If I do not do a welding build up on my existing Hitch, I have 2 alternatives a Milford or a Mr Hitch unit (both steel). A HR unit (Cast Steel I understand) is not an option because they (now) do not make hitches with longer shanks, My current shank measures 30 cm from the center of the pin to the center of the towball, to cater for the rear mounted spare wheel.
Both Hitchs are similar with the bars coming out under the hitch, Mr Hitch is a bit cheaper, but both compared to HR at $800 ( less $50 promo if purchased in Nov) price is not relevant.
275KG (600LB) WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - HITCH TOW BAR CARAVAN LOAD LEVEL...
KIT COMES COMPLETE WITH SOLID STEEL SHANK, BALL MOUNT / HEAD ASSEMBLY, INSTRUCTIONS, ETC. SEE PARTS PICTURE. (NO...
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Monday 13th of November 2017 01:05:47 PM
macka17 said
02:29 PM Nov 13, 2017
Hi Pete.
HR do TWO weight Sized hitches. AND. 2 different length arms. I have\had both. Here's both a 500kg and 700kg arm. with an old "Original "Reece. Head. You weld head to shank at height required. I think I had 12 or 13. 2.5mm, 316 rods in there. Full fill and cap welds all round. (Windy. messy)
The shorter arm unit I sold on with 17ft Campass pop top yrs ago.
Last shot. My $12thou, Coromal beside pool on back drive.
In Hibernation.
You can see the Hot\cold pipes coming up from under. In front of door.
Hottap, HWS service mounts on wall in front of door. Coupled to services in van and rear shower. Nice and neat.
Too much backward lean to mount on front of van safely.
-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 13th of November 2017 02:38:28 PM
MacKa new HR Shanks only come in 1 size I am told, my shank is similar to yours all solid steel but a lot longer. The new HR Shanks are I understand cast steel, so no welding/cutting etc. and with my current towball can adjust the angle as well as the height via Cams/bolts.
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Monday 13th of November 2017 02:40:16 PM
rockylizard said
03:19 PM Nov 13, 2017
Gday...
GEEZ Macka, that hitch must be older than you Pretty rough weld too it looks.
The last HR hitch I used looked like this -
... a much better construction and with plenty of adjustment.... and that was nearly 10 years ago before I got the Landy.
Cheers - John
macka17 said
03:21 PM Nov 13, 2017
Hey. I use Current, Cammed\bolts head, Just showing OLD original "REECE". Pre Aust. in all it's old design glory.
I've actually had to replace the through bolts (H\T) On cams once. Bent bottom one on heavy corrugations one yr with Roadstar on back.
I have Cast rods If you want some. You CAN weld. IF have provision for pre heating and holding heat after. CIG "Castcraft 100" 2.5mm. also a kit of Bohler "FOX" Special purpose rods for all types of welding most materials made of metal. It's the ovens you need to do it in. Here. Below.
And how about the one below after 7 months of doing nothing much. Nice "neat and tidy bench hey. Called frustration with yourself.
Start things and can't do... Grrrrrrrrrr.
John.
That Hitch is around 35 yrs old. Minimum.
Not long AFTER Hayman bought and modified. to sell what he sells now.
You bought the kit. Mounted shank. slip head up\down to suit your trailer ball height.
and started welding. Rough as. (Typical US of A hey)
There was a LOT of fill there.
Outside on drive in open with 25+ knot Trade winds continuously blowing.
No shield at the time. Missus out for day. Old Peerless stick set.
I tried MIG first. yeaa.
PS.
That weave above gussset. was .
When I got it. there was a crack down the vertical weld ??.
I gouged it. Filled it with a coupla runs then did a cover weave on top to help it along. Justin'.
Only out of strong wind shielding I had was the set, and that's on wheels.
Thought I'd done well really. Plenty of penetration.
It towed a 5 ton trlr round for a coupla yrs after that with truck
on Dave's Vineyard.
-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 13th of November 2017 03:31:37 PM
-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 13th of November 2017 06:43:20 PM
Peter can't you just replace the "ball mount head" and keep your extended shank? Stuff pops up in reasonable condition on Gumtree and similar... alongside the worn out and overpaid comedy items
If not, the Camec Pro Series is a good buy. Check Caravans Plus... I think $420. Cheers, Steve
PeterInSa said
05:10 PM Nov 13, 2017
Thanks Steve, will follow up the Camec Pro and Gumtree/ebay.
macka17 said
06:50 PM Nov 13, 2017
Wouldn't be too hard to fabricate a head Pete. 5\8th-3\4 plate.
Plasma profile and cut the holes.
weld together on C channel or fabricated U.
Stick in Pottery oven for a while and quench.
Half the fun is making them mate.
I'm pissed I can't weld anymore.
Big Mal said
07:01 PM Nov 13, 2017
Look around at the 2nd hand stuff, most of it is hardly used in most cases.....................bought mine pre loved, good nick and saved a heap.
PeterD said
07:54 PM Nov 13, 2017
PeterInSa wrote:
A HR unit (Cast Steel I understand) is not an option because they (now) do not make hitches with longer shanks, My current shank measures 30 cm from the center of the pin to the center of the towball, to cater for the rear mounted spare wheel.
Where did you glean this from? Their catalogue I downloaded today has both lengths listed for the Classic bars. CaravansPlus still have both lengths for sale.
In any case the 30" bars are the standard length. That is the only length they produce the standard bars in. The 27" bars are the short length and the ones you don't see in common stock.
PeterD said
08:01 PM Nov 13, 2017
Barboots wrote:
Peter can't you just replace the "ball mount head" and keep your extended shank?
Peter, Check out BTA bars in Boronia, Vic. They are a well respected specialist outfit, beautifully made bars and WDH's and a lot less expensive than HR. They supplied both my bar and WDH and they cut my shank to size (solid steel). I have ESC on the van so didn't need the sway ball.
PeterInSa said
09:26 AM Nov 15, 2017
Re ( Yes the heads are available from CaravansPlus. ) Yes the 70013 is available, I need the 70010 that does not exist anymore. ( except interstate on Gumtree/ebay)
and thanks for all the above input.
Peter
PeterInSa said
07:55 PM Nov 16, 2017
For Info, Until the 30th of November Hayman Reese are offering a Free $50 Coles Myer Gift Card with the purchase a 600lb, 800lb or 1200lb Kit under their Weight Distribution Promotion. I probably will not take up their offer, but will just buy the Head (cradle) and the Torsion Bars only(not the hockey Stick type) which will cost the same as a complete kit. My thinking at the moment is to use my existing Steel Shank. My Torsion bars will not fit the new Head/cradle.
Please confirm with your seller that they will honor/their involvement with this promotion. After the purchase you need to visit their promo site to claim your reward and I think you need to send a scanned copy of your receipt.
If I do not do a welding build up on my existing Hitch, I have 2 alternatives a Milford or a Mr Hitch unit (both steel). A HR unit (Cast Steel I understand) is not an option because they (now) do not make hitches with longer shanks, My current shank measures 30 cm from the center of the pin to the center of the towball, to cater for the rear mounted spare wheel.
Both Hitchs are similar with the bars coming out under the hitch, Mr Hitch is a bit cheaper, but both compared to HR at $800 ( less $50 promo if purchased in Nov) price is not relevant.
Comments appreciated on the 275Kg units
Peter
Milford Weight Distribution Hitch 800lb with Friction SWAY CONTROL 909928 ...
275KG (600LB) WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - HITCH TOW BAR CARAVAN LOAD LEVEL...
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Monday 13th of November 2017 01:05:47 PM
Hi Pete.
HR do TWO weight Sized hitches. AND. 2 different length arms.
I have\had both.
Here's both a 500kg and 700kg arm. with an old "Original "Reece. Head.
You weld head to shank at height required.
I think I had 12 or 13. 2.5mm, 316 rods in there.
Full fill and cap welds all round. (Windy. messy)
The shorter arm unit I sold on with 17ft Campass pop top yrs ago.
Last shot. My $12thou, Coromal beside pool on back drive.
In Hibernation.
You can see the Hot\cold pipes coming up from under. In front of door.
Hottap, HWS service mounts on wall in front of door. Coupled to services in van and rear shower. Nice and neat.
Too much backward lean to mount on front of van safely.
-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 13th of November 2017 02:38:28 PM
MacKa new HR Shanks only come in 1 size I am told, my shank is similar to yours all solid steel but a lot longer. The new HR Shanks are I understand cast steel, so no welding/cutting etc. and with my current towball can adjust the angle as well as the height via Cams/bolts.
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Monday 13th of November 2017 02:40:16 PM
Gday...
GEEZ Macka, that hitch must be older than you
Pretty rough weld too it looks. 
The last HR hitch I used looked like this -
... a much better construction and with plenty of adjustment.... and that was nearly 10 years ago before I got the Landy.
Cheers - John
Hey.
I use Current, Cammed\bolts head,
Just showing OLD original "REECE". Pre Aust. in all it's old design glory.
I've actually had to replace the through bolts (H\T) On cams once.
Bent bottom one on heavy corrugations one yr with Roadstar on back.
I have Cast rods If you want some.
You CAN weld. IF have provision for pre heating and holding heat after.
CIG "Castcraft 100" 2.5mm.
also a kit of Bohler "FOX" Special purpose rods
for all types of welding most materials made of metal.
It's the ovens you need to do it in.
Here. Below.
And how about the one below after 7 months of doing nothing much.
Nice "neat and tidy bench hey. Called frustration with yourself.
Start things and can't do... Grrrrrrrrrr.
John.
That Hitch is around 35 yrs old. Minimum.
Not long AFTER Hayman bought and modified. to sell what he sells now.
You bought the kit. Mounted shank. slip head up\down to suit your trailer ball height.
and started welding. Rough as. (Typical US of A hey)
There was a LOT of fill there.
Outside on drive in open with 25+ knot Trade winds continuously blowing.
No shield at the time. Missus out for day. Old Peerless stick set.
I tried MIG first. yeaa.
PS.
That weave above gussset. was .
When I got it. there was a crack down the vertical weld ??.
I gouged it. Filled it with a coupla runs then did a cover weave on top to help it along. Justin'.
Only out of strong wind shielding I had was the set, and that's on wheels.
Thought I'd done well really. Plenty of penetration.
It towed a 5 ton trlr round for a coupla yrs after that with truck
on Dave's Vineyard.
-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 13th of November 2017 03:31:37 PM
-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 13th of November 2017 06:43:20 PM
Plasma profile and cut the holes.
weld together on C channel or fabricated U.
Stick in Pottery oven for a while and quench.
Half the fun is making them mate.
I'm pissed I can't weld anymore.
Where did you glean this from? Their catalogue I downloaded today has both lengths listed for the Classic bars. CaravansPlus still have both lengths for sale.
In any case the 30" bars are the standard length. That is the only length they produce the standard bars in. The 27" bars are the short length and the ones you don't see in common stock.
Yes the heads are available from CaravansPlus. They are currently $295. When I went looking for HR parts I ended up purchasing a new set of Pro Series Standard Hitch - 275kg (600lb) Ball Load. I did get them cheaper than the $335 CaravansPlus price.
and thanks for all the above input.
Peter
Please confirm with your seller that they will honor/their involvement with this promotion. After the purchase you need to visit their promo site to claim your reward and I think you need to send a scanned copy of your receipt.
Peter