Van Coupling Adjustment

Jack · Veteran Member

Van Coupling Adjustment

ozjohn · Guru

Jack,

Do you have a problem with the coupling as they are supplied to the trailer manufacturer already correctly adjusted to suit a 50mm ball?
If a adjusting stud has to be replaced or someone has being plating with the stud then the following should assist.

TOW BALL ADJUSTMENT

The coupling handle and ball clamp require lubrication from time to time. Something like WD40 will suffice.
To adjust coupling/ball clearance:
1. Remove ball from tow bar.
2. Release coupling adjustment screw lock-nut.
3. Place ball in coupling and release handle to clamp ball in place.
4. hold shank (Thread)of tow ball and move the ball around in the coupling while slowing tightening (Clockwise) the adjusting screw with a large screwdriver until the ball stops moving.
5. Back off (Anti-clockwise) the adjustment screw half a turn. Then while holding the screw so it can't move, tighten the lock-nut.
6. re-assemble ball back on to tow bar at least 140Nm (Very, Very, tight) and lubricate ball with a light coating of grease or drylube.
Note: If coupling still to tight on the ball, back off screw another quarter turn.
best of luck.

Cheers Ozjohn

Yuglamron · Guru

OzJohn has said it all while I was writing my version.

-- Edited by Yuglamron on Tuesday 17th of June 2014 09:30:49 AM

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

There are occasions where the coupling will not let go of the towball this is not because your coupling is too tight all you need to do is move you vehicle either forward or back just a tiny amount, for instance you rig is facing slightly down hill the van is trying to push the car so with the van chocked you just ease the car back to take the load off the towball.
Cheers
David

Jack · Veteran Member

Thanks for the replies I took delivery of my Jayco caravan of in October and had not checked the van coupling. On a recent nite stop a more experienced caravaner who had been assisting me to reverse into my site pointed out that the adjusting screw was not touching the ball at all. I therefore adjusted it so that the screw was just poking out into the coupling then greased the ball.

hako · Guru

It's been my experience and also that of some others that adjusting the bolt as per the above method can result in the bolt head taking much of the strain and then either snapping off or grooving the ball. I'd suggest you read the attached link:
www.caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php
I should add that I have the utmost respect for what ozjohn writes and I reckon he is an expert, but in this matter I feel that not all towballs are manufactured equal. I chewed up 2 towballs and 2 adjusting bolts with the above method - this may be due to something wrong in my ALKO coupling but since I stopped adjusting the bolt and ensured it did not touch the head at all I've had no problems in the 12000km I've towed.

Bevandy2 · Senior Member

Oz John's on the money, (he paid me to say that) but he's right, I only ever adjusted ours the one time, using a spare 2" ball, I left just a smidgeon of play (barely discernible) when wriggling the ball around, to ensure it wasn't binding.
I always use a smear of WB grease on the ball.

Bevan