HOOKING UP

Beth54 · Guru

HOOKING UP

tiger5 · Senior Member

Hi Beth,
I think what you are looking for is called a couple mate .You can get rhem from auto part shops & van accessories shops.If you do get one keep an eye on the tow ball as they can work loose.

brickies · Guru

I also use a couple - mate available from coast rv , it save damage to your Tug when hooking up

Beth54 · Guru

Okay, thanks guys. smile

Covert Operation · Member

rear view camera
can buy unit for $100

Cupie · Guru

Hi ...

Won't help with the camper trailer (the old term) but as I prefer to hook up without assistance, this is my technique .....

Installation

With the van hooked up & the rig in a straight line ..

Fix a vertical strip of black tape to the inside exact centre of the van boot lid. (I use dymo tape)

Fix another two vertical strips to the back window of the 4WD so that..

The first is lined up exactly with the one on the raised van boot lid when looking in the rear vision mirror (& sitting up straight in the drivers seat.)

The second is placed so that it is lined up with the one on the van boot lid when you turn your head and look to the rear over your left sholder.

To use

Raise the van on the jockey wheel to the correct height. In my case this is just above knee level on flat ground.
Fit the "V" shaped metal hitching protector to the 4WD coupling

Start off with the 4WD & van in a srtaight line if possible and around 3 or 4 vehicle lengths apart. As you reverse towards the van keep the 4wd & van markers aligned. The one fitted for use with the rear rear vision mirror works best for me.

I hop out a couple of times as I approach the van just to check on distance & alignment. This enables minor adjustments to my approach to be made.

With a tandem axle 21'6" van you have to be spot on as you can't move the van very much, maybe only a centimeter or so with sideways knee pressure on the A frame as you wind the jockey wheel down .. a thing that I rarely have to do using this method.

ps. When you write it down it seems to make a simple operation complicated .. sorry about that.

-- Edited by Cupie on Sunday 14th of November 2010 02:30:55 PM

Beth54 · Guru

Cupie wrote:

Hi ...

Won't help with the camper trailer (the old term) but as I prefer to hook up without assistance, this is my technique .....

Installation

With the van hooked up & the rig in a straight line ..

Fix a vertical strip of black tape to the inside exact centre of the van boot lid. (I use dymo tape)

Fix another two vertical strips to the back window of the 4WD so that..

The first is lined up exactly with the one on the raised van boot lid when looking in the rear vision mirror (& sitting up straight in the drivers seat.)

The second is placed so that it is lined up with the one on the van boot lid when you turn your head and look to the rear over your left sholder.

To use

Raise the van on the jockey wheel to the correct height. In my case this is just above knee level on flat ground.
Fit the "V" shaped metal hitching protector to the 4WD coupling

Start off with the 4WD & van in a srtaight line if possible and around 3 or 4 vehicle lengths apart. As you reverse towards the van keep the 4wd & van markers aligned. The one fitted for use with the rear rear vision mirror works best for me.

I hop out a couple of times as I approach the van just to check on distance & alignment. This enables minor adjustments to my approach to be made.

With a tandem axle 21'6" van you have to be spot on as you can't move the van very much, maybe only a centimeter or so with sideways knee pressure on the A frame as you wind the jockey wheel down .. a thing that I rarely have to do using this method.

ps. When you write it down it seems to make a simple operation complicated .. sorry about that.

-- Edited by Cupie on Sunday 14th of November 2010 02:30:55 PM

Thanks Cupie. I'm one of those people who needs to see it done to understand the method. Dumb, I know. I'll forward this to my son so he can show me.

VHW · Senior Member

I think this is the link you were looking for Beth, has a few other ideas as well as those already posted here, see;

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=51933&p=3&topicID=38515888

-- Edited by VHW on Sunday 14th of November 2010 04:48:14 PM

Beth54 · Guru

Aha! That's it!

Thanks VHW.

Cruising Granny · Guru

There's a tow ball guidance gadget called a "marriage saver".
I don't go to Cupie's extreme, but I do line up a couple of spots on the van in relation to the back of the tug in my mirror. This morning I got it first pop.
Sometimes I'm half a ball out and like Cupie says, it's hard to push a tandem axle van just that little bit to put the van hitch over the ball.

Beth54 · Guru

Even though Gypsy is not all that heavy, she's still difficult for me to push around. So I've recently put a jockey wheel on her.

I've looked for the Jendac reversing guide someone mentioned in a previous thread, but can't find it online. It sounded pretty simple.

I found the couple mate online, but I don't think I need to go to that extent/cost.

VHW · Senior Member

Regards the Jendac Beth, might pay to give them a ring on the number shown or email them and ask them where they are available in your state or how much to post to you etc, they are worth the money which isn't very much anyway, mine has been invaluable.

Jenbac Reversing Guides
184 Railway Pde, Bayswater, WA 6053
Tel: 08 9473 0260
Email: georgeh4@tpg.com.au

-- Edited by VHW on Monday 15th of November 2010 03:54:51 PM

Beth54 · Guru

VHW wrote:

Regards the Jendac Beth, might pay to give them a ring on the number shown or email them and ask them where they are available in your state or how much to post to you etc, they are worth the money which isn't very much anyway, mine has been invaluable.

Jenbac Reversing Guides
184 Railway Pde, Bayswater, WA 6053
Tel: 08 9473 0260
Email: georgeh4@tpg.com.au

-- Edited by VHW on Monday 15th of November 2010 03:54:51

Sorry I've been so slow getting back on here. A friend has been visiting for a few days.

Thanks for that VHW.

Delta18 · Guru

If they can be had "for as little as $100" then you can not get better than a reversing camera.

Since I fitted mine I have had no problems hitching up alone, from any angle. You can see exactly where you are going.

Of course as an added benefit you can always see close behind your vehicle when reversing anywhere - shopping centres, friends homes etc. Never again risk running a tiny tot over or banging a shopping trolly etc.

Cheers Neil

Covert Operation · Member

Delta18 wrote:

If they can be had "for as little as $100" then you can not get better than a reversing camera.

Since I fitted mine I have had no problems hitching up alone, from any angle. You can see exactly where you are going.

Of course as an added benefit you can always see close behind your vehicle when reversing anywhere - shopping centres, friends homes etc. Never again risk running a tiny tot over or banging a shopping trolly etc.

Cheers Neil

for as little as another $40 you can have a camera on the van or camper as well. Until you have had a rear view camera you dont realise what a great asset it is.