Track Trailer Forum

It's probably a bit late to comment in this older thread, but instead of spending money on a hitch that gets full of dust and has a high wear rate, how about buying a hitch that stays clean no matter how dirty the environment and will do the job for years.

Try this one - Hitch-Ezy
http://www.hitch-ezy.com

Compare the pin size and the load ratings.

Jim

Chris..

I gather you have airbags inside coil springs on your tow vehicle, not airbags over leaf springs?
Airbags over leaf springs will lead to chassis failure.

Airbags inside coil springs are ok, as long as the spring towers are up to handling the extra load.
Airbags should only be used to level the vehicle, not to level the vehicle plus whatever it is towing.

It's also important not to overload the vehicle's rear axle beyond the load specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

The vehicle's rear axle load includes the towball weight of anything you're towing, plus whatever weight is transferred from the front axle.

Jim

I would have thought the height of the vehicle's towing tongue would depend on some variables rather than a specific height.

1..
The overall diameter of the tyres..
2..
The load rating of the springs..
3..
The pressure in the tyres.. (probably only a small difference)
4..
The number of extras fitted to the unit and the load in the Tvan (the total weight).

How I used to set up any van or camper - best done when both towing and towed units are loaded and ready to travel.

Use a level hard surface..

Find a 'level line' on the van or camper and adjust the jockey wheel so a spirit level tells you the good news (often the drawbar, but choose your own 'level line')

Back the vehicle up to the trailer hitch and you'll see whether the towbar hitch is at the correct height or needs to go up or down.
There are a number of vehicle hitch inserts, including adjustable inserts, available to get the height correct.

Jim

Craig and Cathy..

That's a dead easy choice - Take the Tvan..

Don't even consider leaving it at home..
Why would you swag it when your Tvan was designed and built to make travel in that type of country much easier and more comfortable.

It's been a while since we travelled across The Gunbarrel, but we have towed a 'Track' trailer (not a Tvan) across there, and along other remote tracks, including quite a few of the tracks Len built.

The trailer has never been a problem.
In fact trips like that are easier with a trailer as the vehicle isn't loaded with as much weight.
Carrying extra fuel, water, etc. is easier with a good trailer.

I doubt our Patrol would have survived as well as it has over the last decade if it had to carry the gear we've taken - rather than tow much of the load.

Did I answer your question?  Take the Tvan.

Jim

More good and useful information in your replies..

Thanks fellas..

Jim

Thanks for your response Tony.
I did think the clearance at the front end of the bed would be a significant factor.

Maybe the only way to decide is to hire and try both types..

Jim

Different model Tvans..

This is probably a question for people who have owned, and/or used both earlier and later model Tvans..

We have decided to purchase a Tvan..  The budget says it'll be a secondhand unit.

However - Is the difference in price to buy a secondhand later Mk3 model, with the slightly larger body style, worth the extra price?

The difference in secondhand prices can be $10 to $15,000 or more for the later models.

I would certainly wish to have the longer drawbar, but I gather there's an add-on extension that can be fitted on earlier models (?)

Jim

Hello Keith
Where in Vic are you?
And how much are you asking?
Jim

This may be a little out of place on a Track forum, but just in case anyone wishes to see some more detail of a Vista RV - here are some pictures.

Anyone familiar with Track Eagle campers and Tvans can see Alan Mawson's design influence in the Vista RV.

The Vista is a little longer than a Tvan, (and a bit more expensive) but the advantages are..
Much quicker set up time - twenty seconds to open the door and flip up the roof.
Very good if you stop late and just wish to go to bed, or if you get caught in a storm - as has happened to us in the desert..

There's plenty of headroom at the back end, inside the door with the roof flipped up (I'm 6'1"), with a fridge and sink - adequate sit up room over the bed - roll out kitchen outside, with stove, storage, sink with water on a pressure pump.

There are plenty of cupboards inside, storage lockers around the van, two batteries, solar panel, two gas bottles, provision for four jerrycans, two water tanks (optional) etc..

Jim



Not so clean - after getting caught in a storm..

Jeff is on the mark..
The original inspiration for the Tvan was teardrop campers from back when most affordable cars couldn't tow anything too large.

The design went through many changes before it was finalised, however the 'T' also fitted with Track, so the name 'Tvan' came along.

Jim

Gordon.. and others who may be interested..

You might be interested to know the name 'Eagle' for the 'flip over the side' tent campers was only given to them not long before the release of the Tvan, in the late 1990's.

For the first 15 years or so they were simply known as 'Track Trailer Campers'.

Initially the camper top only was produced (no trailer)..  The idea being you could fit the camper top onto any 6 x 4 trailer, but trailer failures were giving the product a bad name, even though they weren't part of the product package.

From about the mid 1980's to about 2000 the camper tops were built onto three different types of trailers, which became (unofficially) known as - Type 1 - Type 2 - Type 3 - trailers.
Production of trailer top campers stopped soon after the Tvan was in full production.

There were also a number of butterfly tops fitted onto trailers (gear carriers).
There's a picture of a Type 3 (MC 2 suspension) butterfly top gear carrier on the history page link - in the first reply above.

Jim

This is a camper on a Type 3 trailer (MC 2 suspension) - with a slightly wonky tent..