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What do others have for Travel Mode Hitch Receiver Height?

October 07, 2013, 03:48:13 pm

We just outfitted a fit with a base plate for towing. We are in a campsite that is pretty level, but not completely. When I start the coach and allow the air pressure to come up and the travel mode light comes on, we are at 18.5" to the ground from the center of the receiver. The fit is only at about 14.5". RoadMaster recommends a 3" max difference. We are getting a RoadMaster dual hitch adapter #RM-0722-2 (Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter, 2" Drop/Rise Roadmaster Accessories and) which has both receivers welded directly to the extension bar. Hopefully, we will be able to open the hatch with that combo just taking the bikes off and get within that 3" specification for height difference between the towed and the coach. I am wondering what others have as far as travel height to hitch center. I realize I have to check ride height more precisely, but I am hopping that I am pretty close to what it should be...
Don

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Re: What do others have for Travel Mode Hitch Receiver Height?

Reply #1 – October 07, 2013, 04:18:47 pm

You are on track, but do check when you get everything totally level.  Have read there is an allowed up or down difference of just some few inches.

Putting the motorcycle lift on the old coach I needed a 8" drop to get down to the Saturn from the back of the lift.  Without the motorcycle lift, everything was perfect on the Saturn or the Avalanche. 

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Re: What do others have for Travel Mode Hitch Receiver Height?

Reply #2 – October 07, 2013, 05:53:42 pm

Don, I had to notch the engine hatch cover to allow it to clear my receiver after installing an angle up device to get a level tow for my Honda crv. It doesn't look bad at all and works just fine.

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Re: What do others have for Travel Mode Hitch Receiver Height?

Reply #3 – October 07, 2013, 07:51:34 pm

Don, you are the right track.  Best practice seems to be with everything on level ground and the coach at ride height try for equal heights to the center of the ball and to the center of the connection to the toad.  I have a dropped towbar in the coach receiver to come out equal to the attachments on my Wrangler.  As you are going down the road this keep loads in line without excessive up or down loads on either end especially when braking.  When you go in and out of parking lots or cross some intersections the hitch moves up and down.

Roger

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Re: What do others have for Travel Mode Hitch Receiver Height?

Reply #4 – October 08, 2013, 11:58:09 am

I haven't hooked the car up yet,  but Tys brought the Roadmaster RM-0722-2 home last night and I can open the hatch with the bike rack installed. There is an issue with the Roadmaster All Terrain Falcon 2 Tow bar though... It has a spring loaded tab that allows the tow bar to be lifted up and locked into a sort of retracted position. Of course this feature won't work with the bike rack over the top of it, but the problem is the locking tab is too tall to get the bike rack in while the tow bar is there. No problem, just remove the pin and the tab... Okay, done. Now the tow bar fits, but can't flex up enough to be safe because of the set screw on the bottom of the bike rack interferes with the pivot bolt of the tow bar... Okay, no problem. I will just drill a new hole for the pin in the bike racks square tubing and slide forward about an inch and a half. Okay, now it finally all works together and I can open the hatch just by taking the bikes off the rack and folding down the upright Pics to follow...
Don

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