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Home > Modifications & Maintenance (L663) > Hitching on a caravan - any tips?

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Alicat

Member Since: 25 Nov 2013
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 135

I might have one of the metal handles for the Alko hitch.

I will check.

9th Jul 2024 9:35pm

Ritson

Member Since: 11 Apr 2021
Location: France
Posts: 182

Cheers Alicat Current: MY22 P400e SE
Prior: Discovery Sport HSE, Jaguar F-Type S, Discovery 3, RR Vogue

10th Jul 2024 4:56am

Huwrhys

Member Since: 27 Mar 2024
Location: Hornchurch
Posts: 133

My jockey wheel is not your normal type and is very long comparatively. It’s a ribbed one due to the problem of the caravan sliding down no matter how tight I made it. The tightening bolt eventually sheared off. The replacement to overcome this came from an Ivor Williams specialist who fitted a mutant which I’ve never had to drop since as the travel within its screw is plenty. Even wound in and dropped, the door still hits. 24MY D300 130 X-Dynamic HSE Santorini Black

10th Jul 2024 6:40am

DFNDER

Member Since: 02 Oct 2023
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 121

Here in Oz, the Cruisemaster D035 coupling is very popular, allows full articulation and very strong, positive connection to the car.

For us it's a simple matter of reversing up to the van in access height, slightly raising the jockey wheel, then raising the car and the pin on the tow hitch engages with the eye in the van coupling. Press a button and the coupling is secure. The handbrake does not interfere with the rear wheel and the door stays shut. My wife reverses the car in low range (better throttle control), and she is mm perfect in aligning the coupling. The reverse camera helps a great deal.

Check out cruisemaster.com.au D035 couplings.
(I'm not affiliated with CM, just really like their gear)

Click image to enlarge

11th Jul 2024 5:40am

Ritson

Member Since: 11 Apr 2021
Location: France
Posts: 182

Hi Dfnder

I've seen these before and they seem a much better solution. However, I don't think they are legal here in France, even if they are I'm sure it would void my caravan warranty and possibly insurance if I retrofitted an non OEM hitch. Pity though Current: MY22 P400e SE
Prior: Discovery Sport HSE, Jaguar F-Type S, Discovery 3, RR Vogue

11th Jul 2024 6:56am

DFNDER

Member Since: 02 Oct 2023
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 121

I do like the European van drawbar though as per the piccy in the early posts. Very well finished, much better than our 2 bits of gal structural steel slapped together with a dob of weld or two.

11th Jul 2024 7:07am

Ritson

Member Since: 11 Apr 2021
Location: France
Posts: 182

Take the fibreglass cover off and that's exactly what you'll find underneath, but probably not as substantial as yours! Current: MY22 P400e SE
Prior: Discovery Sport HSE, Jaguar F-Type S, Discovery 3, RR Vogue

11th Jul 2024 7:09am

DFNDER

Member Since: 02 Oct 2023
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 121

Ah OK, it's a cover. Yes, ours is a 6" hot dip galvanized chassis, semi offroad (extra ground clearance). Std touring is 4" hdg chassis and lower ride height.

11th Jul 2024 7:39am

Ritson

Member Since: 11 Apr 2021
Location: France
Posts: 182

lightning wrote:
l've had the same issue with my 90.

The way l do it is to open the rear door, reverse the Defender up to the caravan, attach the caravan, raise the jockey wheel fully, lower the jockey wheel carrier enough so the handle doesn't hit the bottom of the door, close the rear door, then raise the jockey wheel carrier to the transport position.

Ok, so I've just been up to the caravan storage and tried the above technique. Unfortunately it doesn't work for my caravan because if I open the door it will hit the caravan fairing before the hitch is over the tow ball.

Thankfully, I shall shortly be the proud owner of an Alko removable handle (many, many thanks to Alicat

) so I will be removing the original black handle forthwith

Current: MY22 P400e SE
Prior: Discovery Sport HSE, Jaguar F-Type S, Discovery 3, RR Vogue

21st Jul 2024 2:30pm

walfy

Member Since: 29 Aug 2007
Location: Frome
Posts: 2655

Gareth wrote:
Our Elddis has a BPW hitch with a long handle. I do it is as follows:

Open the rear door

Reverse up to the caravan using the towing camera. The door doesn’t hit the caravan. Make sure the front locker is closed.

Hitch the van to the car.

Close the door

Raise the jockey wheel and connect electrics and break away cable.

To unhitch.

Drop the jockey.
Open the door.
Unhitch the caravan.
Roll the car or caravan apart
Close the door.

My Buccaneer has that hitch, I didn't get on with it to begin with. Struggled to unhitch on uneven ground. But I think I have mastered it now.
Prefer it to an ALKO hitch 110 D250 SE HT
110 USW SOLD
RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it
VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys

Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD

21st Aug 2024 7:28pm

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