Has anyone personally had a hitch failure, towbar, ball coupling etc., lot of talk about shackles & ratings as such.
Hard to believe with set ups as they are that they could fail to this extent, talking about a set up with all parts up to standard.
Joda
several years ago in WA a 4x4 vehicle towing a camper trailer flew past us. 10 minutes later we came across them pulled up on the side of the road looking very bewildered. Their towball had disappeared. In the drivers strive for perfection he had cut the bottom inch off the towball that protruded below the towball nut. Luckily we carried a spare which was returned to us at the next servo at Cue.
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
Self inflicted, a locknut would have helped! It seems to worry the authorities that vans are going to come adrift any old time, breakaway setups, chains etc. Yet none of the hitch setup is foolproof (or idiot proof) you can buy your own towbar, ball etc from most auto parts suppliers & fit it yourself if so inclined, are all towbars, tow balls , couplings created equal? Your average first timer probably would,nt know if the gear is properly rated on a used van, you are basically relying on a 18m.m. stud for the whole shebang,
Worrys me sometimes
Joda
Yes it is surprising that all vital suspension and steering parts must have a self locking nut or split pin but the main ball holding the two halves of of a combination car/van does not ???? Makes no sense to me. I would have one there.
Joda, you are worried and that will keep you safe as you will check things regularly
I use a steel spring washer (like this) between the nut and tow tongue ... I have never had a tow ball come loose. Maybe because I also check it, and all other components of the 'towing mechanism' regularly.
It is the amount of inspection and checking that ensures EVERYTHING on your vehicle/van that helps to minimise "failure" ... wheels have fallen off vehicles due to poor inspection, or tensioning, of wheel studs fer instance.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Must have a spring washer as per the post above. Balls are usually sold with them and they are as effective as a nylon nut if done up correctly.
An 18mm high tensile bolt has enormous shear strength and certainly the average caravan is not going to break it even in single shear as in the situation of a tow ball.
There have been some off road hitch failures. One was reported on the internet a few years ago when a weld failed and it was found that the particular hitch at the time had had several similar failures. I did have pictures but can't find what I have done with them. Can't remember the brand of hitch but will see if I can find it.
I have also seen an incorrectly fitted tow bar part company with the car.
I do not want to start a discussion, but in engineering a spring washer is not considered a locking device and cannot be substituted for a self locking nut or a split pin, if so specified. So why would you be happy with one on your main rig connection.
What is worse IMHO is the fact that the continuous turning of the coupling on the ball tends to turn the ball and must tend to loosen it. That combination is not accepted anywhere else on a vehicle.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 2nd of September 2018 05:16:50 PM
A nylock nut should only ever be used once, then through it in the bin.
I use an AT35 hitch wouldn't ever use a ball. In my life time had two tow balls
sheer but that was in extreme conditions with only a off road trailer wouldn't
of wanted a van behind.
