With a ball hitch I always wind the jockey wheel down once hitched to ensure the hitch has locked on properly. Had an instance with a boat where the hitch didn't lock on and boat came unhitched coming out the driveway.
Had a good laugh at the comments about the treg hitch. Most painful awkward thing in existence. I’m actually fitting a do35 hitch to my camper this weekend lol
Actually, I am quite happy with my poly block hitch. So far, no dramas hitching up, just requires a small effort to set up prior to reversing. Each to his own, I guess. :)
Good video only comment check length of chain don’t have it too short or too long drags along the ground and if the hitch fails doesn’t drag on the ground 😊
A reverse camera is a must (marraige saver) with tregg style hitches. PRO's : In good condition there is zero slap/slop jarring between the tow vehicle and the van/trailer ie tow extremely well on or off road. Not affected by dust/dirt/water. CON's Pain in the but to hook up. Prone to UV damage (as per vid) DO35 is certainly a leap forward in towing tech!
Another reason for crossing the chains is it will keep that trailer from roaming in the event of an un coupling as it will pull directly towards the hitch.
In the event of a hitch failure, crossing your chains is also important as it helps prevent the unhitched van from potentially flipping the tow vehicle.
A silly question from a new van guy , but I don’t know if my van hitch is the right height for my car hitch .I’m having a little trouble with caravan swaying at the moment.
Not a silly question at all. Ideally you want your tow vehicle and the van to be as level as practically possible when fully loaded. This is achieved by having the right vehicle/van combination with the right suspension in the tow vehicle, correct tyres & tyre pressures, an adjustable or correct height tow hitch, proper weight distribution in the tow vehicle and van & if required an LDH (Load Distribution Hitch). There are also caravan sway controllers available. Although personally I would rather be confident that the van will tow fine WITHOUT electronic assistance than rely 100% on a sway controller that may potentially fail eventually particularly if you have been doing offroad touring / water crossings! Please do not misinterpret what we are saying here: Sway controllers are absolutely fantastic particularly in situations where immediate and dramatic trailer instability occurs due to eg: tyre blowout, suspension/ frame failure, wheel and or wheel bearing failure & separation, vehicle/van dropping off road shoulder ie when overtaking. Just don't rely on them to be a band aid solution for a poorly set up combination. 😉
Not sure why you insist the jockey wheel is removed. Many, many years of towing lots of different vans and trailers without issue. Happy to listen to a reason why.
I have had customers jockey wheels in-wind themselves (wheel separate from pole) while travelling and then they can't get the van off the car. Also congregated travel has damage the jockey wheel as it typically sits in front of the stone guard. Cheers
..Have not heard the case for having saftey chains fitted as SHORT as possible (so as there is no binding on extreme steering angle)..Then in the event of van hitch mechanism separating/failing the short/crossed chains will cradle the A-frame above the road surface without the tow vehicle losing control! I shake my head when all to often l observe saftey chains fitted way too loosley nearly touching the road surface??
Hi Peter, yes too long makes no sense at all. Too short and you will be causing all sorts of stress. I normally try to have the chain sit half way between ground and hitch height.
Very sorry Nomya: External towbar needs the brake safe fitted to the vehicle. Internal towbar can have the brake safe attached on the tow bar (not the hitch).
I took my 50mm off my brand new Traveller Caravan soon as a got it home and fitted the DO35. I don’t do extreme off road but I like it’s simplicity and security. You didn’t talk about chain length. Your chains looked a bit too long to me. Just saying.
If you do another one, can you emphasise, even showing an example (a little skit of sorts) of that annoying F#&ker what wants to come over to help you connect up, or reversing, or have a conversation, or even try to start touching all your hitching gear while you are trying to focus on hitching up, disconnecting, or setting up your van. It happens to us every now and then. It’s when accidents happen. Do gooders, meaning well, just need to keep to themselves. We like to set up, have a rest after travelling, then say g’day to people if they are out and about. Not pouncing on people that are arriving or prepping to leave.
Useful video for caravan numpty like me…who should have watched this first before picking up our caravan
With a ball hitch I always wind the jockey wheel down once hitched to ensure the hitch has locked on properly. Had an instance with a boat where the hitch didn't lock on and boat came unhitched coming out the driveway.
Had a good laugh at the comments about the treg hitch. Most painful awkward thing in existence. I’m actually fitting a do35 hitch to my camper this weekend lol
Actually, I am quite happy with my poly block hitch. So far, no dramas hitching up, just requires a small effort to set up prior to reversing. Each to his own, I guess. :)
Good video only comment check length of chain don’t have it too short or too long drags along the ground and if the hitch fails doesn’t drag on the ground 😊
A reverse camera is a must (marraige saver) with tregg style hitches. PRO's : In good condition there is zero slap/slop jarring between the tow vehicle and the van/trailer ie tow extremely well on or off road. Not affected by dust/dirt/water. CON's Pain in the but to hook up. Prone to UV damage (as per vid) DO35 is certainly a leap forward in towing tech!
Tregs are awesome. Dirty but, never had an issue. But happy with my Do35 on the new van
Good info for for 1st time viewer. Thanks guys
Glad you liked it!
Another reason for crossing the chains is it will keep that trailer from roaming in the event of an un coupling as it will pull directly towards the hitch.
“Don’t get anyone to help you with this”
Me and my best friend looking at each other
In the event of a hitch failure, crossing your chains is also important as it helps prevent the unhitched van from potentially flipping the tow vehicle.
I like the way everybody shows how easy the DO35 is to connect
Its a real pain when you do it solo
I took mine off as soon as I got the van home and fitted my McHitch. travelling solo means it is the best hitch.
I’ve had 5 vans and numerous boats with ball hitch but now have a DO35. Don’t find it difficult to hitch up solo.
A silly question from a new van guy , but I don’t know if my van hitch is the right height for my car hitch .I’m having a little trouble with caravan swaying at the moment.
Not a silly question at all. Ideally you want your tow vehicle and the van to be as level as practically possible when fully loaded. This is achieved by having the right vehicle/van combination with the right suspension in the tow vehicle, correct tyres & tyre pressures, an adjustable or correct height tow hitch, proper weight distribution in the tow vehicle and van & if required an LDH (Load Distribution Hitch). There are also caravan sway controllers available. Although personally I would rather be confident that the van will tow fine WITHOUT electronic assistance than rely 100% on a sway controller that may potentially fail eventually particularly if you have been doing offroad touring / water crossings! Please do not misinterpret what we are saying here: Sway controllers are absolutely fantastic particularly in situations where immediate and dramatic trailer instability occurs due to eg: tyre blowout, suspension/ frame failure, wheel and or wheel bearing failure & separation, vehicle/van dropping off road shoulder ie when overtaking. Just don't rely on them to be a band aid solution for a poorly set up combination. 😉
Not sure why you insist the jockey wheel is removed.
Many, many years of towing lots of different vans and trailers without issue.
Happy to listen to a reason why.
I have had customers jockey wheels in-wind themselves (wheel separate from pole) while travelling and then they can't get the van off the car.
Also congregated travel has damage the jockey wheel as it typically sits in front of the stone guard.
Cheers
50mm is less than 2”. It’s around 1 7/8” we use in the US. Our Rv trailer use 2 5/16”.
This 50mm is wesk
Hi, I’m new to the world of caravanning… on the 50mm hitch what is the nut on top for?
Hi George, that is to either tighten or loosen the hold on the ball.
@@adelaiderv Thanks… does it also adjust how high it sits on the ball?
How do you determine the correct height for the Tow Ball / Tow Hitch for the Trailer you are intending to Tow?
Thanks, there is a video coming soon.
So what hight from ground can a d035 be?
..Have not heard the case for having saftey chains fitted as SHORT as possible (so as there is no binding on extreme steering angle)..Then in the event of van hitch mechanism separating/failing the short/crossed chains will cradle the A-frame above the road surface without the tow vehicle losing control! I shake my head when all to often l observe saftey chains fitted way too loosley nearly touching the road surface??
Hi Peter, yes too long makes no sense at all.
Too short and you will be causing all sorts of stress.
I normally try to have the chain sit half way between ground and hitch height.
You did not show the most important part. Where to attach your breakaway.
You would be surprised, or maybe not, where it gets attached by some....
No surprises here Brian...lots of head scratching though.
There is a video coming out on where to attach based on what type of towbar you have.
Hi where does the blue brake cord connect to
See our new video that shows you.
a bolt on tow tongue--- lol
Really great you showed where to connect the break away cable.
NOT.
Very sorry Nomya:
External towbar needs the brake safe fitted to the vehicle.
Internal towbar can have the brake safe attached on the tow bar (not the hitch).
I took my 50mm off my brand new Traveller Caravan soon as a got it home and fitted the DO35.
I don’t do extreme off road but I like it’s simplicity and security.
You didn’t talk about chain length. Your chains looked a bit too long to me. Just saying.
Treg hitches ate the worst piece of crap I have had the misfortune to be forced to use.
Just ignoring the fact that there is 50mm ball off-road hitches are we to promote the annoying non versatile pin hitch
The reason there is now a pin hitch is to replace the clunky ball off-road hitch.
If you do another one, can you emphasise, even showing an example (a little skit of sorts) of that annoying F#&ker what wants to come over to help you connect up, or reversing, or have a conversation, or even try to start touching all your hitching gear while you are trying to focus on hitching up, disconnecting, or setting up your van. It happens to us every now and then. It’s when accidents happen. Do gooders, meaning well, just need to keep to themselves.
We like to set up, have a rest after travelling, then say g’day to people if they are out and about. Not pouncing on people that are arriving or prepping to leave.