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Help! Dutchman 2005 TaB Hitch Coupler Latch Position
Help! I can’t tell if my hitch coupler is latched on my 2005 T@b 2 inch ball that I just bought used. It seems like the latch handle thing should go down about another half inch past 90 degrees to the position it’s in when it’s not on the ball. Can anyone with a similar t@b look at these pics and tell me if it’s on all the way? When I jack up the tongue with a car jack it raises the ball and the back of my SUV with it, and when I drove forward and reverse a little and slam on the brakes it doesn’t come off or down any further. I tried jumping on it and have put it on the ball 3-4 times every time and it stops this far down each time, but it seems like the handle and ball cradle part should go down as far as it does when there’s no ball on it to be fully locked and safe to drive? I’ve had 2 neighbors look at it who have experience towing trailers and my Dad, and a friend who has a newer t@b with a different hitch mechanism. No one is sure it’s safe to drive like this, but everyone is pretty sure it’s safe. I’d like to know for sure. This is my first time hooking it up by myself after the owner hooked it up the first time 3 weeks ago and showers me how before I drive from Montana where I bought it, back to Washington. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide! When the hitch/tongue is not on the ball the hitch coupler handle thing is about 1.5 inch higher than the tongue, when it appears latched onto the ball it is only going down to about 1 and 7/8 inches or so higher than the tongue as you can see in the pics.
Post edited to resize photos.
Post edited to resize photos.
Re: Hardware for 2006 T@B awning
@Rubyred should you run out of options replacing the poles inside the awning, one last place to try is a kite shop. Not talking Hobby Lobby and the like, but an actual kite shop. When people build (sew) original kite designs they take the cloth part (sail) to a kite shop and those people specialize in building the frame. You have the sail, and all you need is a frame. That just might work. I have done the same for my XL visor for my 2017 320 S t@b. The kite shop replaced the fractured rods inside my visor and all has been great since.
Re: Pahaque Upgrades
@Sharon_is_SAM & @argem: So, yes to the shock corded poles. I used 9 @ 2’ poles and cut the 10th to 18”. This worked out well to bow out and provide the shape. This was mocked up this afternoon, so the pics I have do not depict, yet, the Velcro I will use to secure the 2 sets of poles where they bisect in the center of the ceiling. The 2 pics below I just took now(in the dark) actually contrast better then the ones I had taken ( & deleted ) this afternoon. Tomorrow morning I will fashion a piece of velcro and the true “functional” test will be this weekend. Right now, the new poles are pretty well placed and hold well just being under tension. I’ll be curious how well it holds up in the wind; time will tell and I will adjust accordingly, as needed.
The silver rod is the supplied rod that extends from the t@b door to the tent door, the black rod is the new hoop. Velcro will be “Xed” at the bisection.
This pic shows the new rod as it now comes down the side wall in front of the screen window(both sides. I suppose I should have captured where the pole plants itself in the floor. I will augment the floor in some way, not sure as yet, but again the tension holds it firmly in place.
The silver rod is the supplied rod that extends from the t@b door to the tent door, the black rod is the new hoop. Velcro will be “Xed” at the bisection.
This pic shows the new rod as it now comes down the side wall in front of the screen window(both sides. I suppose I should have captured where the pole plants itself in the floor. I will augment the floor in some way, not sure as yet, but again the tension holds it firmly in place.
Re: Front mounted hitch tray
The aluminum front platform is included with Boondock models. You can order it through any Tab dealer, but it’s not cheap! They can have it shipped to you or have it brought to the dealer inside a Tab shipment, which usually cuts the shipping a little. Seabiscuit Designs also makes a variation that’s still not cheap, but you can order directly with no dealer markup; they also make additional metal bins that several of us have installed: https://seabiscuitmetaldesigns.com/product/nucamp-boondock-platform/
Or if you’re handy at DIY solutions, you can either make your own platform out of a carrier like the one AnOldUR linked, or replace the entire tongue storage setup with a larger diamond plate truck box and skip the platform. We have owners who’ve done this, and a truck box provides the most storage at a potentially more reasonable cost.
Or if you’re handy at DIY solutions, you can either make your own platform out of a carrier like the one AnOldUR linked, or replace the entire tongue storage setup with a larger diamond plate truck box and skip the platform. We have owners who’ve done this, and a truck box provides the most storage at a potentially more reasonable cost.
Re: Name for your T@B?
Shirley. She just looks like a Shirley.
Our truck's name is Frank. Frank the Frontier.
Our truck's name is Frank. Frank the Frontier.
Re: Name for your T@B?
We FINALLY agreed on the name for our 320 S out back: Dor@, and our new TV- Diego!
Re: Name for your T@B?
@sherm2954, be careful with your graphic. I have a friend who used the serenty logo for his boat and was forced to remove it due to possible copyright infringement. On another note when we had Our T@G named the Blueberry and now Our Outback T@B is the "T@bin in the woods"
Re: Name for your T@B?
Mine is R@J, RJ for non t@b owners, since my Russell & Jeffcoat real estate $$ from first six months paid for it! A dream realized!
Re: Name for your T@B?
We named ours the Tardis. When we first brought our T@B home my daughter sat inside for a while. When she got out and looked at the outside she said "It looks bigger on the inside" That is a phrase used quite a bit on the British Sci-Fi show "Dr. Who". On the show the Tardis is a machine that looks like a London police box that travels through time and space. When a new person first gets into the Tardis they always say "it looks bigger on the inside". We will definitely travel in our Tardis. I'm not sure about the time and space part though. 