|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 14, 2012 9:24:16 GMT 10
I frequent a caravaners forum and many there assert every van should have WDH. I am wondering what the vintage van fraternity's perspective on this is. Do you use them? In particular I would love to hear from Olympic Riviera owners - do you have WDH and did it make a huge difference? I only tow at 80-90 and the van seems fairly well behaved.
cheers, Bill
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2012 10:21:14 GMT 10
Hi Bill,
I agree every NEW van should have a WDH,because they are so heavy,but us with our litle old vans usually dont need one.I have 2 vans ,a new and a VV,and I wouldnt dream of towing my big van without a hitch,but the littly just sits on the back and my ute hardly notices at all.
Its all to do with the legality of our towing vehicles as well,eg a Falcon can tow 1600kg with a standard towbar,and 2300kg with a full towhitch.
Most other vehicles have th same stipulations re towing weights.
Its all a matter of physics,if you put 2 or 300kg on your towball,its going to drop,which affects your steering,braking and headlights which makes for an uncomfortable tow.
This is just my opinion.
cheers
hughdeani
|
|
|
|
Post by cobber on Jul 14, 2012 11:27:30 GMT 10
G'day Bill,
I don't think we as vintage vanners have any philosophical stance against WDH's and as Dean has said usually the weight of our vans don't require their use for distributing weight.
But..... weight distribution hitches are often referred to as “stabiliser bars/hitches” and some of us find them just as useful for that purpose as for distributing weight.
Early vintage vans....particularly the very early ones from the '30s and '40s were not designed to cruise at the sort of speeds we can do on express ways these days, and are often inclined to get up a bit of a wobble at speed or on uneven surfaced roads, or even when being overtaken by large trucks.
Re-distribution of the load inside the van often cures the problem but the use of WDH or stabilisers sometimes makes load distribution less critical.
I have three VV and use the bars on all three... because I find they tow better with them on.
Cobber.
|
|
|
|
Post by penny61 on Jul 14, 2012 13:47:20 GMT 10
Hi, We used to tow an old 16ft Roadmaster.... Dad thinks Betsy was late 60's.... first behind old Landcruisers, and then behind (at the time) a more modern one (84 model) without any knid of special hitch.... Streakie (the Lancdruiser) was fully loaded too, and I remember her being down a touch at the back, but only a little.... One of the reasons my parents bought that particular car though was specifically for towing, the suspension had been upgraded to something by Old Man Emu.. Anyone who has had a Roadmaster knws how...er, solid they are.... I'm honestly not sure how the old cars of the time used to cope with them. I wish I had the pictures. When the family outgrew Betsy, we upgrade to a 23 foot Millard (84 is a good year in our family  ) Dad upgraded to a monster Hayman Reece getup, load levelers, adjustable tow ball hitch.... New(er) vans definately need them. But you have to be related to the Hulk to lift them... I found just the bars in Mum's shed when she was cleaning it out to sell the house... they were HEAVY. When Dad went to get Penny for me, he was doing 100-110km/hr and didn't even know if she was there  in a small 4wd... it was a Pajero, I think... but there was the oposite problem of the car being so much higher than Penny her bum was only a couple of inches off the ground in our driveway... which is flat. I don't think I've helped much.  Sorry.  Vanessa |
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 14, 2012 19:47:42 GMT 10
Thanks to everyone who has posted so far. I know the olympic does not drop the back of my jeep at all - in fact the back of the jeep sits higher than the front.
I have no idea what the van weighs. anyone know.... or I might find a weighbridge some day.
cheers, Bill
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 14, 2012 20:56:24 GMT 10
Hm, I thought my location was on my signature but it doesn't seem to be. I am in WA. I never thought of checking the paperwork. Good thinking 99!
The back of the jeep sits high all the time .... it looks like it is jacked up but the mechanic who fitted the shockies said they were the standard issue. The weight of the van does not make a significant difference to the height. I don't load the Jeep up much because I don't want missiles if we get rear ended, roll, etc. Having said that - it would take a lot of load to bring the back down.... they are solid shockies.
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 15, 2012 9:14:03 GMT 10
The towball is stepped down a bit and the van is reasonably level. I am stingy - I have this nagging suspicion that WDH would be worth doing before doing before our west/east trip in December but am loathe to spend the money. The preparation list is getting long.
Cheers everyone..... Bill
|
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Jul 15, 2012 9:41:47 GMT 10
I frequent a caravaners forum and many there assert every van should have WDH. I am wondering what the vintage van fraternity's perspective on this is. Do you use them? In particular I would love to hear from Olympic Riviera owners - do you have WDH and did it make a huge difference? I only tow at 80-90 and the van seems fairly well behaved. cheers, Bill Hey Bill It did make a difference to my towing with the panelvan. The Olympic had a tendency to move around a bit. Adding the WDH settled things down. Can't really say about the difference with the Landcruiser cause I am always towing with the WDH now. Rather than going for a newer expensive wizzbang hitch, why not buy an older 4 bar model. That is what I use and it does the job very well. While most think of the WDH as a way of lifting and levelling the van/car, I tend to think of it as adding a wider base/join between the van/car. So it will stay more stable. Olympics are light compared to modern vans. The average unchanged Riviera should weigh around 850kg unladen. The extra weight you add and where you add it will make the difference as to how well she tows. Cheers Atog |
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 15, 2012 11:56:50 GMT 10
Thanks Atog - I am thinking more to stablize the van that weight distribution (as Cobber suggested) so an older setup would do fine. I will keep an eye out. It does kinda bounce around a little.
850kg! That is light. I am used to my camper so the van feels like towing a dinosaur to me.
|
|
noblesgarage
Full Member
A Man with many projects Dosen't have a lot of time."Cause He Walks Round In Circles"
Posts: 363
|
Post by noblesgarage on Jul 15, 2012 12:12:46 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by Roehm3108 on Jul 15, 2012 12:42:50 GMT 10
Found this information in the Caravan and Recreational Vehicle towing guide, that may be of interest:
"Some vehicle manufacturers require the use of a Weight Distribution Hitch to be able to tow to their stated maximum capacity. You are legally obliged to use them in such situations. A few vehicle manufacturers however prohibit their use.
Remember Weight Distribution Hitches are not a means of lowering the ball weight, and you still cannot tow more than the maximum ball weight as set out by the vehicle/towbar manufacturer. You should always consult your vehicle owner’s manual for the true towing capacity of your vehicle and match that with the correct towbar.
Fitting of weight distributing hitches is not recommended with over-ride brakes, as the hitch interferes with the application and release of the brakes, and may cause brake malfunction. Neither should they be used in extreme off road conditions."
Ray
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 15, 2012 13:53:22 GMT 10
Wow, that's a lot of emoticons you used there Brian. I do take you point about safety but given I tow closer to 80kph than 90 perhaps the safety difference is not so much.... I don't know. I do know the van is not so smooth to tow so I will get something. Next step.... what to get. I have to wrestle the money from my wife... who wants a pull out awning (which I really don't want to fit).
BTW brian, you say $100 or so - I thought they were lots more..... what are you thinking of that is $100 or so?
Thanks for the info Ray.
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 15, 2012 14:05:49 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Jul 15, 2012 14:24:45 GMT 10
Hey Bill Yep that is exactly what I have. The four bar one. Available at caravans plus as well caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=163$155 plus delivery If you can wait perhaps a few garage sales would get you one cheaper. Mine are from..... 20years ago. My Dad used these for towing All I had to get was the towball fitting..... It had gone with one of the cars ;D Cheers Atog |
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 15, 2012 14:50:05 GMT 10
$155 plus is cheap enough.... it would cost me too much in petrol to start garage sale scabbing (small town). I think I might have to move my foldable jockey wheel to fit them though. There is no welding to fit these is there?
|
|
|
|
Post by fireballv8 on Jul 15, 2012 15:37:39 GMT 10
no welding is required to fit the 4 bar set. the hangers on the "a" frame just bolt on, clamping to the frame
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 15, 2012 18:30:18 GMT 10
Thanks FB.
|
|
|
|
Post by frankidownunder on Jul 15, 2012 22:06:37 GMT 10
I used the 4 bar Camec set when towing my Franklin Caravelle with the Camry, it rode beautifully with little pitching and no sway. The Franklins download on the towball is around 120Kg and ATM 1200Kg so the 4 bar unit is right on the top level of its capacity. Have yet to try them on my new (1996) Jeep GC Laredo so cannot advise from that perspective but would not tow without some type of WDH even with a light van.
Frankidownunder, (Denis)
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 16, 2012 8:28:51 GMT 10
Thanks everyone. I will release the moths from my wallet.
|
|
noblesgarage
Full Member
A Man with many projects Dosen't have a lot of time."Cause He Walks Round In Circles"
Posts: 363
|
Post by noblesgarage on Jul 16, 2012 13:06:03 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 16, 2012 13:45:13 GMT 10
Cheers Brian.
|
|
|
|
Post by colnce on Jul 16, 2012 21:06:29 GMT 10
G'Day Bill, Recently picked up a 4 bar setup, SE Qld, to use on my 68 Viscount and EH. Same as the one on Gumtree. $70 dollars, was like new. There was also a 2 bar $75 on Gold Coast. I havn't used them yet as van still having repairs.
colnce
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Jul 16, 2012 22:37:19 GMT 10
Let me know how they go. Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by takeiteasy on Oct 11, 2012 12:46:06 GMT 10
OK, I have my sway bars. I got the double bar set that ATOG posted a link to. Now I have to fit them. I have posted a pic below. It looks to me like I have to lose my fixed rotating jockey wheel and put on a removable one. I may also be in trouble with my gas bottle and spare wheel assembly. I can't do much at the moment anyway as I haven't even a spanner big enough to get my towball off. Even that electrical plug on the side has me nervous. Help! cheers, Bill  |
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Oct 11, 2012 17:58:12 GMT 10
I have posted a pic below. It looks to me like I have to lose my fixed rotating jockey wheel and put on a removable one. I may also be in trouble with my gas bottle and spare wheel assembly. Help! cheers, Bill Hey Bill You will have to lose the swing away jockey wheel to fit the WDH. But the rest should be OK. The bars might reach back a fair way but the brackets can be moved forward some to accommodate them. Cheers Atog |
|
) Dad upgraded to a monster Hayman Reece getup, load levelers, adjustable tow ball hitch.... New(er) vans definately need them. But you have to be related to the Hulk to lift them... I found just the bars in Mum's shed when she was cleaning it out to sell the house... they were HEAVY.
in a small 4wd... it was a Pajero, I think... but there was the oposite problem of the car being so much higher than Penny her bum was only a couple of inches off the ground in our driveway... which is flat. 
Sorry. 
