Couplings

Yep, your correct about the amount of rubbish printed regarding both hitch's. Seems there are quite a few people out there with their own agenda's that appears to revolve around crusifying one or the other product.

Personally I don't believe there is anything wrong with either.

I currently have the AT35 which I believe is the more capable hitch however what a PIA with hitching and unhitching especially if you're in dirt/sand etc.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Hyland either, a whole lot easier to use and also very capable. The only thing to remember with the Hyland is to ensure you are using the correct Tow Ball.

The bottom line - I'm changing over to a Hyland in the near future (as have quite a few other BT owners) as I don't plan on doing any extreme driving.

No doubt there will be other views which may contradict what I have said, however I doubt anyone could argue against ease of use of the Hyland.

Regards

Leigh

When we got the van in 2001 we had a hitch that had the same movement as the AT 35 but the pin went horizontal instead of vertical like the AT35. We then got the AT 35 so that we could use a weight distribution hitch which wasn't possible with the original hitch.

While the AT 35 operated without any problems there was always that bit or a hassle hitching and un-hitching by your self, especially if the ground was soft and the power wheel would not move the van that final little bit.

I then changed to the Pintle Ring with a cone shaped receiver. It was extremely easy to hitch and un hitch using a reversing camera BUT it did not have the articulation that the AT 35 has and as a result we put too much strain on the coupling and where the top plate is welded to the A frame the front of the welds started to crack. I know of 2 other vans with the Pintle Ring that have had the same problem.

About 2 years ago we changed to the Hyland Hitch. I believe that it has the same articulation as the AT 35 but the ball coupling makes it very easy to hitch and un-hitch.

As Leigh has stated above, many BT owners are changing to the Hyland hitch and while at the recent Rally a number of members were taking photos and obtaining the phone number of Hyland so that they could fit one to their van. The big plus is that you do not have to be anywhere near as precise with the Hyland as you do with the AT 35 and hitching up alone with the use of a camera is easy and quicker than a couple using the At 35.

Trakmaster, Kedron and Phoenix fit the Hyland hitch to most of their caravans, so there cannot be too much wrong with them.

Brian

Sidewinder, a 14 Ft'er, same as me, we ought to start our own Sub Branch, you can be president, we could call it "Happy Camper Sidewinding Club" We'll be famous.... :) People will hold such high aspirations of us there'll be the chirp of chainsaws around all the big BT's whilst they carry out " Trims " just so they can join up...... :) I'm sure Willie will be in on the action.....

Al

hi guy's

thanks for all the replies; great. i had a chat to hyland yesterday and together with what i was told plus your responses i have decide to put in an order.

apprciate your time.

C U someplace i am sure.

An interesting read....seems the Hyland has some problems.

Site Link

I had some problems with the AT35 and had to rebuild it but I like the engineering and the functionality of it. I developed an aversion to ball type coupling a long time ago. So did the the brother in law who had his camping trailer try to pass him.

I've solved the issue of the precision required to hook up by using a removable reversing camera positioned about 600mm above the coupling. With this method the power jockey wheel is unnecessary.

Ern

Without a doubt Hyland for us, had one on the Kedron and when we had the BT built i was having nothing other than the Hyland. All this talk about different height towballs has meant nothing to us, we use a standard height 50mm ball, the hitch locks on easily, there is no discernable wear happing inside the cup or on the head of the ball.

It is so - so - so easily connected & disconnected, and since using the Hyland on both vans we have towed approx 60,000klms on road / off road with no issues whatsoever.

The added bonus for us was we were able to do away with the 22kg jockey wheel which was a PITA and fit a Trail-a-mate hydraulic Jack in a more central position directly behind the hitch.

thanks

interesting 2 c u have the coupling mounted under the plate, did you have a specific reason for this approach?

cheers

When we changed to the Hyland I found that it's connection point to the vehicle is about 30mm forward of the A frame than the AT35 and I had to move the WDH chain support brackets forward by that amount.

This longer coupling should assist in stopping the bars hitting the A frame.

Like Ern we have one of the earlier vans with the 100 A frame and at that time BTi strongly opposed the use of WDH. As soon as we fitted a WDH we also found that the bars bound on sharp turns against the A frame.

I solved this by having the steel mounting plate removed from A frame and a new one that protruded 100 mm in front of where the original one was. To strengthen this protruding section we have a piece of 50mm flat welded on edge under the centre of the top plate so that it runs from the front of the mounting plate to the rear.

This stopped the binding with the AT 35 coupling and for a time BTi started doing a similar extension of about 50mm without the strengthening flat steel under it.

Brian