Most will be familiar with the so called marriage saver...the Couplemate. Well I guess it does make hooking up the van a bit more stress free but a problem is that the adaptor plate that attaches to the towbar tongue can allow the towball nut to loosen when a hockey stick or similar WDH is used. This seems to be due to the dimples pressed into the adaptor plate. I've used a 6ft length of pipe on the nut but the action of the WDH bars eventually causes the nut to loosen. Also drilled through the lot and inserted a 3/8" stud but that sheared as well.
Finally fixed it by welding 2 lengths of 1/2 thick square steel bar to the back of the Couplemate which then slip into and bottoms on the WDH head - now I can do without the adaptor and now the towball nut does not loosen.
We have one of those, Barry paid $1 for it on EBay a few years ago. Solid as a rock. I am the one that reverses the car up to the van and it is certainly a "marriage saver". Ours just lifts off and goes in the back of the tug until next time.
Geez Pam, I got ripped off - mine cost $5 at the markets and was in the original box unused with the receipt for $95. I guess it didn't save that marriage.
I have also done a Couplemate modification. Because the newer Hayman Reese WDH won't allow the "Marriage Saver" to seat properly without a special spacer, I quickly constructed a hard wood addition for the back of the Couplemate. I had to cut the steel insert to 50mm for this....simple with angle grinder and then made a "T" section of the hard wood and attached with screws and nuts. (As it's happy hour....not sure what sense I'm making) Anyway here are some photos of the thing.
I have used a Couplemate for some 10 years have not had the problem with the mounting plate under the ball coming loose, though I have a decent piece of RHS that I put over the ring spanner that fits the ball nut and has not moved.
Have been using a Hitch Up Mirror for 10 years or so in conjunction with the Couple Mate, it is a 1 person job at any time, I know many have a reversing camera but that is only on later model vehicles, at least my Hitch Up Mirror does not break down.
