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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Blinky Bill on December 28, 2011, 12:00:13 PM

Title: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Blinky Bill on December 28, 2011, 12:00:13 PM
I'm just wondering about a few things:
* what do others think about the tregg hitch
* why some have swung over from Tregg to another hitch
* results good and bad of the Tregg & other hitches (is that allowed on this forum?)

Personally when I first got my camper I found the Tregg (along with the substantial weight of the off road camper compared to my previous On-Road CT) a bit of a concern, almost intimidating. Therefore some serious rehearsals were done on a concrete slab with walkie talkie from driver to co-pilot and over time we got better at it. Not great but better.

In my mind I was still concerned with the idea of unhitching somewhere while camping and then not being able to hook-up again. Tips about a solid plank for the jockey wheel seemed to sort out any worries about sinking into soft sand, mud and the like.  In fact, here I am a couple of years later and to be honest the Tregg has never been an issue.

So why then - I asked myself - do others go with other systems? Are they better? Or do all hitches have their good and bad points?

Care to share your views?

Cheers - Wayne
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: D4D on December 28, 2011, 12:05:12 PM
I had a Tregg on the Tambo and could hitch/unhitch ok but the Tambo was light and could be wrestled into position. When I bought the Goldstream, which is twice the weight of the Tambo, I wanted something easier so I fitted a DO35.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: mystq on December 28, 2011, 12:11:26 PM
I got the DO35 on my Tambo, very easy to hitch/unhitch.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: TOPNDR on December 28, 2011, 12:16:03 PM
Over the years I've had two Treggs, 1 Hyland & two DO35s.

I found the Tregg reasonably easy to use, though if not on level ground it could be difficult to get the pin in, or out. Also, one had to line up much more accurately.  Given that few couples communicate well in this regard, it's an area of potential high conflict.  Mrs T for example will wave frantic directions with her hand. Her hand may well be invisible to me but that's my fault for being a bloke I suppose.   :-*

I find the DO35 the best I've used so far. It copes well with uneven ground and when hooking up, as long as one can move the trailer hitch a little laterally, its conical pin design makes the process easier than the Tregg.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Chris J on December 28, 2011, 01:30:22 PM
Hi,
I have a Tregg on my Cavalier CT, I have no problems hitching or unhitching on either the Subaru or the oka, Like TOPND I get somewhat confused by the hand signal others offer so  I prefer to hitch by myself . I do however have an adjustable Hayman Reese bar that holds the U shaped Tregg frame, I ensure that it’s set to the correct height so that both car and trailer are the same height and inline. The Tregg pin is also tapered so it can be a few mm’s out.

Regards, Chris
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: areyonga on December 28, 2011, 01:43:05 PM
I have no problems with the Tregg, there is an art to it but once mastered there is never a problem and its simple.  I also like the tregg because when its covered with mud, stones, dust etc etc its simple and still works the same, not like some others I have had that had to be cleaned to work efficiently.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: RebsWA on December 28, 2011, 02:16:49 PM
Poly block couplings can be a bit of a pain to hitch up but once you work out a routine with SWMBO its really quite easy.
My current vehicle has a reversing camera and that makes hitching up an absolute breeze with no help required.
Title: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: 2Psinapatrol on December 28, 2011, 03:01:43 PM
My wife and I have the hook up proceeded down pat. We have the rubber bloke type. Half the time my wife can direct me right onto the hitch. If not then the camper is not to bad to move around.

It has taken some practice. A few people have been amazed how well we work as a team.

It is really easy I just do what I am told.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Symon on December 28, 2011, 03:18:48 PM
Regardless of the type of hitch, a reversing camera is a marriage saver.

You must get one of these to preserve your sanity.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Blinky Bill on December 28, 2011, 03:33:28 PM
There's some very good responses on here.  And it's nice to see that we all have a healthy respect for the lady in our lives. ;D

I thought I was a clever Dick with the Walkie Talkie idea but I can see now that the reverse camera would certainly avoid the old question of 'would that be your right or my right Dear'? :(

I can spot that TOPNDR has had a few in his time and prefers the DO35. Fair enough.

Swapping from a Tregg to another hitch - Just wondering if anyone has been so peeved with the Tregg that they have actually replaced it with something else. Or is that going a wee bit overboard?

Cheers - Wayne



Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Malcur on December 28, 2011, 04:08:40 PM
I currently have a tregg. My wife and I have had plenty of practice at hooking up and we don't seem to have too much trouble anymore. Unhooking when on a slope can be a pain as I have found I have sometimes had to use a hammer to remove the pin.

I have given some thought to replacing with something else. But that has as much to do with the rear door of the Prado fouling with the hand-brake as anything else.

Mal
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Crisp Image on December 28, 2011, 04:12:32 PM
I had the Treg hitch and swapped it for the ozhitch. While the treg was not hard to connect I found that it had to be lined up well and the block held in place. A task SWMBO did not like (something about fingers). She too had not got the hang of hand directions but is getting better.
The ozhitch is good because you only have to be close for it to line up and engage and it also gave me a little extra length in the drawbar so I could open the rear door of the Prado further. I used the conversion kit as I had over-ride brakes then (now replaced with electric and modified the handbrake to miss the door) and it was the best option at the time.
Both hitches work well and I had no real trouble with them. I used an ORAC hitch on my BILs camper and it was horrible to unhitch.
I like my ozhitch but I m sure there are others as good as it out there.
Regards
Crisp Image
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: wholehog on December 28, 2011, 04:41:09 PM
sometimes i leave the tregg connected and pull out the "tongue"out of the towbar reciever......seems to work ok...
Just wind the jockey up or down....
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: yogie on December 28, 2011, 04:51:03 PM

Mrs T for example will wave frantic directions with her hand. Her hand may well be invisible to me but that's my fault for being a bloke I suppose.   :-*



:worthles:

yeah I get that too, and its always my fault.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: markymark on December 28, 2011, 04:52:29 PM
My wife and I have the hook up proceeded down pat. We have the rubber bloke type. Half the time my wife can direct me right onto the hitch. If not then the camper is not to bad to move around.

It has taken some practice. A few people have been amazed how well we work as a team.

It is really easy I just do what I am told.

Ditto to the above...it's exactly what I was going to write!

Mark.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: bobnrob on December 28, 2011, 05:07:53 PM
Had the 50mm ball on 1st camper & hate it with a passion, holding the 'handle' up whilst winding the jockey wheel down/up. Got a Tregg on our Cub & love it  :)

Me & the Minister use the (appropriate) arm straight out to the side for left/right system, & it works well lining up to a point. But have discovered it works MUCH better if she's reversing the vehicle ;)
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Moto Mech on December 28, 2011, 06:44:22 PM
Have a TREG on our Tambo and have never found it a prolem to hook up.
Whilst away on our last trip, I busted(dont know how, just found it like it) the "C" piece on the tow bar. Even though it was 6 yrs old, a quick call to Treg and a new one was express posted to Bamaga free of charge. Lets see other hitch suppliers  deliver on that one..
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: rosgeog on December 28, 2011, 07:21:10 PM
I had a treg on the KK. Never had too many problems but went the whole hog and replaced it with an Oz-hitch and upgraded to electro-hydraulic brakes. No it is easy to hitch up and very low profile around the back ddors of the Troopy. Have not regretted the change at all.
Ross
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: speewa158 on December 28, 2011, 08:04:19 PM
If you cant back up to your Treg within  a few mm  of the pin drop you meed to get more practice . Mabey in the noncamping times you could practice the task , yes you can  :cheers:
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: sandgroper on December 28, 2011, 10:21:40 PM
I have a trig on the flamingo , same as the tregg (brothers I believe) but the c piece is cast & extends out further , I use 2 pieces of 1/2" retic pipe , one in the poly block & one in the c piece leave the rear door open & can line it up easy , the missus is happy too as she can use the pipe to align the poly block and keep her fingers clear , you need to heat the pipe & pull apart to reduce the dia , then cut in half
Ta Keith
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: ondaboat on December 29, 2011, 12:20:01 AM
I have a Tregg on the Camprite and it seems fine. I get the wife to reverse and I put in the pin.
She always does as she's told.......
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Wandering Tassie on December 29, 2011, 06:25:09 AM
Bill I found the Tregg hard to line up in rocky or soft conditions, plus I couldn't open the Pajero door very far.
Swaped over to the ozhitch, easier to line up and with a couple of mods to the handbrake the door opens all the way.
I got the conversion kit, as well as saving costs it is easy to fit and no need to drill new mounting holes.

Trevor
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Blinky Bill on December 29, 2011, 09:06:55 AM
Thanks Ladies & Gents for the wonderful information and your most entertaining comments.

There's plenty to think about there and I can just see me now wandering about various camp sites and camping shows checking what others are up to. At least now I'm armed, loaded and ready.  ;D

Rightio then I'm now off to check the weather report and to see if that dreaded rain pattern is threatening to pee down around the Barrington area. If all's good and providing if I can persuade the good lady........I'm off like a bucket of prawns in the hot sun.  :D

Cheers all - Wayne
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: rockman on December 29, 2011, 10:23:35 AM
I went the tregg on mine ... purely to have everything as simple as possible ... plus tregg have been around for a long time and are proven .

Just my 2 cents worth
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Blinky Bill on December 29, 2011, 05:51:28 PM
I went the tregg on mine ... purely to have everything as simple as possible ... plus tregg have been around for a long time and are proven .

Just my 2 cents worth

It's hard to argue that Tregg is nice & simple. That's something about it that I like about it for sure.

Another thing I like is that the poly block of the Tregg makes for a far quieter tow than I had with my old ball and socket type hitch of my old On Road camper.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: speewa158 on December 29, 2011, 06:26:12 PM
The noise that is created with the squeek & groan of the Treg  can be overcome with a spray of WD40 as youn hookup .    :cheers:
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Sixtys Guy on December 31, 2011, 06:49:51 PM
We had the treg hitch on our jayco hawk. We found it a real pita due to how heavy and hard it was to move the jayco. We swapped it for a hyland hitch which we have found excellent. The other benefit (apart ftom using a standard ball) wad that we could use a hayman reese wdh with it. When we got our new Cameron the treg was standard but we specified the hyland.
Title: Re: Tregg hitch & why you may have changed
Post by: Redcherokee on January 02, 2012, 04:12:07 PM
When we hired campers they came with the D035 or the Hyland.  Both very easy for newbies. Hardly thought about it at all.

Now we have the Sturt we are finding the Oz-Hitch a much fussier beast.  First couple of times the boss had so much trouble unhitching (on uneven ground), he got out the spanner and took the coupling off the towbar.  We are getting the hang of finding that perfect height where there is no weight on the hitch so we can undo it, but it is still fussy. Getting lined up and on also takes more attempts each time than the D035 ever did.

We'll perservere for now, but if we don't get better at it we'll look at changing to a D035.