Thread: Tow tongue with big drop required

Go and talk to Rod at Kaymar. They manufacture all their own hitches to suit their towbars and have a nice array of various size tongues to suit. All they need to do is weld one up for you. If they don't have on the shelf, they have the equipment to be able to manufacture one to suit your application (atleast when I worked there they did) so shouldn't be a big deal.

Originally Posted by tempestv8

My Discovery has a particularly high tow tongue hitch receiver (Hayman Reece style).

The standard Disco II tow hitch receiver is under the plastic bumper, but when I replaced the rear bumper with a Kaymar bar, the hitch that Kaymar use is a bit higher - in fact it's smack in the middle of their bar. About 3" higher.

With a 2" suspension lift, this has further raised the hitch, and finally with bigger 32" tyres (stock tyres are 29" diameter), that's an additional 1.5" lift.

So, where can I find a tow tongue with at least an 8" drop, so that my campervan is going to remain level?

Most Hayman Reece stockists that I've rung only offer a 3' or 4" drop in their tongues which really isn't enough to level out the campervan.

Help! BTW, I won't entertain ideas of lowering the Disco.....



Lawrance Lee

Mate just call into a steel fabrication shop, they will knock one up no worries, on that lenght it will need extra gussets, but can't see that being a drama.

cheers Sumo

Just keep using that Great Tent you have......

Originally Posted by lokka

sounds to me like your camper was designed to be towed behind a car and id be looking at it first if it has a beam axle and leaf springs why not do a spring over on it by fitting the axle to the underside of the leaf's this will give you the extra hight for the tow hitch and also give your camper beta clearance for towing off road

G'day guys,

Thanks to all who responded. Regarding the campervan, it is a Jayco Outback, so the axle is already under the springs.

OK this is where it gets interesting. On the road going (non Outback) model, the tow hitch is located on the top of the draw bar.

However, on the Outback model, the tow hitch is located at the BOTTOM of the draw bar.

I queried Jayco about this and they say that this is Aussie design rules and regulations. The tow hitch cannot exceed 450mm from the ground, so with all their Outback models, even though the rear of the frame is off the ground a lot higher, the tow hitch has to be located at the bottom of the draw bar to comply with the Aussie rules.

Go figure hey? Jayco has been fighting an unsuccessful battle with the governing authorities - all Jayco customers who buy an Outback (higher) variety of their campervans have this problem with the tow hitch being located too low for their four wheel drives.

If I get the tow hitch modified, it will void the insurance, according to one of the specialist caravan insurers. Naturally, I don't want to be in a situation where my caravan causes damage to a 3rd party and I'm not covered.....

Lawrance

Not cheap but have a look here

Titan Trailer Brakes

Rapid hitch - about half way down page.



Martyn

Originally Posted by tempestv8

..........I queried Jayco about this and they say that this is Aussie design rules and regulations. The tow hitch cannot exceed 450mm from the ground.........

so i guess all the camper trailer manufacturers just ignore this one then?
possible, even probable...

I understood that the 450mm max height was for the tow hitch on the towing vehicle and that there are other specs re the rear ground clearance combined with overhang length for attached trailers/vans. But this was years ago so maybe is no longer the case.

I don't know if the other camper trailers are adhering to the regulations or not, but I'm going to get a tow tongue tomorrow with a 7" drop, so hopefully that will even things out a bit....