Towball height

meetoo · Guru

Towball height

RustyD · Guru

That's when you need to buy a tow bar hitch to lower or raise your tow bar so all is well. Something like this www.autobarn.com.au/pro-series-ball-mount-towbar-ac31643

Dick0 · Guru

Yes John, I had the same "problem". I believe it does not apply so seriously these days.

The top of my towball is 57cm from ground level unladen and unhitched. With vehicle loaded and caravan loaded and about 7% at towball weight both tug and den are matched and at even level.

The towball top height bottoms out at about 55/56cm with a Weight Distribution Hitch fitted. The ATM of the Den is 1850kg (nearly at max weight) and Tug has plenty to spare.

I know many others whose towball height is higher than you quoted.

Hope this helps. smile

swamp · Senior Member

Hi
Most people most of the time read this tech point incorrectly !!

This height issue comes up very very often in online forums .

Misunderstood greatly .

The tow hitch must be able to be be adjusted to this height ,this does not stop u operating at different heights . MANY MANY trailers have a higher or lower hitch height .

Eg Hayman Reese can be purchased with many different hitch heights .

The writings basically are referring to fixed height tow balls /tow bars

-- Edited by swamp on Friday 5th of January 2018 08:32:37 PM

meetoo · Guru

Well Swamp, that would make sense but then that rule seems like a completely sensless and pointless rule. Among many others smile

Thanks.

Cheers, John.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

meetoo wrote:
This guide states that the center of the tow ball needs to be between 350 mm and 460 mm high from the ground. Can this be right?

Yes, that is the law.

And every ball used MUST be able to be adjusted to that height to be legal. That does NOT include going out and buying another piece of hardware, but using what is fitted to the vehicle.

Without such a standard it would be impossible to have safe hitching of hired trailers and the like.

Note that it only applies to 50mm balls. Any other hitch can be any height that the owner chooses.

Cheers,

Peter

RustyD · Guru

On level ground shouldnt the a-frame be parallel when placed 0n the ball? On my Ranger it all lines up. On my Falcon the ball had to higher to tow my van but lower to tow a small trailer. So I has a goose neck like the following that I used turn around.

www.supercheapauto.com.au/store/trailer/tow-hitches/1021408%2C-ProductSummaryPurchases

PeterD · Guru

RustyD wrote:
That's when you need to buy a tow bar hitch to lower or raise your tow bar so all is well. Something like this www.autobarn.com.au/pro-series-ball-mount-towbar-ac31643

Be careful. Those hitches are only good for 1500 kg or 2,000 kg. The tow capacity of that one is not stated but there is another on that page that has a rating of 2,000 kg as is the adjustable one in the link in your latter post. These are not much good for dual axle vans, that is where replacing the whole hitch comes into play.

OutbackMK · Senior Member

My truck and van both have lifts and larger offroad 16" wheels so heights are not within guidelines but the ball and couplings are even heights. Jayco said that the van has been design approved with heights outside of the stated limits. I guess this is a bit like vehicles that have been "Engineered" to have modified GVMs etc.
I know my friends JB was recalled to have his number plate remounted to suit compliance.

tastourer · Member

The Jayco van may have been approved for use outside the stated limits but your vehicle hasn't been.

swamp · Senior Member

hi
The rule is more for TOW BAR MAKERS GUIDELINES .

WHERE IT APPLIES TO END USERS [consumers] is u cannot change towbar permanently to another height . Using mutlti height pin hitches is ok .
Both a van /trailer and car are fine

IT PROVES HOW MANY DONOT MATCH HITCH TO COUPLING HEIGHT
SIT loaded van level . Reverse loaded car up ,, ADJUST the ball height . [then asses for levellers etc ]

Eg car trailer with very low 16 inch deck height the hitch still has to be of a reasonable height otherwise it bottoms out going thru drains / driveways etc . You must have a goose neck/ stepped draw bar .

For the extremely low trailers its possible but those trailers are not common .

WAssa41 · Senior Member

Refer to Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/00 Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006

5.2.3.2. For MA and MB (Passanger cars) group vehicles fitted with a 50 mm Ball Coupling the
height to centre of the ball determined in the laden condition must be
between 350 and 420 mm.

meetoo · Guru

WAssa41 wrote:
Refer to Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/00 Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006
5.2.3.2. For MA and MB (Passanger cars) group vehicles fitted with a 50 mm Ball Coupling the
height to centre of the ball determined in the laden condition must be
between 350 and 420 mm.

So very many new caravan's couplings are higher than this. If they all complied with this rule they would all be very nose down when being towed.

Cheers, John.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

meetoo wrote:
So very many new caravan's couplings are higher than this. If they all complied with this rule they would all be very nose down when being towed.

Then those vans are using the WRONG hitch.

Just like van makers who do not fix the number plate in a legal position or have lights obscured by spare wheels and the like.

Cheers,

Pete

swamp · Senior Member

hi
If u read the regs fully its not a rigid rule . The hitch height cannot be fixed or manufactured outside of this range but can be adusted to outside this range ""temporarily"".
Thats why adjustable hitchs are available . Read ALL the legals and this is what it translates to . You need adjustable hitches to suit all trailers

This subject has been done to absolute death previously . A sticky needs to be done .

tastourer · Member

It is an Australia wide standard and the range is 350 to 420mm, end of story.

I love experts who make their own rules.

rockylizard · Guru

tastourer wrote:
It is an Australia wide standard and the range is 350 to 420mm, end of story.
I love experts who make their own rules.

Gday...

Sometimes it takes a while hmm ... and often it is best to demonstrate how a regulation is indeed fact...

According to the Australian Design Rules, the tow ball height should be anywhere between 350 mm and 460 mm from the ground.

What to Do if the Tow Ball is High
If you have an adjustable tow ball assembly, simply lower the tow ball on the bracket so it stays well within legal limits. Certain towbars are approved for use with drop plates. If youre not sure how to address this problem, speak to both the vehicle manufacturer and the towing bracket manufacturer to see which option is best for you.

What to Do if the Tow Ball is Low
Low tow ball problems are generally seen in lowered sports suspension vehicles. Ask a towbar specialist to fit it higher if possible. If not, fix the rear suspension of the vehicle. You will have to professionally install stiffer springs or spring assisters to raise the rear end of the vehicle. Sometimes, its not the tow ball height that's incorrect. Its the trailer coupling height that's wrong. Measure and modify the coupling height to solve the problem. Adjusting the towbar height is no easy task. Its best to get professional help to make sure you're in compliance with all the rules and regulations.

Read all about it here

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 8th of January 2018 04:09:07 PM

tastourer · Member

I am not disputing the fact that the towball can be adjusted to put it within the limit.

The original statement was - Many new vans with a 6 inch chassis and 6 inch a frame are higher than this.

You cannot simply raise your towball height to suit the van as in this statement - can be adusted to outside this range ""temporarily"".

For the van to sit level the coupling height on the van has to also fall within the limits and many vans, particularly off road, don't comply. If some manufacturers have some sort of dispensation to bypass the regulation that dispensation does not automatically apply to the tow vehicle.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I think you missed the point of my post tastourer confuse

I was providing advice that states that a towball must be within 350mm to 460mm .... end of story.

It cannot be adjusted "temporarily" outside that range.

To again quote the information contained in my post "Sometimes, its not the tow ball height that's incorrect. Its the trailer coupling height that's wrong. Measure and modify the coupling height to solve the problem. Adjusting the towbar height is no easy task. Its best to get professional help to make sure you're in compliance with all the rules and regulations"

As it says, if the trailer coupling's height is too high ... then professional help is needed to adjust it to comply.

I would suggest the link I provided is read in full.

Cheers - John

meetoo · Guru

meetoo wrote:
On the website of Everything caravan and camping.com they have a download entitled - The national caravan and recreational vehicle towing guide edition 7.
This guide states that the center of the tow ball needs to be between 350 mm and 460 mm high from the ground. Can this be right?
Many new vans with a 6 inch chassis and 6 inch a frame are higher than this.
Cheers, John.

With the consensus that all the many new vans that have towball heights higher than 460 mm are manufactured outside legislation, I guess that opens up a whole 'nother conversation.

Is it even legal to sell these vans that are not legal on the road?....... Montie?

Cheers, John.

-- Edited by meetoo on Monday 8th of January 2018 10:46:05 PM

blaze · Guru

the law only applies to 50mm ball, there are plenty of other hook up devices
cheers
blaze

Barboots · Senior Member

Good thing I have neither an MA or MB Passenger Vehicle, or use a 50mm ball.

Dick0 · Guru

swamp wrote:
Hi
Most people most of the time read this tech point incorrectly !!
This height issue comes up very very often in online forums .
Misunderstood greatly .
The tow hitch must be able to be be adjusted to this height ,this does not stop u operating at different heights . MANY MANY trailers have a higher or lower hitch height .
Eg Hayman Reese can be purchased with many different hitch heights .

The writings basically are referring to fixed height tow balls /tow bars

-- Edited by swamp on Friday 5th of January 2018 08:32:37 PM

100% CORRECT. smile

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

My truck when I bought it was fitted with a 2" lift kit so when I bought the Discovery, to level out the van, I had to lower the towbar with one of "Those drop units" - it is rated to 3000Kg.
It was "fun" negotiating spoon drains & some driveways out of garages & seeing how long the ball bolt dragged on the road. fixed it finally with a Trigg Bros polyblock hitch.

I asked a member of the "Scalies" at a recent outdoors show in Townsville - he had no knowledge of this law! He knew all about "heavy" vans though.

Warren

Triggy · Veteran Member

infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/vsb1/vsb_01_b.aspx

Section 23 General requirements for trailers

16.4.1: 50mm Ball Couplings

Ball couplings used on trailers with an ATM that does not exceed 3.5 tonnes must comply with Australian Standard AS 4177.3-2004 Caravan and light trailer towing components Part 3: Coupling body for ball couplings.

Ball couplings on towbars are required to be installed so that the height of the centre of the body of the ball coupling is between 350mm and 420mm from the ground when laden (Refer to ADR 62/01). Alternatively, if complying with the requirements of ADR 62/02 the maximum height of the centre of the body of the ball coupling may be increased to 460mm. However, the ball may be installed at any other height, provided it is also capable of being adjusted to at least one height within the 350-460mm range.

The coupling body used on trailers should be designed to be compatible with these heights.

Gary

Bagmaker · Senior Member

I note the specs do not say if the ball has to be mounted on the tongue top..................

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Bagmaker,
If my memory serves me correctly, mounting the tow ball on the tongue upside down reduces the weight one can put on it - some engineering types may be able to come up with the reason.

flyoz · Newbie

The adr doesnt make sense at all
I have a small car with a lowish ball height compared to a big 4x4 for example
yet it measures some 440mm and the van a smalll wind up tourer is dead level??

yobarr · Guru

flyoz wrote:
The adr doesnt make sense at all
I have a small car with a lowish ball height compared to a big 4x4 for example
yet it measures some 440mm and the van a smalll wind up tourer is dead level??

The height restriction applies only to a ball hitch.If you get a DO35,or even the much over-rated McHitch,that restriction does not apply.My car has a hitch height of around 650mm.Cheers