WDH Alternatives

PeterInSa · Guru

WDH Alternatives

macka17 · Guru

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

PeterInSa · Guru

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 · Guru

Gday...

GEEZ Macka, that hitch must be older than you hmm Pretty rough weld too it looks. hmm

WDH Hitch Macka.jpg

The last HR hitch I used looked like this -

WDH Hitch.jpg

... a much better construction and with plenty of adjustment.... and that was nearly 10 years ago before I got the Landy. hmm

Cheers - John

macka17 · Guru

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

Barboots · Senior Member

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 · Guru

Thanks Steve, will follow up the Camec Pro and Gumtree/ebay.

macka17 · Guru

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 · Senior Member

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 · Guru

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 · Guru

Barboots wrote:
Peter can't you just replace the "ball mount head" and keep your extended shank?

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.

SouthernComfort · Guru

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 · Guru

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 · Guru

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.

Peter

Milford Weight Distribution Hitch 800lb with Friction SWAY CONTROL 909928 ...

275KG (600LB) WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - HITCH TOW BAR CARAVAN LOAD LEVEL...