GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #38 | Page 39

D-SHACKLE ASSISTANT “Ever wondered what the hole in the ‘eye’ of the bolt on your D-shackle is for? I wondered, too, and I still don’t know,” Dave said. “But I use it to run a bolt with a Nylock nut through it, giving me ample leverage to tighten and loosen the eye bolt by hand – it completely eliminates the need for pliers or a shifter.” said. “Rather than unhook the van to level it, or simply stress the towball and tug’s suspension by levelling with the jockey wheel (which probably wouldn’t be rated to lift the car and van anyway), we throw a couple of ramps under the back wheels of the tug and drive up onto them to level the rig. “We have a third ramp that we can put under the van’s wheel to correct any ‘left to right’ angle if necessary.” But the problem with ramps is that, while not heavy, they are bulky. “I have made a couple of brackets that go on the inside of the stoneguard where the ramps simply drop in,” Dave said. “They are instantly accessible and we have travelled thousands of kilometres without them ever moving. Because the brackets are aluminium, and ramps are plastic, I could not detect any difference to the towball weight on my towball scale.” WIN AN NCE 22IN LED SMART TV! Powered by a 10Ah Li-ion rechargeable battery with 6-8 hours of battery life, this smart NCE TV (valued at $649) is the perfect fit for off-grid adventures. The Android 6.0 operating system with 1GB memory provides the simple and smart control of the TV, apps and internet function – and you can even charge your devices off it! For your chance to win, send us a high- resolution image and brief description of the clever modifications you’ve made to your RV, or the handy solutions you’ve found to common touring problems. Our favourite will win the telly! Note: your submission will possibly appear in GoRV, along with your name. Email your entry to info@gorv.com.au, with ‘RV Workshop’ in the subject line.