Hey guys,

In order to get a refund from a caravan retailer, under Australian Consumer Law (ACL), for a defective new camper, I undertook a two-and-a-half-year lawsuit in a Victorian Court against them. It has been settled prior to the trial that was listed for hearing in Spring, 2026.

I thought you might like to hear about some of the car and caravan warranty and insurance implications that arose in the matter, which may affect anyone who uses a tow coupling that replaces their cars towball such as a DO 35, Hitch-Ezy, McHitch, for example.

Firstly, if you look at the Australian Standard 4177 series, you will find an AS for 50mm towballs, one for coupling body for ball couplings, and an AS for towbars and towing brackets. There are no Australian Standards for any coupling that replaces your towball.

Car manufacturers test their vehicles fitted with a 50mm towball and loads applied to the towball (its called Type Testing). Ill attach a PDF of my cars, if I can. If you replace the towball, whatever you replace it with is unlikely to have been tested by the car manufacturer with your car.

Please read your car manufacturers warranty booklet, and your insurers Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), to see what is not covered unless fitted as original equipment by the car manufacturer. My car warranty book states Examples of the type of alterations not covered are installing accessories such as trailer hitches. My car insurance PDS states We will not pay for any loss, damage or legal liability caused directly or indirectly by the use or application of car parts or accessories which are not recommended or specified by the manufacturer. That will include anything replacing the towball. Look at the same documents for your caravan or trailer, for the same reason, although it is likely the car is your main focus.

Take note from these documents what you will be exposed to if you replace your towball with something else such as a pin or similar that towball-replacing couplings use. You may not succeed with a claim if the replacement component for the towball (the pin), and probably the main coupling as well, is the cause of any damage. My car manufacturer confirmed this in writing with my car, and this was evidence for the Court. Replacing original equipment may give the insurer the right to reject your claim (its called an exclusion clause). Given my own professional management background in the insurance industry running a national liability function the teams who accept or reject your claims if the problem is correctly identified, I would expect your car insurance claim would be rejected. Insurers are not your friends and they only need an excuse.

You will have a lot of money tied up in your car and caravan, so you need to be sure your car and caravan is covered by your warranties and insurance. Please check it yourself and contact your insurer if you are unsure - and get it in writing.

Let us know what your warranty and insurance PDS says.