Towing with air suspension

[Sterling Sal]

x2 what Bomber said. ALWAYS take the WDH for tight reversing and on offroad roads. Really just for highway use.

Roscio, let us know what FCA says if you get a response!

Cheers,
Sally

PS USed to have the McHitch, but now using the DO35 with WDH adaptor. Just found the chains on the trunion bars tit more vertical with the DO35, due to less excess overhang than the McHitch. Both great hitches though!

[JnK]

Roscoea, as Sally and others have pointed out - raising the pivot point of a lever has no effect in weight transfer. Simple physics and impossible to argue.
In the owners handbook of my 2015, Jeep use the word "mandatory" in relation to use of a WDH when towing over 2268kg (upgraded from "recommended" that was in the handbook of my 2012 - again as per Sally's comment) - and this is relevant to all available suspension systems in Australian delivered vehicles.
No wiggle room there….
On enquiry, my insurer advised that in relation to any claim arising from an incident involving towing - that they would expect me to have complied with all recommendations and requirements made by the van and vehicle manufacturer.
For myself I'm not prepared to allow any possible argument with an insurance assessor in the event of a mishap - even though our van is under the threshold - the towing experience is better with the WDH - so its a no brainer for me.
As you remarked, plenty have taken the decision to not use a WDH when towing big vans, and plenty get away with it.
Doesn't make it the right thing to do.
The advice available from campfire experts is not necessarily always properly informed or of good quality.
My WDH doesn't come loose when used with our QL system. Its a matter of correct setup.
John

[roscoea26]

JnK the Hayman Reece hitch I have that the McHitch is bolted onto does not have holes that the WDH is inserted into, it has slots that the end of the tension bar sort of slots into and is held into place by the tension the chain places in this area if you let the chain loose the tension bar comes out of the slot and the end falls to the ground.

With the WDH that is held due to it being inserted into the hole with the groove is held and doesn't need the chain to hold it off the ground...hope I'm explaining this so it makes sense.

My mate who has QL has an issue as well because when the vehicle levels the van is also level so what use is the WDH as there's no need to tension it to get a level. If you do put tension on it then it gets out of level and is raised....also in this situation when the vehicle does over 80 I think it is the vehicle goes into aero mode and the vehicle drops which in turn places more tension on the WDH and consequently on the tow hitch at the vehicle and it seems to work against what the air suspension on the vehicle does, that's what he feels from the vehicle...that's why he has taken his off. His WDH is held via a hole as they are normally held. However prior to the vehicle dropping into aero mode the WDH feel's like it's loose well it probably is as there's no need to tension it as the rig is level anyway.

[NickT]

Have to agree with Sal. We tow a 3.2T van with a 2014 Laredo with air suspension. I have towed both with and without WDH. The WDH makes a noticeable positive difference to the towing experience. The only time it is not attached if we are moving short distances ( less than 50KM) or towing in undulating dirt roads ( Cape York last year) where the it is not advisable as the bars may bend.

Nick