towballs

Hendo · Guru

towballs

signwilson · Senior Member

My brother snapped a towball a couple of years ago so I now replace mine every couple of years just to be safe it is cheap insurance

Olley46 · Guru

Dougwe has broken a tow ball ,I dare say he will comment ,I change my tow ball every big trip, fot the sake of $10.00. Or $12.00 dollars it is cheap insurance.

Lance C

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

My towball survived this roll-over I had.....so did I..I was still hanging upside down in it when these were taken...quality towballs can take a lot of punishment obviously......I still have it..looks fine but I will never use it again....my beloved Landy either.....Hoo Roo

GaryKelly · Guru

What a bummer of a thing to happen. So my question is, are you towing again or do you intend to after experiencing a rollover?

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Olley46 wrote:
Dougwe has broken a tow ball ,I dare say he will comment ,I change my tow ball every big trip, fot the sake of $10.00. Or $12.00 dollars it is cheap insurance.
Lance C

I heard my name mentioned.

I sure did Olley, what happened was it was an old tow ball that had never been used in years of being parked with Bass Straight Weather hitting full on. I had a caravan on site in a caravan park for 10 years with uninterrupted views and weather that is right on the straight so copped it bad, but loved the place. The tow bar and ball were on the particular car when I got it but as I said never used it until I got the Avan. The tow ball snapped at the thread and when I checked it in day light it had simply rusted through.

Lesson learnt mate, check the tow ball more regular or better still just replace it every couple of years, they are not expensive. Could save many $$$$$ or maybe even a life.

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

G'day Gary,
I still tow my Heritage and Horse Float...I have a re-newed very healthy respect if either starts to weave/wobbles.....I guess you all know the feeling.....my Heritage has stabilizers of course however that fully loaded Hire Furniture trailer didn't.. and blew a tyre on a sweeping corner with high winds near Cowell township on Eyre Peninsula..my first accident in 49 years of driving..I have never even had a speeding ticket in that time either, how boring am I?... and driven in all States bar Tasmania at this stage......

If it had not been for my trusty folding pen knife I would still be strung up, upside down, like a Xmas turkey by my seat belt....it was such a relief to cut the belt and fall on my head in the cabin...diesel engine was incredibly still running for a while upside down and I couldn't get my hand to the keys to switch it off.......I will never travel without a folding penknife in my pocket again....notwithstanding what the law dictates...the person who was first on the scene who rang the police, gave the wrong address as Cleve instead of Cowell and I was hanging for some 20 minutes whilst Ambos, SES and Police raced towards Cleve instead of Cowell......

I also learnt to keep my keys for such things as the secure locked towing hitch handy on my car keys as well, as it could not be unlocked by SES to separate from the up-turned vehicle...

As an aside I was a long standing Silver member of S.A. RAA who had never had occasion to call them....I was standing in the farmers paddock after they got me out, and my first call was to RAA to seek direction as to what I should do...their reply, if its an accident we don't get involved, only if its a breakdown...I said there is supposed to be extra cover as a Silver member.......ring your insurers...they couldn't get rid of me quick enough.......I said can you recommend anyone to help me or make a call for me...ring your insurers.....it wasn't working hours of course...I'm now top cover with RACV..I transferred immediately....the insurers whom I had been with for many years without claim of course seized on every loophole.... not your trailer, well its not covered so they would not cover even towing it away...I had to pay to have it returned to Adelaide by truck.........likewise furniture in transit not covered under household etc...none of the accessories on my vehicle not specifically listed were covered, like expensive lambswool seat covers etc...not under contents or vehicle insurance.....the farmer I understand offered them $2000 for my wrecked Landy in his paddock where it had been dragged,and they wouldn't have to move it after it was assessed, and the Insurer rejected that offer, had it towed to Adelaide at their cost where appearantly it sold for $1200...my modern Landy had been in immaculate low kilometre condition........
Moral.....don't look for fairness in an unfair world.....Hoo Roo

exa41 · Guru

Hi Golddetectornomad , what a tragedy and I guess a life changing experience, hope everyone got out without injuries. It seems that companies like you explained are only in for the money and don`t really care about the individual concerned.

KevKim37 · Senior Member

Apart from NOT being tightened to begin with they should be checked Periodically and replaced when seen to be Defective. The main problem I have come across

and seen numerous times is seen when a HR WDH is used and on the standard series when vehicle is operated in reverse or forward on near full lock turns that the

WDH Bars can foul against the Tow Ball Nut. This can cause SERIOUS damage to the NUT and/or BALL SHANK. I have had this happen on one occasion where I couldn't

disconnect the Bars before the turning situation occurred because of the area/terrain I ended up in (I won't let this happen again). The Tow ball ended up with a Bent Shank.

As I mentioned before I have seen this occurring whilst others have also been executing near full lock type Turns/U-turns. Some of the newer WDH assemblies can alleviate

this problem but can cause other minor problems as well. So DUE Care and ATTENTION is required when acquiring these WDH kits including understanding proper installation and

operating procedures.

So keep a close eye on the Tow ball and that will make travelling a little safer.

Cheers Kev.