17' Series vehicle lift?

[Daniel Peterson]

My question is only a little related to this thread so apologise up front if it would be better placed elsewhere.
For Prado owners: I have just bought a 2014 Prado GXL (Toyota tow bar fitted) and am interested to know if you tow with the hitch in the normal or inverted position. On our first trip away, I started with the hitch in the normal position. The van (17 ft Windsor Horizon) was pretty close to level and I could open the rear door of the Prado. All seemed good however when trying to unhitch at our first stop, I found I could not remove the anti sway bars (four bars - two each side) from the fitting on the tow bar so that I could reverse the van. After a bit of swearing and cursing, finally got the van onto the site. For the next leg of the trip, inverted the hitch which made it easier to fit and remove the anti sway bars but prevented opening of the rear door with van attached. One suggestion I was given was to leave the hitch in the normal position and use the jockey wheel to raise the couple point enough to remove the sway bars. Acknowledge there are many and varied tow setups to suit individual's tug and van but would welcome any general comments.

I also have a 2014 GXL prado towing a 17.56-2 here is how mune is set up, with genuine towbar. The bottom of the door just touches the tow hitch release handle depending on angle

 

[Bluey]

mine are very different reese ones what brand are yours mine clears the door easy your ball looks heaps high is the van level when hitched up ??? now u need a stone stomper

 

[bigcol]

your ball looks heaps high is the van level when hitched up ???

I think its the way the photo was taken @Bluey
but I may be mistaken............

 

[Daniel Peterson]

 

[Daniel Peterson]

View attachment 33171

 

[Daniel Peterson]

What are your thoughts? I think the van is a lottle higher at the front and the van sits a little at the back when loaded.

 

[Bluey]

View attachment 33172

Do u have air bags yet carnt help but think its a bit high as I said but mite be wroung send u pic of mine tomoz looks like air bags will help look at air bag world not that dear or to get fittered

 

[bigcol]

can you drop that hitch down by another hole..........?
or is it already at its lowest?

 

[Daniel Peterson]

Yeh i can lower it 1 more hole so ill load up the prado then re set the angles and hipefully get a more level set up

 

[Daniel Peterson]

No bags yet i thought id see how the WDH goes first and if i need bags or heavier springs so be it

 

[bigcol]

I would humbly suggest
lower it to another hole - making Van level, and ease of opening the rear door
and put some air bags in the rear - taking the strain of the weight, and also allowing you to "pump" them up a bit to keep it all level

 

[Bluey]

sorry bro didn't get around to hooking up van for a pic I do have some already but not of the hitch so will look when the misses can help

 

[Bluey]

there you go @Daniel Peterson 15 psi in my airbags if you measure the car before I hitch up and then after I hitch up its the same soooooo good I look down the bonnet instead of over it if that makes sense a closer pic of the hitch coming I have new pedders springs on the back just standard ones but there better than Toyota stronger not that expensive if u get bags and springs put on at same time don't have new shocks

 

[Daniel Peterson]

Cheers bluey. Thats a lot more level than mine! I will have a play tomorrow with the set up and see if i can get it more level but the rear bags may have to be a go ahead

 

[Bluey]

Cheers bluey. Thats a lot more level than mine! I will have a play tomorrow with the set up and see if i can get it more level but the rear bags may have to be a go ahead

if u have time go to towbar place ask them to have a look with van on I thought I had mine ok got them to check and he changed it heaps hence sitting how it dose can never hurt to ask the pros what are ur level bars rated too

 

[Daniel Peterson]

Well i lowered the tow hitch on the car and pivited the ball and it sits a lot better. I also wound up the jockey wheel heaps more when hooking up the bars and got a lot more weight transfered to the front wheels. So im now happy with how it sits.

 

[Bluey]

Well i lowered the tow hitch on the car and pivited the ball and it sits a lot better. I also wound up the jockey wheel heaps more when hooking up the bars and got a lot more weight transfered to the front wheels. So im now happy with how it sits.

will be hooking up van tomoz to get annex fitted so take a few pics of my hitch then

 

[Daniel Peterson]

Cheers bluey. It will be a decent size annex!

 

[Bluey]

Cheers bluey. It will be a decent size annex!

oh yea there will be pics of that too

 

[Bluey]

Cheers bluey. It will be a decent size annex!

have u booked into Brighton for next easter we have then on to port Elliot again