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.
For more information about Cruisemaster products, visit: cruisemaster.com.au
For more information about vehicle and caravan services, visit: towingperformance.com.au
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.

[@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.

[@userGeelongCaravanWeighing]

Great video

[@ausguy4385]

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

[@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

[@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....

[@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.

[@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.