McHitch auto-coupler

[rambada]

Hi all,

Currently have a DO35 on the car/van, looking to change it to the McHitch auto-coupler. Anyone using the McHitch auto-coupler? Any problems encountered please?

[Homestar]

I’ve used both - the DO35 is better IMO. Nothing wrong with the Mchitch but it takes slightly longer to connect and lock and you need to be within its margin of error in 2 planes to get it to hitch easily. While no big deal if you have air suspension and a reversing camera I’d leave the DO35 on of you already have it.

Also while the locking mechanism is secure on the mchitch the design doesn’t instil as much confidence as a DO35 as with the latter you have the hitch weight holding it on as well as the locking mech - on the Mchitch you don’t have the secondary back up. Very minor as I’ve never heard of one coming off but it’s just the way my brain works.

[p38arover]

See this video. The poster has had a lot of trouble disconnecting when on uneven ground.

At the end of the video, he indicates that McHitch has closed (out of business?).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Xm2QZCeVA

[Narangga]

See this video. The poster has had a lot of trouble disconnecting when on uneven ground.

At the end of the video, he indicates that McHitch has closed (out of business?).

Certainly looks like it - McHitch Trailer Couplings (https://www.mchitch.com.au/)

[RobMichelle]

That’s a bugger, I have the older style and have had it on 2 vans now with no dramas,

[Fattima]

I was just talking hitches with a mate who was in the caravan repair business. He reckons the DO35 is the way to go, they had very few issues with them.

[RobMichelle]

Only problems seem to be when husband blames wife and visa versa when the van comes off, we had 2 up this way last year about 3 weeks apart between horsham and Warracknabeal, road is very “undulating” in places

[p38arover]

^^ Which hitch?

[Pedro_The_Swift]

changed from a normal ball to a mchitch,,

first up, if you can install the pin and R pin,,, it cannot fall off.. cannot.
if the latch drops, the pin can be installed..

my mind boggles how one of these could fall off..

When unhitching I just keep jacking until I can pull the drop bar up,, then just drive away...

I can see now that as long as you reverse along axis of the part outside the uni-joint,, you'll be fine.
It doesnt work as the "Ring Feeder" would suggest...

[RobMichelle]

^^ Which hitch?

Sorry, do35.
the old Mc hitch has a screw down knob with a teethed collar that has a lock lever that locks into teeth so can’t undo, I love it.
The do35 only has the small slot for the collet to lock into, one press on the highlighted red button and it unlocks.
A lot of people love and swear by the do35 and that’s great, I’m just not 100% convinced, and we are all entitled to our opinion.
The alko 50mm ball off road hitch likes to eat fingers, once again if you use one enough I’m sure you get the hang of em.

[Narangga]

changed from a normal ball to a mchitch,,

first up, if you can install the pin and R pin,,, it cannot fall off.. cannot.
if the latch drops, the pin can be installed..

my mind boggles how one of these could fall off..

When unhitching I just keep jacking until I can pull the drop bar up,, then just drive away...

I can see now that as long as you reverse along axis of the part outside the uni-joint,, you'll be fine.
It doesnt work as the "Ring Feeder" would suggest...

Apart from a Treg to the McHitch - Yeah same for me Pedro

[Homestar]

Sorry, do35.
the old Mc hitch has a screw down knob with a teethed collar that has a lock lever that locks into teeth so can’t undo, I love it.
The do35 only has the small slot for the collet to lock into, one press on the highlighted red button and it unlocks.
A lot of people love and swear by the do35 and that’s great, I’m just not 100% convinced, and we are all entitled to our opinion.
The alko 50mm ball off road hitch likes to eat fingers, once again if you use one enough I’m sure you get the hang of em.

The DO35 I have has the locking collar spring loaded so even if the red button is pressed nothing unlocks - you then need to push the locking collar back to unhitch it. Short of a badly maintained unit that’s full of crud and the spring isn’t working I couldn’t see how they can come off but some people manage to amazing things and prove there’s no such thing as ‘idiot proof’ [emoji16]

[PhilipA]

I have the old style drop on McHitch and have not changed to the horizontal one due to my concern about unhitching on a slope .

The old style has to unhitch even on a slope as you raise the jockey wheel while I could see the horizontal one jamming the cross bar.
As I currently park my caravan on a slope this is a concern.
I have used the vertical McHitch for about 12 years on a camper trailer and now my van, and I really love it.
The main advantage over some others (especially TREG) is that you do not have to be exact sideways to hitch. It will drop on even on an angle and a couple of kicks will seat it.
Regards PhilipA

[ytt105]

On my previous van I had the original McHitch and really like it. Sometimes it was difficult to get it to release from the pin if the car or van were on a bit of a lean, but it always DID come off.

On this van I have a DO35 and I think it IS a bit easier to use.

The back-in McHitch, and to a lesser degree the drop-on McHitch do have one negative issue that would preclude me from buying them.

That is the fulcrum point is about 100mm or more further from the rear axle than the DO35 and therefore will not be as safe a towing arrangement.

Regards
Trevor

[Tins]

This bobbed up in my recommendations this morning. I haven't watched it as I'n allergic to towing. Take it as you find it:


https://youtu.be/L9Xm2QZCeVA

[p38arover]

A bit late JT, go back to the previous page. :)

[Tins]

A bit late JT, go back to the previous page. :)

I think it was Don Henley who sang "Don't look back, you should never look back". That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Told you I was allergic to towing...

[Narangga]

FWIW - McHitch website is active again so they appear to be back in business.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

The reason I swapped is the lack of space between the coupling and rear of the car..
when coupled there was a ONE cm gap.

way to close a tolerance for this aged duck.. and the car has the scars to confirm.
with the original Mchitch there are zero issues regarding car damage..

[rambada]

I've just done 7 weeks towing our 21'6 van with this and love it. Great hitch and so dam easy to use. I've read of some complaints re disconnection, but if you follow the instructions it works easy.