Can anyone help, I tow an Elddies Avante 524 (2004) with a Vauxhall omega 02 reg, when hitched up the height of the hitch could do with raising 2 inches to level the van, looking at towsure's "drop-plates" they state cannot be used to "higher" only "lower" the tow-ball, any suggestions ?
Altering towing height.
- Thread starter Paul_5064185
- Start date
No, you must not use a drop plate in reverse to raise the towball.
Firstly, check that your towball is between 350 & 420mm from ground to centre of towball, if it is then that's correct, if it isn't then have the car rear suspension checked (or take some weight out of the boot.
Secondly check the caravan noseweight against the max allowed by the car maker.
Firstly, check that your towball is between 350 & 420mm from ground to centre of towball, if it is then that's correct, if it isn't then have the car rear suspension checked (or take some weight out of the boot.
Secondly check the caravan noseweight against the max allowed by the car maker.
Don't forget that the towball heights which Rod quotes apply to the car in the fully laden condition.
Hi
I tow with the same car but heavier van, I don't have that problem, the car has self levelling suspension just pop into your local dealer to get it checked it may be a fault there.
Ron
I tow with the same car but heavier van, I don't have that problem, the car has self levelling suspension just pop into your local dealer to get it checked it may be a fault there.
Ron
hi.
Rod is quite right,you are not allowed to use a drop plate to raise the tow bar height. You could try looking at a 3500kg pin and ball coupling which does give about 35mm advantage, so long as you don't mind the back of the car looking a bit miltary like.
I did make a raising plate from 25mm thick steel plate for my Renault 25 as I suffered with the same problem. However I am an engineer by trade and felt comfortable with the choice. You see, the insurance companies might decline to insure you as it is going away from Type approval regs. Also a keen eyed policeman might have a chat along the lines of "constuction and use" law if in his oppinion it was not safe.
My insurance were not worried as the tow bar didn't need to comply with the latest regs which have the line on raising plates, and I've been lucky enough not to be stopped by the police. Probably because the caravan didn't look too nose down behind the car!!
Rod is quite right,you are not allowed to use a drop plate to raise the tow bar height. You could try looking at a 3500kg pin and ball coupling which does give about 35mm advantage, so long as you don't mind the back of the car looking a bit miltary like.
I did make a raising plate from 25mm thick steel plate for my Renault 25 as I suffered with the same problem. However I am an engineer by trade and felt comfortable with the choice. You see, the insurance companies might decline to insure you as it is going away from Type approval regs. Also a keen eyed policeman might have a chat along the lines of "constuction and use" law if in his oppinion it was not safe.
My insurance were not worried as the tow bar didn't need to comply with the latest regs which have the line on raising plates, and I've been lucky enough not to be stopped by the police. Probably because the caravan didn't look too nose down behind the car!!
There's no reason why the caravan has to be absolutely level when towing so long as the noseweight is set up correctly. Just don't drive with the back end down as you may find it'll scrape the ground under adverse conditions. Correct noseweight is what is important.
hi
i used to tow with an omega and i used to find the back end drop once i had the van hitched and the car was fully loaded so i got a pair of spring assistors fitted from my local trailer centre. they were absulotly brill helped a lot ,some people say they could give you a harder ride but i found no difference.well worth the money
i used to tow with an omega and i used to find the back end drop once i had the van hitched and the car was fully loaded so i got a pair of spring assistors fitted from my local trailer centre. they were absulotly brill helped a lot ,some people say they could give you a harder ride but i found no difference.well worth the money
Hi had the sagging problem with a nissan primera fitted spring assistors problem solved and no hard ride...tom
Thanks for all the advice, I measured the height of the tow-ball, OK, the Omega does not have self level suspension, as suggested! the prob is the ride height of the car,when hitched, the van only lowers the car 2 inch, but yet the front of the van seems very nose down, will probably try the spring assisters??
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