Issue with OEM Tow Bar Hitch Height

[Law Maker Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Law Maker]

Hi All,

When hitching the camper trailer to the Prado (I have a 50 mm ball at present) the trailer tilts down at the front due to the height of tow ball. This does make it somewhat difficult at times to get trailer off as there is insufficient height to lower jockey wheel completely.

My initial thoughts were to invert tongue which would have worked perfectly however Toyota inform me the centre of the tow ball can be no more than 460mm off the ground (exactly what it is now).

So what have others done to overcome this? Should I change / adjust jockey wheel so that it can be operated properly and still have trailer a a slight incline? Is there another possible solution?

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Ok reread your post. Scrap what I wrote before. Where do Toyota get their height limit from? There us nothing in the manual that I could find. As I said earlier a standard ball in my hitch is about 100mm higher that that measurement. I know that Toyota will be concerned about roll centre height but I wouldn't have thought it is a problem.

[okkanui Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close okkanui]

Hi, I inverted the hitch tongue (to make towball higher) on my 150 to level out my boat trailer rig. Made no adverse difference to vehicle handling or towing.

[peter2904 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter2904]

I read on another forum that 460mm was maximum specified by ADR. No idea if that is correct.

Peter

[A10 Member Find all posts View Profile Close A10]

This is where the height limit comes from:

Extract from VSB1:
16.4.1: 50mm Ball Couplings

Ball couplings used on trailers with an ATM that does not exceed 3.5 tonnes must comply with Australian Standard AS 4177.3-2004 Caravan and light trailer towing components Part 3: Coupling body for ball couplings.

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.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

That's easy, put the ball on upside down and it complies! So really no problem. Normally I can see a reason for the words in ADRs but this is a bit odd if you are trying to match heights with a 4wd and off road trailer.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Just turn it up the other way.
There won't be an issue with that.
Rules were made to be broken

[Sprocketz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sprocketz]

I've just had a new toyota towbar installed .. when you remove the tongue there's nothing to keep the dirt out. With my previous Hayman Reece bar they gave you a square plastic plug. Does Toyota supply one ? they say no but was anyone else given one from new ? I'm thinking they may have thrown it out ?

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Does Toyota supply one?

No, leave the hitch fitted.

The day I didn't have it fitted I got rear ended...

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I wish the OEM towbar had a metal collar like the Hayman Reece I had on my 95 series, I broke the plastic one on the last outing. I haven't tried sourcing a new one yet, bet Toyota charge some outrageous price if they do stock them.

I don't think I got a stopper plug with the Hayman Reece one Sprocketz, had it fitted by the dealer pre-delivery.

[Dreamer2 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dreamer2]

No, leave the hitch fitted.

The day I didn't have it fitted I got rear ended...

I take your point but I heard somewhere it's illegal to have the hitch in place if you're not towing. Happy to be corrected on this.


Sprockets, I had the same concern and couldn't find a genuine Toyota plug. I just bought a plug from a Disco 2 from a wreckers, quick file to size, sprayed the LR emblem with some Matt black (broke my heart being a former D2 owner) and it does the job nicely.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I take your point but I heard somewhere it's illegal to have the hitch in place if you're not towing. Happy to be corrected on this.

You are correct, however the spare wheel sticks out more than the hitch so you'd be unlucky to get pinged.

[keencdk Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close keencdk]

Yep, ADR's will get ya every time. I would assume by putting in a standard min and max that trailer manufacturers also comply with heights so you get a good match between vehicle and trailer. Ball couplings are not very good when there is a big difference between vehicle and trailer heights and likely to try and pop off when going over a bump if they are already close to their limit.

On the plus side the ADR is specified for Ball coupling types, so when I built my offroad trailer I used a tregg style hitch meaning I can use an inverted tongue, and higher drawbar

[barajak Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barajak]

Hi All,

When hitching the camper trailer to the Prado (I have a 50 mm ball at present) the trailer tilts down at the front due to the height of tow ball. This does make it somewhat difficult at times to get trailer off as there is insufficient height to lower jockey wheel completely.

My initial thoughts were to invert tongue which would have worked perfectly however Toyota inform me the centre of the tow ball can be no more than 460mm off the ground (exactly what it is now).

So what have others done to overcome this? Should I change / adjust jockey wheel so that it can be operated properly and still have trailer a a slight incline? Is there another possible solution?

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks

Much better of putting a decent lift in the Prado, that will help level it up and you won't have to stand on your head to read the specs on the hitch and less likely to hit it with the door.
I take the hitch out whenever I am not towing so I don't dig trenches with it on tracks, others leave it in a a disincentive to get hit. I live in a better place.

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

Hello all,

When I inverted my towing hitch to level up the Kimberley Kamper, I found that I could not open the Prado rear door without hitting the door on the trailer Treg coupling. A 40+ mm lift is called for but i will have to wait a while to raise the cash. So many wants, so little cash.

regards

Ross