CruisemasterClass - Ep 23. Legal Tow Ball Heights

In this CruisemasterClass we cover the Australian Design Regulations for coupling heights, how to correctly measure tow ball heights and how regulations affect the different types of hitches.
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Documents referenced in this video:
ADR 62
Australian Standard 4177
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What we've covered:
0:00 Introduction
0:15 Legal Coupling Heights
1:28 Ball Coupling Requirements
2:15 How to Measure Tow Ball Height
3:05 Ball Coupling Articulation
3:55 DO35 Pin Height & Coupling Articulation
5:10 Regulation Tow Height Demonstration
5:50 Reducing Tow Heights
6:30 Conclusion & Additional Resources

[@peterroebers191]

I may have missed it... So is there a legal height restriction on a pin type hitch?

[@CRUISEMASTERCOUNTRY]

There are no height restrictions for pin type hitches.

[@ausguy4385]

​@CRUISEMASTERCOUNTRY what does that mean can they be say 500mm from ground?

[@TheLifestylePioneers]

Great video. This will be very helpful for many I'm sure! Who would still use a 50mm ball after watching this? DO35 everyday!

[@michaelguerin56]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@peterj1376]

Thanks for the info but I think it could have been delivered more simply. Like others in the comments I was left wondering at the end whether the DO35 had height restrictions or not.

[@andrewjones-productions]

Not being in Australia or an Australian, I have often wondered what the general height of the coupler on off-road trailers are. This video and the comments section was especially useful in ascertaining that information as a general guide. It seems that there is some variety depending on the caravan or off-road trailer. Incidentally, the average height for an European trailer is roughly 44cm. This does vary slightly give or take a few centimetres, but I don't think that there is any trailer that goes as low as 35cm and I'm not sure how legal that would be in Europe.

[@SalvoDan]

I think that it is an absolute rort that the Australian Government allow Sai Global to retain the monopoly to charge Australian Citizens for our own legislation. This legislation should be in a tax-payer funded repository and should be freely accessible to any Australian Citizen.

[@rossatkinson3160]

I cannot agree more. SAI Global, Chinese owned. FFS

[@rossatkinson3160]

I would even think a small nominal fee would be ok, say 20-50 dollars each document.

[@ausguy4385]

We have to comply to them all yet have to pay 100s of thousands for them if had them all....

[@johnbroekman7119]

It's a Bummer the Caravan manufactures arn't getting the heights correct then, some of the Off road caravans have extreme height which would require engineering change if you've already purchased it. I asked for the Hitch to be installed inside the Draw Bar( plate under Chassis) instead of on top and that dropped it to suit these heights, had to pay extra though .

[@SalvoDan]

One of the other great things about the DO35 compared to a traditional ball hitch is that it has a very short height. This is of concern to those of use who have spare wheels, tailgates and side gates that are located above the hitch spatially. Previously, we would ding our tailgates or have to decouple prior to accessing our cargo space. Some of us need to delete or relocate our spare wheel carrier if we plan on towing, especially when we have larger diameter spare wheels. How much vertical space is required for a DO35 hitch to be coupled? The Pin is about 70mm above the ball mount, The uncovered coupling is about 50mm and the dust cover is an additional 25mm. Worth noting is that if the ball mount is below a permanent fixture, like a spare wheel or ute tray, you will be restricting articulation. It may not be a good idea to do Gunshot Creek without extending your ball mount.

[@craigstrong2538]

Good video and good info where do we go from here ? I have a off road van when it sits level the DO45 is 600 mm high. can you see insurance company’s wipeing claims when things go wrong because the tow hitch dose not comply to AS standard in the mining industry the AS standard is the Law.

[@ausguy4385]

Be interesting to see if a engineer can do mad plate/engineering to be higher. Do think many are 460mm that's for sure

[@johnwebster5983]

When driving along a flat road, the caravan should be roughly level except that it could tilt down a bit rather than up. The movements demonstrated by the brown standard 50mm hitch should be indicative of driving over speed bumps, driveways and maybe minor off road stuff, not allowing for differences in height between the vehicle towball and the caravan hitch. The caravan I have ordered comes with a standard 50mm hitch for use in caravan parks mainly. The DO35 clearly is for off road use. I can't see that I will need one.

[@emanuelmallia9962]

With the measurements do I have the airbags deflated

[@ausguy4385]

So can a do35 be say 600mm like many van manufacturers say it can be?

[@rossatkinson3160]

Yes, no defined height for other hitch types.

[@CRUISEMASTERCOUNTRY]

Correct a DO35 can legally be hitched up at any connection height due to its articulating nature and exclusion from the ADR as a non-ball type.

[@ausguy4385]

630 in....😂 love how you did a drive with height clearly not fixed

[@userGeelongCaravanWeighing]

Great video

[@davidpayne5196]

Bog standard unladen 2018 Ford Ranger is 505mm. So it’s sold at an illegal height?

[@johnwebster5983]

Yeah, and my Pajero Sport is 520mm at centre of towball. That's without the van attached. I pick up my 16' Jayco in a couple of weeks and I will take my tape measure with me and see how much it drops with 170kg of towball download.

[@davidwarren4569]

That standard measurement for a 50 mm ball does not take into account the aspect of the trailer. Surely if the trailer is level and the height of the ball is above the stated height, it should comply. We all know that the aspect of the trailer has a lot to do with trailer / caravan handling?

[@cullengarrick9036]

I would say that this is rules made by people in offices with no real world knowledge hitch angle should be what it's based off and I've used a alko unit on a camping trailer which had pivots allowing similar if not equal articulation and it had a high weight rating

[@christhomas4260]

There is not a duel cab or 4 x 4 or trailer on the planet that would fall in the 380 to 460 mm range with 50 mm ball

[@Rufus761]

That’s why you can buy a drop hitch.

[@MrHsv123]

My caravan sits level at 650mm no choice have to raise the hitch on my y62

[@rossatkinson3160]

Almost all 4x4s are over height for a 50mm ball.

[@xylosfurniture]

Including mine. Let's face it, it's simply impossible and dangerous to drive at legal height in this case. Another example of a "clever" law made by "clever" people.

[@allanalert]

You don’t show a connected trailer. 4177 says when trailer connected. So your demo vehicle is legal when not connected to a trailer. Bad explanation of definitive regulations.