushing the hitch (therefore trailer) off the ball coupling - not a WDH that I would ever consider.
Brenda and Alan said
08:05 AM Mar 21, 2023
Possum the ram is a lifting ram to tension the WDH, not pushing downwards.
Alan
Possum3 said
09:24 AM Mar 21, 2023
Alan, thanks for that. But I still don't like the concept - I am a firm believer in the KISS principle - This unit definitely does not comply with that - Reminds me of; When the space race between USA and USSR was everything. USA spent millions on developing a Parker Pen for astronauts to use in space (normal biros problematic due to lack of gravity), USSR solved same problem by issuing cosmonauts with pencils.
Complexity of unit would prevent any outback roadside repair.
The unit fitted to drawbar is massively heavier than chain attachment hooks on usual WDH's. Increasing caravan TBW and GVM.
I've now read the spec sheet. The Hydraulic ram is then being lifted by applying force to the back of piston (the lesser surface area), the ram/system is fitted with a pressure relief valve (which I assume if actuated will spray/squirt hydraulic fluid to atmosphere.
I would suggest that if this unit was used in Australian outback roads, vibrations would actuate relief valve causing not only fluid loss but reducing the effect of lift therefore would negate the lift.
Hydraulic systems and dust/dirt/mud are not ideal - positioned on drawbar the unit is in a position to be coated with dirt/dust/mud - again not ideal.
The fitment of ESC would be a much better (probably even cheaper) option.
Adherence to utilising capable tow vehicle and correct loading of caravan is the sensible option.
jegog said
10:39 AM Mar 22, 2023
Don't they believe in hand brakes or do they use a different system there?
yobarr said
10:52 AM Mar 22, 2023
Possum3 wrote:
Alan, thanks for that. But I still don't like the concept - I am a firm believer in the KISS principle - This unit definitely does not comply with that - Reminds me of; When the space race between USA and USSR was everything. USA spent millions on developing a Parker Pen for astronauts to use in space (normal biros problematic due to lack of gravity), USSR solved same problem by issuing cosmonauts with pencils.
Complexity of unit would prevent any outback roadside repair.
The unit fitted to drawbar is massively heavier than chain attachment hooks on usual WDH's. Increasing caravan TBW and GVM.
I've now read the spec sheet. The Hydraulic ram is then being lifted by applying force to the back of piston (the lesser surface area), the ram/system is fitted with a pressure relief valve (which I assume if actuated will spray/squirt hydraulic fluid to atmosphere.
I would suggest that if this unit was used in Australian outback roads, vibrations would actuate relief valve causing not only fluid loss but reducing the effect of lift therefore would negate the lift.
Hydraulic systems and dust/dirt/mud are not ideal - positioned on drawbar the unit is in a position to be coated with dirt/dust/mud - again not ideal.
The fitment of ESC would be a much better (probably even cheaper) option.
Adherence to utilising capable tow vehicle tow vehicle and correct loading of caravan is the sensible option.
As usual Possum, you're correct. Again I will say that a WDH is used only to make a vehicle do things for which it was never designed. By recommending use of a WDH manufacturers are effectively admitting that their cars are not up to the task, usually because of low rear-axle carrying capacity. Get a better car or a smaller van. Simple. Dreaming of using a car with a GCM of 6000kg to safely tow 3500kg as a PIG trailer is stupidity in the extreme. LaLa Land stuff. Cheers
jegog said
11:09 PM Mar 23, 2023
Brenda and Alan wrote:
Possum the ram is a lifting ram to tension the WDH, not pushing downwards.
Alan
The WDH is attached to the tow ball.
The ram is attached to the drawbar.
The tow hall receiver is attached to the drawbar and seated o0ver the toe ball.
Therefor as the ram extends, the WDH is forced down, increasing the angle of the drawbar with respect to the WDH. The forces generated must tend to force the tow ball receiver from the tow ball.
Greg 1 said
07:28 PM Mar 26, 2023
Can't say I am a great fan of this system.
As Possum has said, it is an over complication of what is normally a relatively simple concept.
Yobarr, you comment about making a vehicle do things it is not really designed to do automatically applies the minute you hook a caravan behind any of them.
We humans have a habit of doing things like that. Racing cars is all about making a car do things it isn't really designed to do.
A WDH just makes things a little safer if you use and apply them correctly, much like adjustable anti roll bars on a race car.
yobarr said
10:29 AM Mar 28, 2023
jegog wrote:
Brenda and Alan wrote:
Possum the ram is a lifting ram to tension the WDH, not pushing downwards.
Alan
The WDH is attached to the tow ball.
The ram is attached to the drawbar.
The tow hall receiver is attached to the drawbar and seated o0ver the toe ball.
Therefor as the ram extends, the WDH is forced down, increasing the angle of the drawbar with respect to the WDH. The forces generated must tend to force the tow ball receiver from the tow ball.
The ram does not extend when this ridiculous contraption is used, but retracts, thus lessening the angle between the composite bars and the drawbar. Complicated and no doubt expensive way to add much weight to your caravan for little nett gain. Spare me! Cheers
https://www.dieselarmy.com/tech/towing/better-towing-with-bws-new-continuum-weight-distribution-hitch/
At first glance there appears to be a likelyhood of pushing the hitch (therefore trailer) off the ball coupling - not a WDH that I would ever consider.
Possum the ram is a lifting ram to tension the WDH, not pushing downwards.
Alan
Complexity of unit would prevent any outback roadside repair.
The unit fitted to drawbar is massively heavier than chain attachment hooks on usual WDH's. Increasing caravan TBW and GVM.
I've now read the spec sheet. The Hydraulic ram is then being lifted by applying force to the back of piston (the lesser surface area), the ram/system is fitted with a pressure relief valve (which I assume if actuated will spray/squirt hydraulic fluid to atmosphere.
I would suggest that if this unit was used in Australian outback roads, vibrations would actuate relief valve causing not only fluid loss but reducing the effect of lift therefore would negate the lift.
Hydraulic systems and dust/dirt/mud are not ideal - positioned on drawbar the unit is in a position to be coated with dirt/dust/mud - again not ideal.
The fitment of ESC would be a much better (probably even cheaper) option.
Adherence to utilising capable tow vehicle and correct loading of caravan is the sensible option.
As usual Possum, you're correct. Again I will say that a WDH is used only to make a vehicle do things for which it was never designed. By recommending use of a WDH manufacturers are effectively admitting that their cars are not up to the task, usually because of low rear-axle carrying capacity. Get a better car or a smaller van. Simple. Dreaming of using a car with a GCM of 6000kg to safely tow 3500kg as a PIG trailer is stupidity in the extreme. LaLa Land stuff. Cheers
The WDH is attached to the tow ball.
The ram is attached to the drawbar.
The tow hall receiver is attached to the drawbar and seated o0ver the toe ball.
Therefor as the ram extends, the WDH is forced down, increasing the angle of the drawbar with respect to the WDH. The forces generated must tend to force the tow ball receiver from the tow ball.
The ram does not extend when this ridiculous contraption is used, but retracts, thus lessening the angle between the composite bars and the drawbar. Complicated and no doubt expensive way to add much weight to your caravan for little nett gain. Spare me! Cheers