What is the best hitch equipment to replace my old style hitch.

grahos · Guru

What is the best hitch equipment to replace my old style hitch.

yobarr · Guru

grahos wrote:
I have a 2002 jayco van and was thinking of changing the hitch to a safer type,any ideas or experiences would be welcome

DO35...nothing compares.

-- Edited by yobarr on Tuesday 9th of February 2021 05:04:35 PM

rgren2 · Guru

yobarr wrote:
grahos wrote:
I have a 2002 jayco van and was thinking of changing the hitch to a safer type,any ideas or experiences would be welcome

DO35...

X2

Possum3 · Guru

DO35-v3, ensure you get a genuine Cruisemaster not a cheap look alike cruisemaster.com.au/cruisemaster-do35-v3/ There are Asian copies (even using Cruisemaster branding), that may be dangerous.

hako · Guru

Excuse my ignorance, but what's not safe with a standard garden variety 3500kg 50mm towball hitch?

Good Luck.

Radar · Guru

Yes, what not safe about a standard garden variety hitch.

Been around for what seems forever.

For the most has less moving parts.

Possum3 · Guru

hako wrote:
Excuse my ignorance, but what's not safe with a standard garden variety 3500kg 50mm towball hitch?
________________________________________________________________________________________
Standard tow ball Hitch normally adequate. In the event of van roll - Treg and DO35 won't roll the tug as well. Treg and DO35 won't bounce off on rough roads/pot-holes. Treg and DO35 easier to secure against theft (not impossible though). Treg and DO35 impossible to forget to secure tongue.

grahos · Guru

If you have the misfortune to have a roll over the standard hitch takes the vehicle with it,Had a friends wife killed in that situation.

BarneyBDB · Senior Member

McHitch also avoids the roll over problems and much easier to hook up.

Gundog · Guru

duh the simplest coupling to hook up is the tried and true 50mm ball.

bomurra · Veteran Member

Hi Graeme,

The "Alco Off Road Pin Coupling" maybe worth a look. Very similar to the DO35, but designed after, so has some features that may appeal.

Apparently cheaper too, but not sure on this last bit.

You can check it out at this link - https://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/editorial/details/tested-al-ko-off-road-pin-coupling-117355/

It does have a handbrake version also.

Hope this helps

Bob

terriwa · Senior Member

X2 AL-KO hitch Te only problem at the moment is their no security device available. I modified a exsiting device by cutting 20mm off the tube to fit. security hitch.jpg

-- Edited by terriwa on Tuesday 9th of February 2021 11:55:25 PM

BarneyBDB · Senior Member

McHitch demo www.youtube.com/watch

yobarr · Guru

BarneyBDB wrote:
McHitch also avoids the roll over problems and much easier to hook up.

McHitch is nice bit of gear,but increases TBO (towball overhang,or distance from rear axle to hitchpoint) so the weight applied to the rear axle of the car by any towball weight is multiplied....think "levers".The shorter the wheelbase of the car,the greater is this increase.This increased TBO also means increased instability.When I was setting up my outfit,I was offered an almost brand new McHitch for free,by a friend who had used it briefly,but didn't like it.However,after doing my own research I decided the DO35 was the preferred option.Quick,easy,safe and the TBO remains the same as it is with the 50mm ball.However,a 50mm ball has limited articulation,and I have seen too many snapped off at their base to consider towing more than a 6X4 trailer with one.The Al-Ko above looks good too,and,as already stated,is very similar to the DO35.Like Greg,I modified an existing device to provide a level of "security"....photo later if I get time.Cheers

First photo is McHitch,showing increase in TBO. Second is DO35 after serious abuse,but still not broken. Last photo is DO35 after an accident where caravan rolled.The excessive 'rise' on the towbar set-up suggests to me that the car was way too small for the van?

-- Edited by yobarr on Wednesday 10th of February 2021 03:34:48 AM

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

G'day Graeme,
I wrote this out l last night on my tablet & it disappeared before I could send it!!
I've used TREG hitches twice in the past but now have a Trigg Bros poly block hitch - all made in South Australia. The Trigg is limited to 3000kg. It has the same issue that Yobarr pointed out with the McHitch though. Cost was the main reason I didn't choose another TREG.

The std 50mm ball hitch is ok - others have pointed out their safety issues. Without proper setting up, mtce, they can wear drastically, even break (as happened to friends on the Palmerston Highway). I recall it was mentioned on this forum that the ball should be replaced on a regular interval. While they are ok for smooth roads, if you go off road & I don't mean cross country, etc, they do not give enough articulation.

I looked at the Alko hitch - looked good, was a good price but it was made in China. I would prefer to support Australian companies.

BarneyBDB · Senior Member

The McHitch seems to work for me as I am only towing an 1800 kg camper behind an MUX, not looking at towing 3 ton plus. Can reverse straight onto it and hook up without all the "no, your other left" guidance from the wife.

grahos · Guru

Thanks for all your comments and some photos,makes it easier to recognise when you see a photo.

Greg 1 · Guru

I have been towing just on 3 tonne with a McHitch now for going on 6 years and have done about 60,000 ks with it. Best hitch that I have ever used and there is no difference in stability as claimed in a previous post. Terrific bit of gear and the easiest to hook up with as well Won the best hitch award in a van magazines test of a number of hitches.

Bobdown · Guru

DO 35 for me over a standard 50 mm ball, 360 degree articulation, other off road hitches may be similar.

Cheers Bob

mike g g · Senior Member

Mchitch,aussie made aussie design easy to hook up smooth and very well made get height rite and it just slides in and locks ,very well made and yes its about 2 inches longer in coupling,i tow a 20 ft8 van loaded 2400kg with a jeep no problems Mike g

Mamil · Senior Member

I've ordered my new camper trailer with the Alko 50mm ball off-road hitch. Has the simplicity of the standard 50mm ball, and the articulation of the off-road pin-type hitches...

Alko off-road 50mm hitch.jpg

Radar · Guru

Mamil wrote:
I've ordered my new camper trailer with the Alko 50mm ball off-road hitch. Has the simplicity of the standard 50mm ball, and the articulation of the off-road pin-type hitches...

We have fitted one of these Alko hitches as a replacement to the standard hitch that was on out caravan, on our country back roads it improved the handling of our set up noticeably. My thoughts only a worthwhile investment.

Wanda · Guru

Radar wrote:
Yes, what not safe about a standard garden variety hitch.
Been around for what seems forever.
For the most has less moving parts.

Are you still driving around on your horse and cart! biggrin

Yes you are quite correct but things have moved on with technology and there are far far better/safer options available today.

cheers Ian wink

grahos · Guru

Thanks for the comments and photos.

grahos · Guru

I think I will go for the Treg Hitch after using one on a campertrailer,but it did squeak on the block a bit.

Is that a good or Bad decision???

-- Edited by grahos on Friday 19th of February 2021 08:49:13 PM

Possum3 · Guru

grahos wrote:
I think I will go for the Treg Hitch after using one on a campertrailer,but it did squeak on the block a bit.
Is that a good or Bad decision???

Treg very good - you can spray with silicon oil to eliminate squeaking, a lot cleaner than ordinary grease or graphite.

Wizardofoz · Guru

yobarr wrote:
grahos wrote:
I have a 2002 jayco van and was thinking of changing the hitch to a safer type,any ideas or experiences would be welcome

DO35...nothing compares.

-- Edited by yobarr on Tuesday 9th of February 2021 05:04:35 PM

Incorret Yobarr, DO35 are good but ther are at least 2 or 3 that at worst, are equal to it.