NUTS & BOLTS HITCH EM UP WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY MARK ALLEN WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY MARK ALLEN The new Hitch-Ezy off-road trailer coupling takes the heartache out of towing AFTER A LOT OF HEAD SCRATCHING, John Allsop (a retired doctor, designer and frustrated engineer) and Neville Withers (from Sugar Glider, which makes suspension and campertrailers) have concocted and created the Hitch-Ezy off-road trailer coupling. They have potentially hit the nail on the head for all-round ingenuity with their incredibly simple hitch that seems foolproof, is self-centring, offers full flexibility in all three axes and has an overall height of just 117mm. The system replaces the standard 50mm tow ball with a dedicated 55mm diameter tow pillar. The Hitch-Ezy has passed all the rigorous (static and dynamic) testing to achieve ADR 62/02 compliance and has been given the stamp of approval for a fivetonne rating perfect for those larger off-road vans! Interestingly, while the tow pillar s dome-shaped head forces the self-centering action of the hitch s main body, all towing and load forces are taken on the 55mm diameter main post that anchors onto a large 75mm base flange (as opposed to a standard 50mm ball having a 51mm base flange). This reduces load on the threaded shank section. The recessed (concave) section is where the ABOVE Figure 1: The Hitch-Ezy in all its exploded glory. Figure 2: Note the ball bearings at number 29 (of which there are three) they form the automatic locking as they roll on cams. 88 JUNE/JULY 2011 AUSTRALIAN CARAVAN+RV AC+RV23_N&Bolts_Hitchezy.indd 88
THE HITCH-EZY HAS BEEN GIVEN THE STAMP OF APPROVAL FOR A FIVE- TONNE RATING www.caravanandrv.com.au 89 AC+RV23_N&Bolts_Hitchezy.indd 89
NUTS & BOLTS ABOVE Using the Hitch-Ezy is as easy as 1,2,3 (and 4)... BELOW The three cam-operated ball bearings lock the hitch onto the tow pillar. BOTTOM Tow pillar incorporates a spherical head to help with alignment. A Neoprene o-ring keeps dirt and water out. ABOVE Tow pillar cover prevents getting grease on your nice, clean clothes. three large cam-operated ball bearings lock on to the pillar. No manual locking needed it all happens automatically. The tow pillar s flange incorporates a neoprene o-ring to seal against the ingress of water and dirt, both when the coupling is in use and when the supplied tow pillar cover is in place clever! Once the hitch is lowered onto the upper pillar, all that s needed is to press the secondary locking trigger and rotate the jam-jar-like primary locking lid 45 degrees to allow the coupling to fully engulf the pillar. When fully seated, the coupling will automatically double-lock itself. The user need not do a thing to ensure the trailer is securely hitched to the tow vehicle. There are no clips, pins, rings or other loose or separate devices to handle it s all done automatically. Now that s a big plus in simplicity and ease of use. Removing the hitch from the pillar is equally easy: with a single finger, push the automatic secondary locking trigger and rotate the lid by an eighth of a turn. Again, there are no separate parts to remove or install (or misplace for that matter) after unhitching quick and easy indeed! The system allows for WHEN FULLY SEATED, THE COUPLING WILL DOUBLE- LOCK ITSELF 90 JUNE/JULY 2011 AUSTRALIAN CARAVAN+RV AC+RV23_N&Bolts_Hitchezy.indd 90
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NUTS & BOLTS THIS PAGE With the ability to face up, level, down, and rotate a full 360 degrees, the Hitch-Ezy offers everything an off-roader could wish for. BELOW RIGHT Hitching and unhitching couldn t be simpler. padlocks to be installed in both the pillar and the main hitch section to prevent thieving mongrels doing their job. Level riders can be used with the Hitch-Ezy, but be sure to remove them for off-road use. A standard four-bolt pattern is used, with an additional two holes for heavier-duty applications. Plus, being steel, it can be welded on to the drawbar. Standard handbrakes can also be used, making the whole unit easy to retro-fit or include with newly built trailers and vans. Another impressive design feature with the Hitch-Ezy is the lack of protrusion of the towing point behind the vehicle s standard tow bar. That is, the actual pivoting and load point of the Hitch-Ezy is exactly where the hole in your tongue is, not rearwards like many other hitches. This system doesn t put extra load via leverage or cantilevering onto the tow bar. The Hitch-Ezy seems to cover all bases for ease of use, safety, off-road ability, functionality and outright precision of manufacture. Time will tell how the o-ring seals and secondary locking lever will stand up to bull dust, mud, water and whatever other gunk may find its way onto the hitch. THE HITCH-EZY COVERS ALL BASES FOR EASE OF USE, SAFETY AND PRECISION Fast facts MANUFACTURER: Hitch-Ezy CONTACT: Hitch-Ezy T: 0407 246 407 E: hitch-ezy@bigpond.com W: www.hitch-ezy.com.au 92 JUNE/JULY 2011 AUSTRALIAN CARAVAN+RV AC+RV23_N&Bolts_Hitchezy.indd 92
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