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The Towing thread

314K views 2K replies 156 participants last post by  SouthernComfort 
#1 ·
Please place your queries and comments regarding towing, towbars, wiring, Brake Controllers, and any other Aussie towing matters here.

This way the information will be contained, and others will not need to plough though other irrevelent threads to find info.
 
#1,081 ·
Thanks for all the replies to my query. I have got things a but arse up as I was starting to suspect! The car is in ATM getting sorted. The sparky has re explained it all.... the no 2 pin is for reverse and has only charges in reverse. The float manufacturer has wired the plug the way float and caravan makers do, and would work with an older car. Apologies for my mistake in the first place!!! ??
 
#1,090 ·
These might help:
 

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#1,089 ·
I wish this forum had a like button á la FB!! Have had a few good laughs at the posts. Picked the car up this afternoon and all is finally good?? The auto electrician went through everything he'd done, including relocating some wiring the dealer had had done. The spare tyre was bumping up and down in it as was directly under it. I can't see any evidence of work being done which is great. If anyone needs a recommendation around the Mornington Peninsula was PM me for details. Oh , and the break away unit was shining brightly ?
 
#1,099 · (Edited)
They must have attached the snatch strap to the bumper bar. If that guy walked away from that he is one lucky dude and the guy who attached it is one bloody idiot.
 
#1,095 ·
All I see is a grainy GIF of some guys standing around a soft top Jeep on the beach. Nothing different on Web View either.

What am I missing here? It's killing me :(
Jeep on the right tries to snatch out the Jeep on the left, Right hand Jeep loses it's rear bar and nearly takes of one of the guys head! :thumbsup:
 
#1,100 ·
Man I'm going to have to rush off to fire up my dusty old PC. I'm not seeing any such shenanigans via my Android phone.

Thanks for explaining that there's a video associated DCRSRT, I was feeling very out of the loop ;-)
If you save the image to your phone it should work. I find I have to save most of the photos to view them on the S3 using the Android app.

So I don't get reprimanded I'll chuck in a tow related question.

My mate just bought a 3.1 tonne van with a swivel type off road coupling. He's looking at getting a GC with quadralift.
I gather he would still need a WDH? What hitch would people recommend?
Also a good Auto Electrician in Sydney.
 
#1,098 ·
Thanks Mark, but it must be at the phone end of things as it still didn't work. Decided to get out of bed for another coffee and to have a look.

I love an epic fail, double facepalm, what were you thinking recovery attempt. Noice...
 
#1,101 ·
bigSkiddy
Hi. I've got a 2014 Laredo Card with QL and ORA2. I tow an off road van that weighs about 2.8-3t loaded. From Jeeps handbook your mate must use a WDH given the weight you described is over 2248 kg or something like that! From quite a few years of towing now I can say Hayman Reese WDH are not cheap but simply the best. He should get the Standard version not the Classic. This has bars that have a right angle bend in them not plugged into a trunnion.

Hell need this to ensure he can use the latest gear eg the dual can sway controller ( which eliminates all sway and wind effect from trucks etc). It also allows for 6 inch van rails tucking the bars neatly parallel and up under them, rather than beside them or poking down at an angle reducing clearance to obstacles like driveways etc.

Setting up the WDH with QL is not documented by anyone especially Hayman Reece or Jeep or van manufacturers. Happy to provide my advice and experience in doing this. Send a pm if this might help.

Bought my Jeep in Sydney but live in Hobart. Used a great 12v and camera and van specialist who knows Jeeps. Try Glen ( business name is The 12Volt Guy). 0438777737. He is mobile and comes to you. He can supply bits and give advice too. Reasonable rates and very professional.

Hope this helps
Max
 
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#1,305 ·
Setting up the WDH with QL is not documented by anyone especially Hayman Reece or Jeep or van manufacturers. Happy to provide my advice and experience in doing this. Send a pm if this might help.
Max
Hi Max,

I'm not getting the improvement I wanted from my Hayman Reese WDH installation, and found the offer above from some time back. I'm interested in your tricks!

My rig tows OK in general... no sway at high speed and quite tolerant of crosswinds... but the single axle 2.3T / 220kg van pumps the car fore and aft a bit more than I'd like on undulating surfaces. It'd be nice if the QL had variable dampening...

Anyway, I've bought a cheap HR Classic to have a play with prior to settling on a permanent set-up. My unsatisfactory installation method was as follows, and I'd like your feedback.

- levelled caravan
- measured car in Aero (QL disabled)
- matched ball height
- connected van
- restored most of lost vehicle height
- test drove in Aero
- found the trailer was steering the car on bad surfaces, general understeeer, and porpoising fore / aft still present
- tried NRH with minimal improvement
- remeasured back in Aero and found van 30mm "nose up"
- lowered ball height by 44mm (as one hole is insufficient at 22mm)
- test drive was better , but still porpoising fore and aft
- gave up with hit/miss adjustments and hit the internet

I'd like to drill the hitch shank so it inserts further... there's approximately 100mm of overhang to claw back there. Otherwise I'm running out of things to try, and the patience for stuffing about with it. I didn't really want to run a WDH, and annoyingly I'm not getting a result which makes me feel it's helping with overall stability.

Cheers,
Steve
 
#1,103 ·
The only apparent downsides to the HR hitch receiver is that it means you can’t fit the rear recovery hook or the long distance fuel tank.
 
#1,104 ·
So can you use the Treg hitch and WDH together?

Obvious reason is to satisfy Jeep requirements in having the WDH and the Treg hitch is already on the van. I realise your not going to use the WDH as you descend into a creek bed.

From memory I think Allypally was towing a huge van without a WDH, is he still doing that?

My mate is a lawyer, so it's best to keep things simple for him. He'll probably forget to connect the WDH in any case.
 
#1,105 ·
Don't think I'd risk my insurance for want of a WDH.
Another worth while addition to think about is ALKOs Electronic Stability Control for caravans. It is now being fitted as standard to a lot of new caravans. My understanding is that there has not been an insurance claim for a caravan rollover on a caravan fitted with it. As long as the caravan has electric brakes it is apparently easy to retrofit. AL-KO – Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - I don't own shares in it!!
Peter
 
#1,108 · (Edited)
From US owners manual:

WARNING!
If the gross trailer weight is 3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) or more, it is mandatory to use a weight-distributing hitch to ensure stable handling of your vehicle. If you use a standard weight-carrying hitch, you could lose control of your vehicle and cause a collision.

I remember it as being 2,270 kg for Aus though.

2012 brochure

 
#1,109 ·
The role of the WDH is not to level the car but to transfer load back onto the front wheels. This tries to restore the grip of front tyres largely diminished by the weight at the back from the ball weight. The attitude of the vehicle is irrelevant.

From advice from some experienced guys, I run lower front pressures as well as the WDH. 28-30 front, 40 rears to restore balanced grip, so the vehicle is a stable platform with all 4 wheels resisting the yawing or wobbling pushed from a van.

Air suspension is great, better than springs for towing but it does not compensate for the weight shift and the balance changes caused by the van.

Most dealers say WDH is not needed because most of them form their view based on Land rover Discoveries I reckon where wdhs are verbotten. Strangely Land rover won't explain their banning of WDH on Discos. No amount of electro-smarts can completely overcome the laws of physics.

Try the Caravanners Forum for detailed info. It has some really knowledgeable and qualified guys who post regularly. Suggest a Google for Collyn Rivers and his research and writings on van loading, stability and wdhs. Ex GM USA engineer he's written for most engineering and motoring journals at some time on the reasons why van loading and vehicle setup are crucial to manage the dreaded wobbles and hopefully avoid anything nastier.
Max
 
#1,115 ·
I replaced my old RedArc brake controller and fitted the new RedArc tow pro brake controller to my Jeep last week and towed with it over the weekend and I was impressed with its performance.

I mounted it in the same spot the dealer fitted the old unit so I had to blank the top hole as the new unit only has a single knob with the LED light built in to the knob.

Have attached some pics of the control box and switch position.
 

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#1,117 ·
It's about time RedArc went proportional. They are playing catchup to Tekonsha.
 
#1,118 ·
The Redarc's off-road mode seems interesting, but I'm not sure how manageable it'd be in practice. Whether it'd be better in very difficult terrain than a very gentle profile on the P3 would take some pretty thorough testing in gnarly conditions to ascertain IMO.

I doubt that the Grand will haul my caravan anywhere near challenging enough to exploit the limits of the P3's operation. I think it's great that Redarc have come up with something unique though... the P3's form factor and brackets are simply retarded.

Cheers,
Steve
 
#1,119 ·
How on earth can you reach that location for the Redarc without having to take your eyes off the road and lean forward and down to reach it?
The whole idea of one of these is to be able to mount it close to hand and be able to activate it in an emergency without having to go fumbling for it.

I would have had the dealer remove it and place it in a more convenient spot, and then demanded a new kick panel. That is sheer laziness in that instal.
 
#1,122 · (Edited)
You have a point but it's not something I want to worry about too much. In an emergency I want both hands on the wheel and fully focused on controlling the car. The brake controller and trailer are going to do whatever they do and hopefully, if all was setup right, it won't upset the car too much.
 
#1,124 ·
I am towing a '11 Jayco Eagle 256 RKS. The dry weight is 6000lbs tongue weight is 700lbs. I use a WDH and sway control bars. The jeep tows great. There is always enough power and brakes. The air suspension is great. I have been getting 9-12 MPG.

Big cross winds can get interesting (25-35MPH) but slowing down to 55 MPH resolves that.

The toughest part was getting the trailer level. After that it was smooth sailing.

The bandwidth the Jeep has is wonderful. From going on Mosquito Pass to cruising down the interstate pulling a 6000lbs TT. There aren't many vehicles that can do both. A true sport utility vehicle :)

Land vehicle Vehicle Travel trailer RV Car
 
#1,125 ·
I am towing a '11 Jayco Eagle 256 RKS. The dry weight is 6000lbs tongue weight is 700lbs. I use a WDH and sway control bars. The jeep tows great. There is always enough power and brakes. The air suspension is great. I have been getting 9-12 MPG.

Big cross winds can get interesting (25-35MPH) but slowing down to 55 MPH resolves that.

The toughest part was getting the trailer level. After that it was smooth sailing.

The bandwidth the Jeep has is wonderful. From going on Mosquito Pass to cruising down the interstate pulling a 6000lbs TT. There aren't many vehicles that can do both. A true sport utility vehicle :)
This is the Aussie Towing thread, but we don't mind tourists dropping by. Your Jayco Eagle is a bit bigger than the Aussie Jayco Eagle.
 

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