Using WDH System with Off Road Poly Block Style Hitch?

[dagree]

Before anyone replies with "use the search function, Google etc" I've done that and found conflicting answers.
What I'd like to hear are comments from people that have tried towing a 17' Off Road Van with and without a WDH, towed by a 120 Prado (or similar)?

I know they are not to be used when offroad but I have always felt safer towing with a WDH system setup on the black top.

Already have the WDH system from the last van so would prefer to use it than pay extra $'s for airbags etc if the rear end sags a bit when when we pick up the new van on Friday.

Cheers,
David

 

[GregW]

Before anyone replies with "use the search function, Google etc" I've done that and found conflicting answers.
What I'd like to hear are comments from people that have tried towing a 17' Off Road Van with and without a WDH, towed by a 120 Prado (or similar)?

I know they are not to be used when offroad but I have always felt safer towing with a WDH system setup on the black top.

Already have the WDH system from the last van so would prefer to use it than pay extra $'s for airbags etc if the rear end sags a bit when when we pick up the new van on Friday.

Cheers,
David

Hi David,

Not sure if this will help, but here i go anyway.

I have 14 OB, with lots of gear on it for off road and free camping, and im running a awd territory with air bags in the springs to lift the back end. Ride is good and i get no bouncing etc even off road. We did the Great Central Road last October, from Perth to Uluru (Ayers Rock) with no problems, just a rock through a tyre. I find the towing is smooth on both the dirt and the black top.

I have also been told by the caravan place where we bought the van that you cant run WDH with a poly block, im running the trigg hitch stlye.

Hope that helps

Greg

 

[DaveS]

we have fitted WDH to vans with a trigg hitch, but they defeat the purpose of the hitch for offroad conditions as you mentioned anyway. but work fine for the blacktop, having said that, you may need to add airbags when you go offroad

 

[crackacoldie]

I have heard, no first hand evidence though, of the WDH putting pressure on the wrong part of the poly block and causing excessive wear. Just another angle to keep in mind

 

[Bushman]

You can run a WDH with a Tregg hitch but not a Trigg its the car mount bit that is different however you need an adaptor plate for the top of the car part of the hitch with the Tregg, and as said remove the bars in serve conditions

 

[dagree]

Thanks for the feedback @GregW , @DaveS , @crackacoldie and @Bushman .
Guess the best thing to do is see how it sits and tows without WDH first and take it from there.

Cheers,
David

 

[cruza driver]

I've been thinking about this too lately and was thinking about welding a riser plate for the receiver part of the trigg to locate on.

There is a pic somewhere but I cant find it.

 

[Pace]

Thanks for the feedback @GregW , @DaveS , @crackacoldie and @Bushman .
Guess the best thing to do is see how it sits and tows without WDH first and take it from there.

Cheers,
David

Could you stiffen up the rear suspension a little to take up the sag, but not harm the ride comfort that much? Pace.

 

[dagree]

Not sure how much sag, if any, it'll have @Pace . Don't pick up the van until Friday so will find out soon!!!
Had minimal sag with the 16.49.3 behind it but still used the WDH bars with it.

Thinking about upgrading suspension with a small lift kit and possibly airbags at the same time...Using the van as an excuse to the "Boss"

My main reason for asking was that the salesman said we wouldn't need the WDH with the offroad hitch but he didn't actually say we couldn't!!!!!! Will double check with them on Friday at handover!

 

[Matty4]

I towed my 17' OB with an 05 Pajero over some pretty rugged and corrugated roads (Savannah Way, GRR etc) using a WDH. I never even bothered taking the bars off, unless I was un-hitching....hehe.

I had a 2" lift with HD Lovells and polyairs in it. Towed really well and sat level all round too.
But I only had the standard 50mm coupling on mine.

 

[dagree]

Thanks @Matty4 ... Looking at eventually upgrading the suspension similar. 40mm lift with Lovells and Coil Rite bags. Can't see an issue with using the HR WDH on the blacktop with the poly block hitch. If all else fails easy enough to change the hitch itself!!

 

[dagree]

Took the long way home from the dealers this morning towing without WDH setup and it towed like a dream :encouragement:... Got the hitch on the car setup to close the same height as the hitch and the rear end only dropped approximately 25mm. Air bags to be ordered on Monday so shouldn't be a problem!!

 

[ROnEM]

@dagree,

As I had it explained to me, the issue is not the sag in the back of the car and using a WDH to fix it, but rather that the WDH and the poly block hitch have different pivot points when turning. When using a standard tow ball, the WHD pivot point is "under" the centre of the tow ball. With many of the poly block style setups, their mounting system typically pushes the pivot point back 25mm to 50mm. This subsequently has your tow point and WDH points pivoting at different point.

Go the suspension and airbag upgrades.

Cheers,

Rohan

 

[dagree]

Thanks for that explanation @ROnEM and it makes sense after sizing up the WDH bars last weekend just out of curiosity.

New springs, shocks and air bags ordered last week and should be here for a weekend fit-up this week if the Caravan & Camping Show doesn't allow for enough time

 

[Drover]

ROnEM has it nailed also if you have a genuine Tregg coupling all is good BUT if your hitch fitting is an ebay job or whats called "Tregg Like" then get rid of it and get a genuine Tregg or genuine Trigg, the no name jobs are dangerous, the bolt lets go due to poor welding. The Trigg is cast unit and due the it's pivot point I doubt a WD set could work without making a new set up.

 

[dagree]

Thanks for the feedback @Drover. As I said previously I was very happy with towing the van home without WDH bars :encouragement:.
The rear end did sag a bit more than I liked but being original suspension it was expected. Just picked up the HD Lovell's springs and shocks with Polyair air bags this afternoon so can only improve the setup when hooked up.

Hitch is a genuine Trigg with the cast unit. Sized up the WDH bars out of interest and definately won't fit (Anyone looking looking to buy a set )

 

[Drover]

I drag my 14.44.3 without a WDH and the back of the Jeep hardly moves but it has aftermarket springs and shocks but no great lift. 1800kg by the plate but the ball weight I haven't a clue but probably 125 - 150. But I do need to have the rear water tank full to balance things nicely. I have a Trig hitch also and it's a stable tow, proved that when I got hit by a truck recently, van stayed right behind me.

 

[dagree]

I have a Trig hitch also and it's a stable tow, proved that when I got hit by a truck recently, van stayed right behind me.

OUCH

 

[cruza driver]

@BUSH PALACE I can't find it anywhere but I recall you had a pic of your wdh trigg hitch set up somewhere.

Could you please repost it for me

 

[Drover]

The problem is the pivot point for the treg or trigg is about 4 " out from the normal ball pivot point you would have to have an adapter which moved your bars out to the same position. Of course only use on made roads remove out bush or horrible things could happen.