Offroad Hitches

[BUNDYMARK]

Hello everyone,
We are looking into purchasing our first camper and was after some information as to which hitch is better.I had read that the poly block can be a pain to unhitch if the camper is not on level ground.

[Big Nath]

They all have pros and cons. Make sure it's genuine. Not a Chinese rip off.

[rockygu4.8]

Can't go wrong with the VC built DO35

[Big Tread]

Hello everyone,
We are looking into purchasing our first camper and was after some information as to which hitch is better.I had read that the poly block can be a pain to unhitch if the camper is not on level ground.

We have a poly block type hitch on our camper and I agree with the comment about being difficult to hitch and unhitch when not on level ground.  It can be a real pain and i reckon I will replace it with something different as soon as we finish our current trip.  Not quite sure what type of hitch I'll go with so will be interested to see the replies here.

[Talawana5]

Hi,
We also have D035 and very happy with it.

Cheers

[GGV8Cruza]

Have a look at this thread

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=14621.0

GG

[maverick01]

We currently have a high land hitch. Now some may say there an old design and yes they are but why modify something that works fine. It utilises the standard 50mm ball but you will need to get a raised ball which is cheap.

The reason I haven't changed hitches is mainly because we tow other trailers and that way we don't have to constantly changes couplings over.

[Barrabart]

My CT has an Ozhitch......... I reckon it's great 

[Rob C]

We currently have a high land hitch. Now some may say there an old design and yes they are but why modify something that works fine. It utilises the standard 50mm ball but you will need to get a raised ball which is cheap.

The reason I haven't changed hitches is mainly because we tow other trailers and that way we don't have to constantly changes couplings over.

x2

[Hairs]

Have a look at this thread

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=14621.0

GG

X2
You beat me to it, I was just about to go looking for that thread.

[Pipeliner]

The reason I haven't changed hitches is mainly because we tow other trailers and that way we don't have to constantly changes couplings over.

I have two hitches for the towbar square receiver socket - one for the DO35 and one fitted with a 50mm ball.  So changing from the camper to a borrowed trailer is just a matter of swapping the hitch.

[Symon]

We currently have a high land hitch. Now some may say there an old design and yes they are but why modify something that works fine. It utilises the standard 50mm ball but you will need to get a raised ball which is cheap.

The reason I haven't changed hitches is mainly because we tow other trailers and that way we don't have to constantly changes couplings over.

x3

I've said this many times, but the only people who bag the Hyland are those who have never owned one.

I have two hitches for the towbar square receiver socket - one for the DO35 and one fitted with a 50mm ball.  So changing from the camper to a borrowed trailer is just a matter of swapping the hitch.

That's fair enough, but if you have a choice of what hitch you use, why not get one that doesn't require you to change anything?

[Toy pradopetty]

McHitch for me. Works extremely well Offroad and hitching or unhitching pretty easy. Just another honest opinion


Cheers
Frank

[KingBilly]

Just bought a McHitch.  Yet to use but it came highly recommended.

KB

[weeds]

DO35 for me........

[johnno48]

x3

I've said this many times, but the only people who bag the Hyland are those who have never owned one.

That's fair enough, but if you have a choice of what hitch you use, why not get one that doesn't require you to change anything?

x4

[whitey1]

Just bought a DO 35 to replace the old AT 35 on our camper. The AT 35 is a pin type like the poly block and was a real pain to get out in sand or on uneven ground. I haven't tried it out yet but reckon the new one should be much easier as you can just wind the jockey wheel to release the hitch.

[areyonga]

DO35

[03GV]

I'll put a vote up for ozhitch, has been really good. I also think a good thing to do is buy a hitch that not everyone has, so its not as easy to steal

[jwb]

A poly block style came on my 08 Camel Discovery
It was a little tricky at times, but much much better now I have a rachet style jockey wheel.
Unable to comment on others as I've had none of them
Cheersr

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[GeeTee]

Bundymark, keep in mind everyone will be like 'I'm SOO Happy!' with the hitch they have just purchased (or been sold ), even if they have never. ever. used any other kind of hitch

Also consider that mud, dirt and stone strike/gravel rash can wreak havoc with delicate sliding plates, machined pins and the plastic shrouds that some hitches feature.



Compatibility with a standard tow-ball is an asset (a must for me personally) as it allows carriage by other vehicles in a recovery or emergency

Balls are also often easier to line-up (compared to pin types) when hitching, although that is not much of an issue if you simply leave the car attached when camping. And you can't lose the pin.

TBH, a stock standard trailer hitch can go a LONG way off-road so maybe start with that and 'upgrade' later if actual situations deem it necessary.

Hope this helps

[Malcolm Tugless]

TBH, a stock standard trailer hitch can go a LONG way off-road so maybe start with that and 'upgrade' later if actual situations deem it necessary.

True hey ... a standard tow ball hitch will work very nicely, most of the time. If I was to choose differently I'd more than likely go with the Hyland hitch, although the reasonably new to the market AL-KO off road coupling looks interesting. It works similarly to the Hyland style.

Its this puppy ... http://www.alko.com.au/uploads/2008/12/Off-Road-Coupling-Fitting-Instructions.pdf

Theres some discussion here ...http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=20224.0

Mind you the Hyland is tested, tried and true ... if it aint broke ... ?

[weeds]

Bundymark, keep in mind everyone will be like 'I'm SOO Happy!' with the hitch they have just purchased (or been sold ), even if they have never. ever. used any other kind of hitch

Also consider that mud and dirt can wreak havoc with delicate sliding plates, machined pins and the plastic shrouds that some hitches feature.

but than there are the guys that do a lot of research prior to buying our first offroad hitch...

my hitch has a sliding plate and machined pins.......i haven't had an issue with mine to date nor has a mate of mine that tours extensivly on dust roads....i do like the simple operation and that it drops straight on

when selecting my hitch i not only asked the quesiton online but also checked out all the types of hitchs my friends and others had and quite often watched the struggle some had with their type of hitch........with a bad back my main pirority was not having to struggle

i do agree a standard tow ball and hitch gives good articulation as my first road camper trailer went to many offroad places

i too did think about what if somebody else needs to tow my camper trailer, it wouldn't take long to swap a set up over

[Barry G]

but than there are the guys that do a lot of research prior to buying our first offroad hitch...

my hitch has a sliding plate and machined pins.......i haven't had an issue with mine to date nor has a mate of mine that tours extensivly on dust roads....i do like the simple operation and that it drops straight on

when selecting my hitch i not only asked the quesiton online but also checked out all the types of hitchs my friends and others had and quite often watched the struggle some had with their type of hitch........with a bad back my main pirority was not having to struggle

i do agree a standard tow ball and hitch gives good articulation as my first road camper trailer went to many offroad places

i too did think about what if somebody else needs to tow my camper trailer, it wouldn't take long to swap a set up over

For all these reasons I purchased an OzHitch.  Much easier to hitch than my former genuine Treg, and nothing 'delicate' about its cast, galvanised construction.

[Symon]

True hey ... a standard tow ball hitch will work very nicely, most of the time. If I was to choose differently I'd more than likely go with the Hyland hitch, although the reasonably new to the market AL-KO off road coupling looks interesting. It works similarly to the Hyland style.

Its this puppy ... http://www.alko.com.au/uploads/2008/12/Off-Road-Coupling-Fitting-Instructions.pdf

Theres some discussion here ...http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=20224.0

Mind you the Hyland is tested, tried and true ... if it aint broke ... ?

Love to see one in the flesh, it looks pretty good.  The ONLY thing I don't like about the Hyland is that the locking pin sometimes is pretty hard to pull out, but a good dose of WD40 soon fixes it.