Inside this newsletter👉
- The 3 most popular hitches and what makes them different
- The one I'd avoid for off-road
- The one we actually use (and why)
- How to make maintenance easy
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Hello!
We've just got word that our new van will be ready in July. If you've just joined our community, firstly, welcome :) I'll explain a little... We've been travelling Australia on and off for what seems like forever, and our trusty Maverick Camper got us to many wonderful locations - but the time has come to upgrade.
I'll fill you in on all the details and how we chose this new van, why, what we were after and all of that over the coming weeks.
We've been in Adelaide for the past few months, for kids' appointments mainly, but it's time to start travelling again, and we can't wait!
Anyway, enough about that...
This week it's all about hitches...
It's one of those things most people don't think about until something goes wrong, or until they're standing in a caravan park trying to disconnect on a slope... yep, we all know how that will end...
Quick question, would you like our weekly destination emails too? We cover the unique, scenic, adventurous locations and interesting facts.
The 50mm Ball and Coupling
The classic. Cheap, strong, and you'll find it on most road-oriented vans. Works well on sealed roads, but once you get into undulated tracks or trails, it runs out of articulation — and that's when damage can happen. It can also be a bit noisy if the adjuster isn't set correctly to take out the free-play.
For road travel on a budget: fine. For off-road: look elsewhere.
If you need a new hitch or any caravan gear, we use and recommend Caravan RV Camping — fast delivery and great prices.
The Poly Block (Treg) Coupling
A big step up for off-road capability — it's basically a universal joint, giving you great pitch, roll and yaw. Quieter than the ball and coupling, and reasonably robust.
The catch? Connecting and disconnecting is a two-person job, and you need to be very accurate with your alignment — a few mm off and it just won't go in. And whatever you do, don't try to hold the poly block in place while the car is reversing. Crushed fingers.
Once you've mastered it, it's a solid choice. But there is a better option.
The DO35 / DO45 Hitch
This is the one we use. It's the Rolls-Royce of hitches — and yes, it comes with the price tag to match. But here's why it's worth it:
- You don't need to be super accurate when reversing — it self-centres onto the pin
- Connecting is a single button press to lock
- Disconnecting is easy even on uneven ground
- Full articulation, same as the poly block — perfect for off-road
Read the full breakdown here → Getting Hitched: A Plain-English Guide to Caravan Couplings​
And no matter which hitch you've got — keep it greased. Check the grease nipples regularly, especially after gravel roads. Clean off any contaminated grease and reapply fresh. Check all nuts and bolts and re-tighten as needed.
Top blogs this week:
Great deals
​Our partners StarRV have just announced a great deal for anyone who wants to travel but doesn't have their own van.
If you use code FUEL200, you can save $200 on StarRV hire - just book before the 17th May.
For all Ts & Cs, and more info, click here ​
Have a lovely day
Tim & Margie
PS Tim has created a great maintenance schedule guide checklist - from pre and post trip checks, 6 monthly checks and professional checks to help find any possible problem while you're in your driveway (and near a Supercheap or something!) and not in the middle of nowhere!
​Check it out here ​
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