Tow ball too high

D

dugite57

New Member
Nov 18, 2015
27
21
3
66
Perth, Western Australia
My tow ball is too high for our 20.64-1 outback and I'm contemplating the solution. Here's the measurements.

Ball receiver height (bottom of ball receiver) 425mm
Tow ball height on car (bottom of ball) 590mm
So I've got 165mm height difference and its proposing a bit. Car's @ GXL 200 series with bilstein/Dobson/coilrite air bags, which have lifted it.

See pics below. I'm thinking I need a much lower (longer) hitch and maybe I need to get the tow ball receiver moved to the top of the A frame. I'm not sure if there's hitch that will give me enough drop, does anybody know of one that I should look into?

I don't want to raise the van so that's not a solution.

Thanks in advance,

Vince

image.jpeg
image.jpeg
 
Axl

Axl

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2014
384
890
93
Brisbane/Bayside
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: bigcol, Smirke, caax and 1 other person
Drover

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,752
19,497
113
QLD
Drop shank only way to go.........don't buy online, you ideally want your tow ball to be about 25mm higher than your van hitch, thats in the perfect world of a well balanced van of course. Try first.
Your ball height at the moment doesn't comply with requirements laid down by some guru in government........590mm is a tad too high.

Here's part of the official blurb;
Ball couplings on towbars are required to be installed so that the height of the centre of the body of the ball coupling is between 350mm and 420mm from the ground when laden (Refer to ADR 62/01). Alternatively, if complying with the requirements of ADR 62/02 the maximum height of the centre of the body of the ball coupling may be increased to 460mm. However, the ball may be installed at any other height, provided it is also capable of being adjusted to at least one height within the 350-460mm range.

If you want to did around here's the link: https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/vsb1/vsb_01_b.aspx
 
  • Like
Reactions: Delano, Rockape, bigcol and 1 other person
bigcol

bigcol

Well-Known Member
Nov 22, 2012
6,814
10,164
113
Swan Valley Perth
if you go to Reece, they also have adjustable hitches, I remember a mate had to buy one for his car once

basically, you can bring the tow ball up or down to suit what is needed.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Delano
boots33

boots33

Well-Known Member
Jun 25, 2011
708
679
93
Maudsland Gold Coast Hinterland Qld
Hi Vince

We had the same issue (like many others) with our van as well. We first went with lowering the ball height on the vehicle, as mentioned above most of the WDH brands on the market offer adjustable height shanks to facilitate this.

To get from your height down to the current van height you will most likely need to use the extra long drop shank. This will make your tongue height very low and then if you do decide to fit a WDH this will reduce the clearance even more as the bars come in from underneath.

We put up with it for a while, banging and scraping on every minor bump in the road but in the end decided to move the plate to the top off the a frame. This turned out to be the best solution for us as it made for a dramatic increase in tongue height. No more drop shank required.

Before you go the drop shank route i would do as some of the others have said above and take your van to your dealer or van specialist and get them to measure up and show you how it will sit on the vehicle.

If you do decide to move the plate to the top of the A-Frame make sure to get the job done by a qualified person/company , not joe blogs down at the local garage.

I know outback expandas are not meant for "real" off road work but i still think the standard hitch height is terrible.

There have been many threads on this topic below are a couple you may like to read

http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/lifting-towball-coupling-on-16-49ob.1338/

http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/50mm-hitch-packer-where-to-get-one.332/#post-2753
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigcol, dagree, Bluey and 2 others
Drover

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,752
19,497
113
QLD
On the money @boots33 , I think the moving the van hitch offers the best alternative.........plate welded to top and long HT bolts thru the original bottom plate holes, all good.

I've always wondered why get an Off Road van when you have to fit a plough in the middle of the rig......???/.......they are damn heavy bits of ironmongrey as well...................Soon know if I will have a similar problem in a few days...
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigcol, Bluey and Delano
D

dugite57

New Member
Nov 18, 2015
27
21
3
66
Perth, Western Australia
I suspect I'll need to get the hitch raised and a longer shank. Does anyone know if the local jayco mob on Albany Hwy Maddington will do this? Hey @bigcol, I've been here 3 weeks, it's a private park but we got a site first try, only 50m from tavern :) just me and the Mrs now but at one stage it was "packed to the rafters" with kids and grand kids, got the population to 8, with two roughing it in the swagg in the annex. Very good spot this, private ensuite behind van, pool for kids and private ramp to beach. The annex has held up, as pegs are not allowed so I got some h2 pine and made a footing frame with tekscrews and it's held up in the strong SW and easterlies ....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Smirke, bigcol and Delano
achjimmy

achjimmy

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2011
3,031
3,401
113
I went through this and made a special block up to raise the hitch 125mm. The 200 hitch is stupid high. A wdh drop hitch will only get you so far and then the further overhang required to mount the ball block means your off road weapon now resembles a truck with a plow attachment!

Welding on the top is a great solution except in the two vans I had/have it meant covering the van serial number! Plus the "fun Police or insurance will be void" brigade will have you second guessing this option unless you get it signed off by the Cheif auditing engineer of the federal roads authority! Of course Iam taking the p155 but you get the drift?

If you do weld to the top don't sandwich bolt them but bolt to top alone. Personally the block worked a treat for me I'll see if I can find a pic if not I gave it to a mate so can probably get a pic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drover and bigcol
D

dugite57

New Member
Nov 18, 2015
27
21
3
66
Perth, Western Australia
Yep, I'm looking for 165mm (wish it was "only" 50mmm). Anyway I've booked it into Northside Caravan Repairs for a WDH and moving of the hitch to the top of the A frame. My crude measuring tells me this will claw back 135mm with a 10mm plate, so maybe a thicker plate, say 20/25mm and a slightly longer shank and "Bob's ya uncle".... It's booked in for the end of February and I'll post some pics of the end result.
Cheers and thanks for the advice everyone, at least I know I'm not an orphan with this issue :)
Vince
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom